How do they sharpen new knives from the factory?

[ziggy925]

I just got a new SOG. Now I know what everyone is talking about when they say a sharp knife should push cut newspaper and shave the hair off your arm.

How do they sharpen knives at the factory? Any videos floating around?

Thanks.

 

[spoonrobot]

Most I've seen involve a motorized belt.

Check this link for one example, starts at 4:50: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbicSsrc43M

There are a few videos out there that show Leatherman, Spyderco and Case blades being sharpened in similar ways.

 

[Roger999]

Most do it on a belt grinder.

 

[Brad Richardson]

nuf said

 

[Knife Outlet]

Hard to say. In the West the manufacturers use belt grinders. In Japan, it is very common to use large abrasive wheels. It could be either.

 

[kamagong]

Difficult to get specifics. I know that Spyderco considers their process proprietary information, so we'll never know for sure.

 

[Josh K]

Difficult to get specifics. I know that Spyderco considers their process proprietary information, so we'll never know for sure.

Really? Interesting.

 

[richard j]

i was told that case uses the paper wheel system

 

[elkins45]

i was told that case uses the paper wheel system

On the episode of "How It's Made" where they featured Case knives, they showed them being sharpened on a belt grinder.

 

[chococrazy]

That How its made is really old.

 

[Bonescraper]

On the episode of "How It's Made" where they featured Case knives, they showed them being sharpened on a belt grinder.

they also did an episode with SAK knives, and they used a wheel to sharpen.

 

[chococrazy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CC78CMFIwnc
Thats the episode on SAKS

 

[Roger999]

they also did an episode with SAK knives, and they used a wheel to sharpen.

I remember seeing them use a large 1" wide wheel(like the Japanese ones), and then finishing it on a larger leather wheel.

 

[Bonescraper]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbicSsrc43M

How it's made, Case knives. Great Vid

 

[tom19176]

this gives an idea from Germany, and look at his other links

http://www.youtube.com/user/worldknives#p/u

 

[Jason B.]

Buck knives uses the paper polishing wheel for finishing, but like many others use a beltsander to cut the main edge. This may or may not be true today, I saw it on tv several years ago.

 

[Ankerson]

I know some of the high end Cold Steel knives are finished by hand.

 

[ziggy925]

Hey, all. Thanks for the info and the vids were great. I was curious at the first vid that shows all the sparks flying. I did read that when sparks are flying in the sharpening process you are probably destroying the temper of the knife.

 

[chococrazy]

Hey, all. Thanks for the info and the vids were great. I was curious at the first vid that shows all the sparks flying. I did read that when sparks are flying in the sharpening process you are probably destroying the temper of the knife.

Yes they are also doing it downwards which won't let it get as hot as upward.
They also probably dip the blade every couple passes to keep it room temp or colder.

 

[Roger999]

Hey, all. Thanks for the info and the vids were great. I was curious at the first vid that shows all the sparks flying. I did read that when sparks are flying in the sharpening process you are probably destroying the temper of the knife.

As soon as I touch a fresh belt under 320grit, the sparks fly instantly, the temperature is fine, I have to push in the belt very hard for atleast 5seconds in the same spot for it to start to heat up substantially.