How to maintain a fixed angle during sharpening

W

wormite

Joined
Nov 24, 2024
Messages
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Hi all,
For those who use your own sharpening stones (not the small ones that comes with work sharp like small stones). How do you maintain a certain angle?
I have seen some people using a triangular insert. but that thing wears away and doesn't control angle very well.
Or is it just practice?
 
Practice is a very good place to start! You can start with a metered block if you have one or cut some at your preferred angle(s) . Cut across the stone as if you are slicing a consistent thickness piece of cheese off the stone. Also imho, don’t use oil. I use Simple Green Soap! The slurry from the steel plug up the stone with oil, Simple green floats it out and clean it off with paper towels, old T-shirt. I do not want the slurry, I want the stone to cut! Have fun & stay safe!
 
One of the stones I have has a ramp on the side so you just sort of start with that and then just not move the knife around. (Bad explanation I know)

A ramp like that should work for any stone.

I think you are suggesting that you run the triangles across the stone. And I don't think you do.

 
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I would love an 'all options' Wicked Edge. The fundamental problem I run into, at that price point and trim, is it becomes more about the sharpener than the knife.
 
I had another member here explain to me how he keeps a consistent, sort of, angle when sharpening on bench stones. I use the same technique. You place your thumb against the spine of the blade. Somewhere in the center of his thumb and lay it down on the branch stone surface and keep it there through the pass on the stone. That is my angle guide. When you finish a pass you pick up the blade without moving your thumb from the spine. That gives you a somewhat consistent angle for each pass over the stone. It is not perfect but it has been working well for me.
 
The one tip I've followed in free hand sharpening that has really helped me is to stand up instead of sitting down at a table. Lock your hands and arms at the angle and use your hips to rotate back and forth.
 
All of the above and then sharpen slowly until you build up muscle memory, and then you can speed up a bit with care.
 
Different people recommend different methods, but no matter the method it's mostly a practice thing to build muscle memory. It can be frustrating at first. Stick with it and it will be worth it in the end

I haven't tried them personally, but know a few people that have used the DMT Aligner to help them hold a consistant angle getting started sharpening on stones and said it helped them to see what it looked and felt like to have the knife at the appropriate angle. It isn't expensive and may be worth a look.

And if not mentioned already ... using a Sharpie to color the bevel allows you to visual check that you're removing the Sharpie from the whole bevel or shows where you're not removing it and if you need to lower or raise your angle slightly.
 
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