How do you sharpen your knives

edge pro system for changing bevels and sharpmaker for maint.of my blades,followed by homemade leather strops,these three things have really worked vary well for keeping all my knifes hair popping sharp,why change a good thing.
 
I have been sharpening most of my knives freehand either on diamond or ceramic of various brands. I like to use small pocket size stones (DC4 or Doublestuff size) so that I get proficient with them and can use them in the field (camping, work etc) I don't really strop anymore. If I do then just a few passes. I still sharpen my CRK knives on a Sharpmaker. I feel I get an overall nicer edge than my freehand. Someday I will get to the point I will freehand those also but I feel I have to work on my skills a little more yet.
 
Lansky diamond kit and Tormek T7.

Wish I could free hand. It looks so cool. I have the stones but not the skills.
 
I have a WE, a sharpmaker, and a paper wheel set up. But mainly I free hand. My best results come from India and Arkansas stones. I also use naniwa and shapton waterstones. Always finish with a strop
 
Learned using Jnaps. Been really happy with my WE Gen 3, but to me it's a fun toy. I use a Viel for most everything. 120 Zirc, A45-A16 Trizacts.
 
I've used quite a few methods; can't say I'm incredibly proficient at any of em though! :rolleyes::foot:

- Sandpaper on mousepads
- Diamond lapping film mounted on mirror blanks I cut
- Lansky system (regular 5 stone one, not the diamond kit)
- Edge Pro Apex 4 Pro Pack
- 8" paper wheel set up
- Ken Onion Worksharp
- 1x30 Belt Sander
- Arkansas Stones
- Ceramic Hone
- Blue jean strop over a maple plank I made loaded with Autosol polishing paste
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I find I use the paper wheel setup and KOWS the most because of the speed. :thumbup:

I'd like to try a wicked edge system with all the bells and whistles someday just to see how I like it.
 
Lansky Puck for my axe.

For my knives I have big waterstones in 5 different grinds (from 240 up to a grind 5000 japanese waterstone). I don't use tools for helping with the edge, I use only my eyes and my hands for that :)
After sharpening of course I strop with a leather belt.
 
Depends on my mood and how bad the knife is..
I have a boatload of synthetics, Jnats, Arkies, Diamond Plates, Diamond films, Strops and compounds from 80grit all the way to 1,200,000 grit.
 
I sharpened free hand for years. I got pretty good and enjoyed the process. A few years back I got a Wicked Edge Pro Pack and then a few month ago got the new arms for the WE. Now I use only the WE setup. The guided setup is very precise and very repeatable so the results are terrific. Mirrored edges and very sharp every single time.
 
I freehand everything, even scissors. Once you master the skill and develop a steady hand, you will throw away your Edgepros. You must re-profile the edge over time, sharpening-systems are too fixed with their angles. And, freehand sharpening will eliminate the 'sharp shoulder' that wedges against the material being cut.

In freehand sharpening, I use stuff like coins/ chopsticks as an angle guide so that I can maintain a consistent angle all the time whenever I take the blade off the stone for eye checking from time to time. I recommend Korin Japanese Knife Import videos in Youtube for freehand lessons.
 
I use an Edgepro Apex for thinning/reprofiling/polishing/removing chips

Sharpmaker and UF stones to maintain edges and keep the knives sharp between going crazy on the EP

Also have the standard collection of assorted junk that doesnt get used
 
I sharpen freehand on a Norton IB8 stone.

I've recently discovered that a few strokes on the ceramic side of DC4 (after using the IB8) considerably lengthens the time between sharpening. Job done! I prefer to spend more time cutting than sharpening.
 
I had a Smith's ceramic sharpener but ditched it because I wasn't satisfied with the edge it gave some of my knives. I know sharpen all my knives 100% free hand on Arkansas stones and finish with a leather strop. Sounds primitive in the days of edge pro and sharpmaker but this is my favorite way of sharpening.
 
It varies with the moon phases. Crock stick turnbox sits on my desk for quick touchups. Sharpmaker in the kitchen. HF 1x30 occasionally. Paper wheels occasionally. Diamond plates for the heavy work and re-profiling. Plenty of natural stones for when I have gobs of time to freehand slice off arkansas or belgian rock. The stropping paper wheel can bring a good edge back in seconds and I use it frequently. Still haven't been able to click with the Washboard but the ERU works well. Many strops with and without compounds.

I shave with straights so there are lots of stones there and all freehand.

Yes, I've 'invested' way too much in sharpening stuff but you don't want to let one of my edges get near your skin!
 
kelbro said:
It varies with the moon phases. Crock stick turnbox sits on my desk for quick touchups. Sharpmaker in the kitchen. HF 1x30 occasionally. Paper wheels occasionally. Diamond plates for the heavy work and re-profiling. Plenty of natural stones for when I have gobs of time to freehand slice off arkansas or belgian rock. The stropping paper wheel can bring a good edge back in seconds and I use it frequently. Still haven't been able to click with the Washboard but the ERU works well. Many strops with and without compounds.

I shave with straights so there are lots of stones there and all freehand.

Yes, I've 'invested' way too much in sharpening stuff but you don't want to let one of my edges get near your skin!
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Re your Washboard, give a shout if you want and we'll sort it out if its anything more involved than just familiarity. Most of the time is one of three things or a combination - going too light on the paper, not using fingers right at point of contact, and not working the board at an angle. If folks prefer a linear pass, I recommend they angle the board a bit so the travel still winds up at an angle to the teeth.

Martin
 
tomsch said:
I have a Wicked Edge Pro Pack II that I mainly use for setting and polishing the edge. From there touch-ups are done on my Sharpmaker at 40 degrees for folders and 30 degrees for my kitchen knives. I do have a strop but have not really used it much since the ultra fine Sharpmaker stones work so well for a quick touch-up.
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I pretty much mirror this.

I sharpen at 20* per side on a Wicked Edge (Field and Sport Pro) then touch up on a Sharpmaker at 40* setting.

Seem to work well. I strop on cardboard or just on my jeans.
 
Freehand since I can't justify the 700+ for a wicked edge pro. I will buy it beginning of next year though, getting a nice bonus.
 
HwangJino said:
Freehand since I can't justify the 700+ for a wicked edge pro. I will buy it beginning of next year though, getting a nice bonus.
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I wanted one really bad when I got into knives that or a Edge Pro, but didn't have the money at the time. So I was kinda forced to learn how to Freehand. Now that I could afford it I'm more interested in a nice set of stones. It seemed like I was never gonna get the hang of freehand & took quite a bit of time, but it was definitely worth it.
 
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