Help: buyer beware question & trying to sharpen knife avoiding a rounded edge

B

Bo-dacious

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Aug 13, 2016
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Hey guys. I have 2 questions on this post. First is I'm new here, and when buying a knife on bf is it common to see scammers who are going to take my money or is that something we don't see? Are there safeties put in place? Does bf use PayPal or some other method?

Second is I'm new to sharpening with a stone. I keep getting a rounded edge on one side but a fine edge in the other side of the same edge same knife. My edge looks like this as a cross section: /). I am using a stone that's not completely flat as I'm waiting for another stone to even it out with. I feel like I'm just missing that part of the edge leaving it round/dull. It's possible, though, that I'm just not doing it right. What do you guys think? I'm keeping a 20 degree angle using both the Japanese (I think it's called) method and another method. Is there anything else I could be doing. Also note, I'm putting pressure when I pull the knife in the direction of the spine of the blade and when I push in the edge direction I'm just lightly dragging the blade
Please tell me what you guys think.

Thanks!

BO-DACIOUS
 
I dont know if there are safeties in place but I bought my Star Tac from here and It was a nice experience. A lot of people who have been around here a hell of a lot longer than me do a lot of business and trading here. Personally I haven't read a single complaint. Sometimes people back out of purchases because of funds. I myself had to do that today. It happens. Just read a lot and ask questions. These people are a wealth of knowledge. As for the sharpening if you could take some videos or pictures of your knife and what you are doing it would be significantly easier for them to help you.
 
For one thing, you need to push/pull in the same direction relative to the edge. I sharpen both sides like I am trying to cut the bench stone with the edge.

There is a separate forum for knife sharpening kinds of things and there are a couple experts who hang out there a lot. They can answer your questions far better than I can. This thread will likely get moved over there by the Moderators.
 
#1 - I have only had good experiences buying on BF, but the people I have bought from are highly rated and are actual posters and particpants in the forums and not just on the Exchange. Payment method is up to the seller and buyer. I refuse to use PayPal gift but I will offer to pay the 3% upcharge for Goods and Services if necessary to make the deal. I walk away if they won't take G&S.

#2 - Maintenance, Tinkering, and Embellishment forum here has lots of great advice (read the stickies at the top) and plenty of experienced and even professional sharpeners who will help you with advice.
 
jc57 said:
#1 - I have only had good experiences buying on BF, but the people I have bought from are highly rated and are actual posters and particpants in the forums and not just on the Exchange. Payment method is up to the seller and buyer. I refuse to use PayPal gift but I will offer to pay the 3% upcharge for Goods and Services if necessary to make the deal. I walk away if they won't take G&S.
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+100 on this. But I also refuse to do their math for them. If the seller is too lazy to figure out what his/her walk-away price is, I ignore them. I consider them to be too lazy to put the right shipping address on the package.
 
You can check their profile for their itrader feedback. You can protect yourself by using PayPal goods and services instead of friends and family option. You can also do a search in the feedback subforum on their user name to see if they've been the topic of a thread whether good or bad. Ask good questions.

Make sure both you and the other person agree on what the agreement is. Document it by email. Do not assume anything. And anything that is not stated, I would assume would be according to the interpretation of the other party as to how he/she sees it.

If you don't have a flat stone, you're going to have a harder time sharpening it and avoiding a rounded edge because you're going to have to keep the angle of the blade constant to the surface of the stone. Given that the stone surface isn't flat, you're going to have to change the angle of the blade over the duration of the stroke. It's hard enough to keep the angle constant with a flat stone surface much less a non-flat. It's like driving at high speeds and aiming to keep the side of your driver side wheels exactly 1 foot away from the divider line at all times. It's possible to do it in a straight away, very hard to do on a curvy road.
 
Sharpening is definitely not my forte.

I have bought many, many knives of the forums, never a bad experience. I've also sold/traded quite a few as well. Bladeforums is the most trustworthy place to buy a non-NIB knife. You will occasionally see some price gouging, especially on limited edition knives (Especially Zero Tolerance), though I am one who generally is not interested in those.

My most recent knife is a custom from the Knifemaker's market, a Bailey Model 2 flipper Geek Edition. Extremely pleasant experience and fast shipping.

What's also neat about the forums is that many knife resalers are sponsored here and thus you can know they are trustworthy. (BladeHQ, Knifeworks, etc)
 
Bo-dacious said:
Hey guys. I have 2 questions on this post. First is I'm new here, and when buying a knife on bf is it common to see scammers who are going to take my money or is that something we don't see? Are there safeties put in place? Does bf use PayPal or some other method?

