Holding A Consistent Angle

Md 25v

Md 25v

Joined
Jun 11, 2008
Messages
1,409
I was wondering what techniques you guys use for sharpening on stones to keep your angles consistent. I have been using waterstones free hand for 15-18 years. I tried to teach my wife, who typically uses a sharpmaker, how to do it but she can't hold a solid angle. I was thinking about buying her one of these.
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=DMTABG
Anyone used one before? What else do you guys use/suggest.
 
Get one of these:
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=5894

It is a small digital angle meter with a magnetic base. First set it on the stone and zero it. Then set it on the blade and start sharpening when the angle is right. After a short while you will be able to judge the angle by eye. They also have 100 other uses in the shop (setting up jigs and grinding tables,etc.).
They regularly go on sale at Woodcraft Supply.
Stacy
 
That will only show the angle she is holding the knife at, and only if she can look at the read-out the whole time the blades moving. She can't keep her hand at a consistent angle as the blade slides across the stone. She needs something that will keep the angle on the stone for her, otherwise she'll just get frustrated.
 
I've been sharpening freehand for about a month now. I can kinda just feel if it's the right angle or not. I don't know exactly what angle my bevels are at by number, but I know I like the way it cuts :D
 
its really just a feel/practice thing.

break out an old beater cheap paring knife and hand her a cheap hardware store stone and tell her to sharpen until she gets it or the knife is gone...that's how i learned around two years ago.
 
Again, thats not gonna work with my wife. If she can't do it easily with the assistance of some kind of guide she'll just hand her knives off to me. She is not gonna take a lot of time and effort to learn how to free hand a knife. I'm not looking for a way to make her learn how to, I'm looking for something to help her now. Maybe this
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=DMTABG
 
I got the DMT magna-guide a few days ago, its only good up to 4 inch blades but it works very well. Having a consistent angle makes a huge difference in the sharpness of your knife.

I have free hand sharpened for 16+ years and this is by far the best purchase I have made in a sharpening product, or at least until I get the edgepro.
 
If she hauls her own ruck, and cleans her own guns then she can sharpen her knives. In fact, she already sharpens her knives on her sharpmaker. But now that she has one in D2, it would be nice if she could use diamond or water stones for faster stock removal.
 
I'm not sure how the DMT Aligner work; I've never seen it in action. If it only goes back and forth, how can you do drop points or any other non-tanto and non-wharncliffe blades? It seems like it would only work for the flat of the edge.
 
She might want to try the Spyderco Duckfoot diamond sharpener. It can be easily held at a 20 degree angle and does pretty aggressive metal removal. Then she can move right back to the Sharpmaker and they'll be wicked sharp with many fewer swipes. They're also cheap if you shop around dealers and dealers on the bay.
 
Md 25v said:
If she hauls her own ruck, and cleans her own guns then she can sharpen her knives. In fact, she already sharpens her knives on her sharpmaker. But now that she has one in D2, it would be nice if she could use diamond or water stones for faster stock removal.
Click to expand...

If she otherwise likes the Sharpmaker, why not just get her the diamond rods for it?
 
ronsec said:
If she otherwise likes the Sharpmaker, why not just get her the diamond rods for it?
Click to expand...

I am busy making an ajustable guide for a wet stone but as mentioned before it will only be good for straight edged blades .
i will post a picture soon .
Richard
 
Someone on these boards had a wooden wedge cut on a 15 degree slant, then he can just lay the stone on it and keep the knife horizontal. Sounds to me like that would work fine for her. I don't remember the posters name but maybe someone else can chime in and tell you.
KC
 
If the Sharpmaker works for her and she likes it there is nothing wrong with that. It is very easy to wrap sand paper over the rods or lay a diamond hone on them if you need a coarser grit. Now if she just wants to learn free hand there is really no reason to hold a perfect angle. In fact I prefer a convexed bevel so I don't even try to hold to an angle when free hand sharpening. Don't raise the spine up very much and just grind away until your to the edge on both sides and then polish to the level of polish you prefer. A convex edge can be made just as sharp as any other tipical knife edge. So don't worry about the angle thing very much.
 
Last edited:
The DMT Magna-Guide system is indeed a good product and makes short work of reprofiling if you have the Extra Coarse/Coarse hones in addition to the Fine/Extra Fine which comes with the unit.

I use mine with a GATCO clamp but that's just a matter of preference.

(For touch ups and smaller jobs I sharpen freehand for the most part with the occasional usage of the Sharpmaker if I feel a little cleanup is in order.)
 
It helps if the knife already has an established flat bevel. When that is the case you can see water sqeezed out when the bevel makes contact with the stone as the spine is raised. Maybe you can feel the click too. Also. there is a different feel on the stone if the spine is raised too far and the edge is carving into the surface.

However, none of those tips have worked that well for me. I just lean the stone against the sharpmaker rods.
 
I had the wedges, but instead of putting the stone on the wedge, I put the wedge on the stone and taped it there with electrical tape. It worked like a charm for me. If you would like one, or several, one for each angle that you want to sharpen at, let me know. I have some hard maple laying around that makes excelent wedges and I'll make you some up and send to you, just let me know how wide your stone is, and what angles you want.
 
its really just a feel/practice thing.

break out an old beater cheap paring knife and hand her a cheap hardware store stone and tell her to sharpen until she gets it or the knife is gone...that's how i learned around two years ago.
Click to expand...

Agree.

For new folks, we get a Old Hickory paring knife, a 4" Norton Crystalon coarse/fine combo stone for them to learn how to free hand sharpen.

Dry stone, not even water.

Use a marker along the edge.

The "human computer" will remember.
The brain remembers what makes it feel good.

On a OH 3 1/4" paring knife, being 1095 carbon, lay the blade flat on the stone.
Raise spine the thickness of a dime, or round toothpick.

Strop on the back of a legal pad and this OH will flat cut, and keep cutting and be easy to maintain.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top