How good are you at sharpening your knives?

I am not real consistent free hand, but I can get a fairly polished working edge with a couple of different means.
 
I'm pretty good at sharpening. Certainly good enough to put an edge on a knife that's better than the factory edge in most cases.

One thing I don't agree with is that the Spyderco Sharpmaker is only good for touchups and not good for really sharpening a knife. I know how to freehand. I do it sometimes but it's more for therapy than to get a great edge on a blade. I've owned a Sharpmaker since 1990--the old 203 model. It worked fine for many years until I finally bought the current 204 model with both 40 degree and 30 degree angles. Even after using it for a number of years, I considered buying one of the more elaborate and expensive sharpening systems with various angle guides. Instead I bought the diamond rods and the ultra fine rods for the Sharpmaker and a leather strop block. With this setup I can do everything I need to do, from reprofiling and thinning an edge to a final edge polishing.

Cards94, my suggestion is to spend a little time with your Sharpmaker and learn to get the most out of it. If you're getting by with it now, try the ultra fine rods and stropping. Then later add the diamond rods for those times when you need to remove more metal. The Sharpmaker is more versatile than many people believe.
 
I think I´m good at sharpening. But I have to be in the mood for it. Strange, but on a day I don´t really want to sharpen, it doesn´t get sharp and then it drives me nuts. On another day when I want to sharpen and put out my equipment, I get them really sharp.

I use to sharpen my knives freehand on oil / waterstones but I own a Spyderco Sharpmaker as well. The SM is just used when I´m in a hurry. But in case of emergency a coffee mug also works for me to get them sharp and a leather belt is always carried, anyway.
 
I am a big fan of freehand sharpening. I rate my skill level as barely adequate. I can get them sharp enough for me to cut what I need to.
 
I think the question is a bit odd, it matters not if others are proficient at sharpening in regards to how you should proceed in knife collecting. The end result is, are you willing to take the time to learn to sharpen your knives?

If it's something that your heart isn't in, then it probably won't happen, as others have mentioned the Spderco SharpMaker helps a great deal for those that for one reason or another just can't get the hang of sharpening and I know that can be the case as I've tried to teach others and it just wasn't in them to get it.

I think of the Spyderco SharpMaker as more of a SharpKeeper, since you need to get the initial bevels set and then you can maintain it pretty easily using that system. Recommendation would be, if necessary, have a friend that is good at sharpening to get your knife in a usual condition and then you can maintain it.

But knowing if I can sharpen a knife or how well I am able to do so, doesn't really make much nevermind that I can tell.

G2
 
It took me a long time to get consistent results freehand. I was left frustrated until I tried carbon. Mainly because carbon doesn't take very long to get sharp. I got my first carbon sharp before I got frustrated. It was kind of like learning to ride a bike. I had a hard time maintaining a consistent angle and paying attention . It's easy to zone out and get sloppy with your technique .
 
I used a DMT aligner and a microscope to to learn what it takes to sharpen and reprofile blades. It can be a lot of work. I was later forced to free hand due to the small pen blades and small peanut patterns inability to clamp in fixtures. Now, I free hand for most sharpening, but still use the DMT to reprofile as it's quicker.

I can get knives reasonably sharp.... shaving razor sharp eludes me though.
 
jc57 said:
cards94, there is a subforum here full of sharpening information: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/794-Maintenance-Tinkering-amp-Embellishment . I learned a lot from the guides and stickies at the top.

I'm kind of surprised this thread hasn't been moved there since the question isn't especially specific to traditional knives but applies to all knives.
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cards94 said:
As I continue to look at more knives to buy, today I asked myself, what's the point of buying more knives if I don't have a true sense of sharpening them? To be honest, I get buy on my sharp maker and I'm happy with it, but do I really get the most out of sharpening? The answer for me is no and I have alot to learn. So does it make sense to drop alot of money on more and more knives if one isn't truly proficient in sharpening them?
Click to expand...

Since the OP asked the above question, I see no reason to move the thread.
 
