how to sharpen Opinel

[bennyG19]

I got an Opinel, and it wasn't very sharp. I've tried the Sharpmaker and it doesn't seem to be working like it does on every other knife I own. How do I sharpen this thing?

 

[tabeeb762]

I use the sharpmaker on my opinels and the fine stones get them sharp enough to whittle a hair from my beard. I use the normal method but I apply a bit less preassure on the stones

 

[bennyG19]

so do you just use the fine white stones and not the gray ones? I might try that.

 

[tabeeb762]

I used both stones when it was new but now I just use the white flats to touch it up

 

[billsreef]

Always got a razor edge sharpening freehand with a whetstone on my Opinel's.

 

[GarageBoy]

I sharpened mine as low as I can physically hold. Cuts like no other, alas, the steel doesn't hold that quality edge very long

 

[richard j]

have you guys ever seen the cardboard wheels before? you can put a razor sharp edge on a knife in minutes with a set. they are not like a grinding wheel but one does have grit
on it. the other wheel gets white rouge applied to it. you work up a burr with the abrasive wheel and remove it while posishing the edge with the other one. i have 3 video's on youtube at this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plMbnQMQJMg
here is the email address to a member here who sells the wheels at a discount to other members steve@bottorff.com i think he sells them at cost plus shipping. there are cheaper white wheels but they dont work as well. i have a set and dont like them much. the good ones are made from brown paper and are 1" thick and not 3/4" thick.

 

[bennyG19]

i ended up using the little county comm pocket stone (http://countycomm.com/sharpener.htm) for a few minutes, then went back to the sharpmaker and it is a whole lot better now.

 

[ziptrickhead]

I think the steel on opinels is really soft, its really easy and quick to sharpen. When I got mine I just used the brown stones on my sharpmaker maybe 100 times on each side and then touch up with the whites.

Once I got my coarse DMT I just ground down more and now it cuts better than ever.

 

[Dr. Mudd]

Always got a razor edge sharpening freehand with a whetstone on my Opinel's.

Ditto. Like I keep saying, this ain't rocket science.