I can only get knives so sharp.

[Mtn Hawk]

If I need a knife to be razor sharp then I need a razor.

 

[rifon2]

I found the article I was looking for, here it is: http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=26036

It's a bit long but a relatively quick read.
I can tell you from my own experience (and that of others I know) that taking a few minutes to go through it can be very helpful.

Hope you find it useful.

 

[dipbait]

I think Im getting the knives as sharp as they are going to get without stropping. So stropping will be the next step.

 

[Jeff Clark]

440A is not a razor alloy. Kershaw is one of a few companies that does the right cryo treatment to get it to take a reasonably fine edge. You would have an easier time with alloys with smaller carbides like AUS-6, AUS-8, VG-10, or particularly 12C27 or 13C26.

You can force 440A to take a razor edge by using a strop treated with submicron diamond paste. You can find this at a good rock hound shop.

Your other problem maybe applying too much pressure with your fine hone. Do most of your honing with a coarser hone and then finish with a relatively few strokes using light pressure on your ceramic hone. Given the large carbide size of the 440A you may dull the edge with too much honing or stropping with ordinary abrasives. Use ultra fine diamonds, light pressure, and only a few strokes.

 

[hardheart]

Jeff beat me to it. I always reduce pressure when sharpening. At the final stropping, I don't even use the weight of the blade.

 

[Ebbtide]

Before you run out and spend money on a strop, try the inside cardboard from a cereal (or similar) box.
Use that as a strop and see if you notice any difference.