Second is I'm new to sharpening with a stone. I keep getting a rounded edge on one side but a fine edge in the other side of the same edge same knife. My edge looks like this as a cross section: /). I am using a stone that's not completely flat as I'm waiting for another stone to even it out with. I feel like I'm just missing that part of the edge leaving it round/dull. It's possible, though, that I'm just not doing it right. What do you guys think? I'm keeping a 20 degree angle using both the Japanese (I think it's called) method and another method. Is there anything else I could be doing. Also note, I'm putting pressure when I pull the knife in the direction of the spine of the blade and when I push in the edge direction I'm just lightly dragging the blade
Please tell me what you guys think.

Thanks! BO-DACIOUS
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BoDa

1. 100% positive experience with BF buyers and sellers, all of whom had some BF history and very good feedback. I used PayPal.

2. Please take a look at this knife sharpening video. This old dog discusses the history of cutting tools and their sharpening. I am a big fan of his sharpener which was the first knife related tool he ever sold. It started his business. I'm sure it will help you with your knife sharpening problems.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB0r6GvESGg
 
It is best to look at their trading reviews.
I avoid doing trades because there is no protection.
Pay with goods/services. So you have buyer protection. Paying a little extra for the protection is worth it, even once if something went wrong.
Selling/Shipping, I like to do signature only and full insurance. I had a luminox watch shipping to someone when USPS decided to torch the bugger. Since I had no insurance, I was left having to refund...only made that mistake once. Usually only costs a couple bucks more, but a signature is the best way to know they received the package. Occasionally, you'll hear a story where somebody shipped a package to the buyer and the buyer claimed (if it was real or not) that it was never received.


As for sharpening. There could be a problem with the stone or you're not holding even/steady pressure on that other side. Buy a cheap knife thats easy to sharpen and practice on that...or buy a sharpening setup. After years, I ended up caving and buying a Edge Pro Apex because I got tired of monkeying around sharpening super steels. If I was negligent or used a knife too much (ie mad cardboard cutting sessions) freehanding super steels could take me an entire football game to get hair-shaving.
 
How about a piece of sandpaper on a flat surface - until you have a flat stone?

Or put the knife at the right angle and move the blade in circular motions up and down its length. Reverse and do the same on the other side. Easier to get a consistent angle this way, although heresy to some.
 
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Are you switching hands to either push or pull on both sides of the edge or leaving the handle in the same hand and pushing one side and pulling the other?

I don't think it's a problem with the stone since it's only on one side. More likely is a problem with muscle memory and a comfortable, repeatable motion on both sides of the edge.
 
I've always found freehand sharpening to be like penmanship. It's best to use the large muscles in the arm and have all motion happen at the shoulder or the elbow. Keep your wrist and fingers locked and it should help prevent the knife from rotating in your hand causing changes in the angle during the stroke.
 
Welcome to BFC bo-dacious !!!!!!!
Assuming you have a paypal account, never ever, ever buy with family/ friends. Always use goods/services, it protects you as a buyer. I've never had a bad experience buying here, but from time to time things happen. That's why it's good to read the GB&U forum.

There is a wealth of info in the Maintainence forum that can help you out with your sharpening issues. The people here are more than happy to share their knowledge.

Good luck and enjoy your stay :thumbup:
 
Oh ok thanks. I didn't see that section. Is it in the same list as the one I put this post in? General knife discussions or another list?

BO-DACIOUS
 
Bo-dacious said:
What is NIB? New in box?
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Nativity In Black.

Yes, it does mean New In Box. Try not to rely on terms like, NIB, LNIB (Like New In Box), mint, or other subjective term used to describe condition. One man's "mint" might be another's LNIB and anothers LNIB might be another's lightly used. Clear pictures and a good description of the condition will give you a better idea of what you are receiving. When in doubt, ask questions or for more pictures.

Have solid communication with others and doing what you will say you will do are the key to pleasant transactions on the Exchange.

Enjoy and welcome!
 
Thanks for the help guys. It's not letting me reply directly to your replies, I don't know why. To T.L.E. Sharp, I've tried a number of ways. I'm starting to think that Im actually just not the. Owing much material. I thi k the stone is a higher grit than I thought. I'm not getting much of a burr at all and the rounded/two angled edge is staying the Same. When my new stones get here I'll practice on them a while then post again.

Thanks again,

BO-DACIOUS
 
Bo-dacious said:
Thanks for the help guys. It's not letting me reply directly to your replies, I don't know why. To T.L.E. Sharp, I've tried a number of ways. I'm starting to think that Im actually just not the. Owing much material. I thi k the stone is a higher grit than I thought. I'm not getting much of a burr at all and the rounded/two angled edge is staying the Same. When my new stones get here I'll practice on them a while then post again.

Thanks again,

BO-DACIOUS
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Click Reply With Quote to quote the reply you'd like to address in your post. If you want to address multiple posts, click the little box on the right of Reply With Quote to check of the ones you want. Then click on Reply With Quote and they will all show in the reply box.
 
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