Help with sharpening please...

W

wassomeoneelse

Joined
Jan 19, 2007
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Hey! As the title states, I need help learning how to sharpen knives that I have made. Just a little background information, I finish the knife and then once I have it to where I want it as far as looks and sheath, I then use a 220 grit belt on my KMG to put the initial edge on it. I then follow up with a 400 grit belt. I use the spot on my KMG that is right above the platen and right below the upper guide wheel. Sometimes I can feel an edge and other times I can run my finger across it and not cut anything. Not once have I been able to bring a knife to razor sharpness. I have read tutorials on how to do it. I either dont have that type of materials on hand or there sharpeners. I have a flat granite block, sandpaper, norton stones in grit of 220, 1000, 4000, and 8000. I also have a belgium coticle stone (havent used that yet). It is very frustrating because I have come such a long way on my knife making in the last year and I feel like you should be able to sharpen your knives if you make them. Maybe, I have my angles wrong or something when I put the initial edge on them.
I would love to go watch somebody do this that is good at sharpening. I dont mind driving a couple of hours to see it done firsthand. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I just need a simple yet effective way of sharpening my knives. I appreciate any help you guys could give me.
Great forum and glad to be a part of it.
Bryan Arnold
 
One way to get close to the proper angle is to take a piece of paper and fold it corner to corner. That gives you a 45 degree angle. Fold that in half again and you get a 22.5 degree angle. You can rest your knife on the paper triangle to get your knife in the right position for sharpening. Sharpen slightly below that and you have a pretty good edge for everyday use. After some practice you will be able to develop some muscle memory and you'll be able to feel the right angle. Use a sharpie to blacken the edge so you can see where you are removing metal and make adjustments as you go. With a little patience and some elbow grease you'll get the edge you're looking for. It's the way I was taught when I got my first knife and it works for me now.
 
It looks like you didn't get any burr on the edge grinding with 220. I don't have any of those you listed above, I use only 400 grit belt and a hard buffer disc. As you generate burr all through the edge with the 400 grit belt it is pretty simple to make it very sharp. I load the buffer with gray compound and just touch the edge with buffer at very slow speed. It is possible to do this by stropping but this works for me and it takes only 1 minute. Also if I want it very sharp I strop with blue or white compound after touching the edge on the buffer...
 
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That paper tip makes sense to me. I will try that this evening once I finish with the yard work. So, basically, use a 400 grit belt and then strop. I forgot to mention I have one of those also. Thanks to both of your replies. I will settle down and get to it.
thanks
Bryan
 
Sounds like galadduin got it nailed . You need to create the burr , you can see it on the opposite side of the edge you are working on . ( I just learned this myself ) . You will be able to see the burr across the whole blade .
As for the visible reference as stated with the paper , I took a 2x4 and drilled a 20 degree angle in it and inserted a piece of dowel , I put that next to the grinder for the reference angle . I'm buffing off the burr with a medium felt wheel loaded with a green stropping rouge .
 
If you have access to a miter saw; cut 10 and 12 degree wedges out of hardwood stock. Glue leather to one side to protect the blade and use these to rest against the belt and lay your blade on this to give you a proper sharpening angle.
A ten degree edge is quite flat, a twelve degree sharpening angle is a good place to start with most blades.

Fifteen degrees is used to sharpen a hatchet.

Fred
 
Thanks for the replies. They are all appreciated. I can use a friends saw if I need to do that. I will not be by his house until the weekend. Thanks Fred, Richard, Jack, and Emre, and Cwl3 for your replies. Thanks a bunch.
Bryan
 
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