I use a bench stone, an old superfine carborundum about 2000 grit at most. I have a medium stone for taking nicks out of old knives or the odd time i'll use a fine diamond file to do nicks or to do basic reprofiling of an edge. I always finish on the superfine which eats no steel. I make up stropping boards that work well for finishing but rarely use them. Look for an old superfine soft stone at yard sales. Why would you stop buying knives ????:confused: :D

Best regards

Robin
 
edbeau said:
I am good but my Lansky is a lot better.
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^^^ this ^^^

Not only that, but the Lansky made me better at freehand sharpening. It wasn't till I used the Lansky that I learned how put a burr on a blade and how to control edge angles for different effects.

Lansky == training wheels for sharpening.

It's a bit of a pain for touch ups and I now touch things up freehand.
 
pinnah said:
^^^ this ^^^

Not only that, but the Lansky made me better at freehand sharpening. It wasn't till I used the Lansky that I learned how put a burr on a blade and how to control edge angles for different effects.

Lansky == training wheels for sharpening.

It's a bit of a pain for touch ups and I now touch things up freehand.
Click to expand...

When I get a new knife I usually wait a bit before sharpening it, unless it's really dull. When I do I use a Lansky guided rod sharpener for the initial edge. As pinnah said the Lansky helped me to understand and learn to freehand sharpen also. I maintain the edge with a leather hone and CrO compound or a fine diamond stone. If it needs a lot of work it goes back on the Lansky. I don't have enough patience to free hand the initial edge, although I have done it just to see if I could.

Take some time to learn how to sharpen your knives. Use some older ones or cheaper ones for practice. It won't take long before you'll feel confident enough to sharpen anything. Then watch you bank account diminish before your very eyes.

Buy em now and sharpen them later!
 
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I seldom encounter a factory edge that I can't improve upon. Shaving sharp is not a problem for me, and I've taken a few edges to tree-topping (catch and cut through free-standing hair without touching the skin) but I don't generally get that carried away. I believe that if you are going to own a knife, you should be able to sharpen it, at least into a usable tool. I learned to sharpen freehand before any of the current gizmos were around, and I feel it is a skill worth having.

A friend gave me a Lansky once upon a time. I tried it a few times and threw it away as worthless. But that's just me.
 
IMHO, it absolutely makes sense to get more traditional knives even if you're not good at sharpening. Collecting, if nothing else, gives you lots of opportunities to practice sharpening -- new ones often come pretty dull, and old ones always do, it seems.

I have had it happen more than once that a knife I'd acquired earlier in my collecting habit (which is only 3 years old or so) came out of storage to be carried, and I'd be amazed at how dull they are when I check the edge. Did I really think this was sharp once? And then it's back to the stones to bring them up to my current standards. I use a sharpmaker mostly, or sandpaper/convexing in the occasional moment of desperation. (Still looking for a better way to fix really messed-up bevels.) I strop on cardboard or newspaper -- works slow, but that's not a bad thing when you're as clumsy as me.

Am I any good? Well...maybe? I think this site tends to skew your standards for 'sharp' a bit, but the SAK I'm carrying today will shave or push-cut phonebook paper with ease, anyway. I still get thrown for a loop from time to time, but even using a guided system there is a certain amount of skill involved, and I do seem to be getting better.

--Mark
 
I do sharpening freehand very well.....sharpen for businesses & hunters.I found a way to save me time..."WORK SHARP"....works perfect for me! I'm even thinking of getting the new Ken Onion Work Sharp.... but then again......don't really need it!
Jim
 
I use a flat hard (white) Arkansas stone freehand. I can keep it sharp enough to cut what needs cutting. Can I push-cut a 2x4 with it? No, but that's not really necessary for my use/needs. If it's a usable edge and cuts what I need to cut, then it's good enough. I don't get too obsessed with extreme edges I guess.
 
I am doing just fine with series of artificial and natural stones. I can shave with my knives. If I were you I spent little money on lesser knives just to practice in sharpening, it comes with time eventually.
Mike
 
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