How many free hand sharpen?

I use a SharpMaker or other guided tool for serrated edges. Plain edges have been freehand since the sixties.
 
I started out with guides myself, probably had everything available at the time, and eventually started drifting over to free hand sharpening.

Hey pwet, what's up? Nice to see you. :)
 
I learned free hand sharpening on a 1 x 4 x 3/8 pocket stone. Looking back, its a wonder I ever got anywhere. Moved to Arkansas stones until I got steels that it wouldn't handle. Then I moved to diamonds. Then a belt sander. After that I started with a Sharpmaker, and a cut block on a base to hold a coarse/fine bench stone at the angle I wanted. After doing that for a couple of years, I tried just using the stone with no holder and, to my surprise, I was better at it than before using the block. Now I use a beltsander, 220/1000 grit stone on a 17 or 12 degree block and the 40 or 30 degree slots on a Sharpmaker. I can still do it without the stone held at an angle, but not nearly as fast. Freehand sharpening is valuable if for no other reason than sooner or later you'll run into something that guides, blocks, clamps, etc. just won't fit.

I see a lot of pics with the stones or sandpaper sitting on a table. Why is this considered freehand? It's using the bench or table to hold the stone at a nice predictable angle. Stone in one hand, knife in the other is the only way to go.
 
I free hand sharpen everything. It's easier and faster than any jig.

I own an Edge Pro, and used it often in the past. At one point, I put a mirror edge on everything. It took too long, scratched the blades and did not offer any real world advantage.
 
I learned to freehand early on somewhere around 25 - 30 years ago, I often ponder to buy a guided system just to try it out.

I've fallen in love with the small natural stone sold by Opinel over the last ½ year or so.
It's light & thin and it fits in my pocket (Somewhat fit ant any rate) and the grit is a nice change of pace to stropping, for me.
 
Me. :)

My father taught me how to use his 4" stone when i was like.. 10..12 (?) and i carried a knife pretty much all the time since then.
When I really got into knives (at about 19 yrs, 1.5 yrs ago) i stuck with that method - but got myself better stones. ;)
I saw that i was able to use them and that i was getting good results, so.. why change? :-)

s_f
 
I started with a jigged gadget, then to the paper wheels, then to free hand with a wooden ramp, which could be considered a jig. I now really like the belt sander. I am getting great results very fast.
 
I always freehand sharpen. I have guided shsrpeners but rarely use them.
 
I have honestly never tried anything but free hand. never found it really difficult, the only knife i have failed at sharpening is made in Pakistan...
 
the only knife i have failed at sharpening is made in Pakistan...
Click to expand...

Soon, grasshoppa, soon, you will learn the ways of the master Pakistaninja blade master, LOL:D
 
I started to learn how to sharpen when I was 9 my dad gave me a fine eze lap pocket stone and showed me how to use it. lots of practice later I'm 20 now I can whittle hair and cut toilet paper smoothly. All I use is a multi sided diamond stone, the same fine pocket stone, and a ceramic insulator no jigs all stone in hand. And I finish up with a three sided strop I made black,and green polishing compound, and plain leather for the final step.I have shaved my face with my knives multiple time's to prove it to people who have doubted me when I told them how sharp my knives are. I have never met in person anyone who could do as good an edge as me not even my dad who taught me.
Practice, patience, and persistence with those three things you can do anything.
 
I freehand on 6" bench stones, both carborundum and diamond, holding the stone in my left hand and manipulating the knife in my right. I finish up with a ceramic rod, then stropping on smooth leather. I'm not world class like some here, but I can get both carbon and stainless to shave arm hair, which is plenty good for me.
 
I can if I have to -- just give me an abrasive surface that's harder than the knife. But I'd rather use my Sharpmaker. Or my EdgePro if the edge needs an overhaul.
 
I use the following systems:

1. Norton 8" India Combination Stone, very fast and puts an excellent edge on any knife. Finish up with a leather strop and green honing compound.

2. Edge Pro Apex, great tool for re-profiling and sharpening

3. Spyderco Sharpmaker another great tool, very impressed with the results I get from it. Use it to basically tune up a knifes edge

4. Lansky System had it for many years and got good results from it.
 
I really learned what a sharp edge was and how to get one from useing a lansky. I've since tryed many different systems stones and sanders. Now I mainly free hand everything on diamond and ceramic hones. Good to see you posting here again dave.
 
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