How to get my Boss Jack sharp?

SubaruSTi

SubaruSTi

Joined
Nov 28, 2005
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I have tried sandpaper stropping and black green compounds but I can hardly get it to cut paper. Should I send it back along with some black label and have Jerry go hog wild on the grinder?
 
SubaruSTi said:
I have tried sandpaper stropping and black green compounds but I can hardly get it to cut paper. Should I send it back along with some black label and have Jerry go hog wild on the grinder?
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Sorry, the shop increased prices last year. Sharpening now costs Gold Label (or better).


:-)
 
Depends on what tools you have. I use a red/blue dmt duofold sharpener start with coarse and work to fine, then ceramic and then strop. You really need to work up a good edge before stropping will do much good.

take it easy
cricket
 
I found that to get any results I needed to use SiC paper (wet/dry automotive) on my INFI. The larger grit paper that I can find is woodworking paper and doesn't seem to cut as well as the automotive paper. I seem to get faster results with 400gr SiC paper than 220gr AO paper. Your BJ must be REALLY dull if you're starting with 120gr. Try different sandpaper and see if that helps. Also take a look around the Maintenance, Tinkering, and Embellishment forum here as well, for lots of good tips and advice. Good luck!
 
If its that dull I'd send it back to the guy that has his name on the "sharpend by sticker" and say try again... Did it come with the swine shaving sharp paper?
 
no paper. the knife would not cut paper anyhow. its great at splitting wood but thats about it. I have already worn alot of the finish off.

The finish seemed to chip away very easy. is this normal?
 
Yeah my finish (jungle green coat) flakes off as well.. not an issue IMO (I think it gives character).
 
raise a burr with the coarse grit before going to a finer grit. It should be shaving sharp at the coarsest grit if you are hitting the edge. The finer grits just refine the edge you've already established.
 
If your knife isn't sharp after stropping, your technique is wrong. Look up stropping techniques on this forum or with google. You must be VERY careful not to take the edge off while dragging the blade across the media. It's very easy to do, I know this because I do it all the time :(
 
With questions like this, it is very hard to tell where the process is going wrong, without observing.

I use sandpaper/rubber pad, loaded strop on all my knives (infi, non infi, does not matter). I have yet to meet a knife or steel (that I owned) that it did not give great results.

Pushing too hard, wrong angle, not taking the sanding to the edge (some people move up before they have actually even hit the very edge, which is the only important part).

Glad to hear you sent it in. Should be happy with the results. Don't give up on stropping though! When you get your baby back, watch some more tutorials, etc and give her another try. Very easy way to maintain!
 
I know you already sent it back, but, next time....

You need to hit the entire edge with a sharpie to see if you are actually hitting it or not... and practice practice practice
 
the edge was polished to a high shine after the green compound so it was hitting the edge.
 
SubaruSTi said:
no paper. the knife would not cut paper anyhow. its great at splitting wood but thats about it. I have already worn alot of the finish off.

The finish seemed to chip away very easy. is this normal?
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Depends which coating, I've found black comes off easy. And batoning is rough on any finish so it'll come off quick.


As for the sharpening thing, it's hard to tell. There's been a few instances where it seems like I'm just wasting sandpaper and not doing anything. But, it sounds like your technique is okay, but maybe the two bevels aren't coming to a complete edge. I've had to use a lansky or other v grind stone sharpener using course stones to just set the edge and make sure it comes to a point, then I do all the fine work with sandpaper to convex the edge; I've had good luck with that system.


But, since you sent it back to Busse, you can just file that away in your mental library. I'm sure it'll be super sharp when you get it back.
 
SubaruSTi said:
the edge was polished to a high shine after the green compound so it was hitting the edge.
Click to expand...

That just means you polished the edge, to sharpen a knife you have to make the bevels meet. If you don't use a coarse enough grit it can take a long time.
 
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