I Need Knowledge On Sharpening

C

CRossRifles2008

Joined
Sep 30, 2010
Messages
53
OK, so I have sharpened knives since I was a boy, but never really got any great instruction on it. So I never got my knives hair splitting sharp, just sharp enough. I am very mechanical, just never really researched this skill. I know of stropping, but never done it, and I know of the Lansky System, Smith Precision System, and Bench stones. I know if your not very good at following the angle you could start to get a rounded edge that doesn't stay sharp very long. I currently own a Smith Precision Sharpening System that sharpens at to angles 20 Degree & 25 Degree. I have decided this is not versatile enough for me. Thus I need advice on how to become a hair spiting knife sharpener, and what to purchase.

Like if I go bench stone should I get this one?
http://smithsedge.com/products/product.asp?id=41&cid=4

Should I Go Lansky?

Whatever I use what method?
 
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How much are you looking to spend? (this is important, some stones can cost thousands)

Do you have a preference of freehand or systems? Stone types?
 
Don't repost just ask for it to be moved
 
knifenut1013 said:
How much are you looking to spend? (this is important, some stones can cost thousands)

Do you have a preference of freehand or systems? Stone types?
Click to expand...

Well within reason. I would say between $100 -$200.

I'm not sure I'm thinking freehand is more versatile, unless its gonna ruin my knives.

I like Diamond for speed.
 
is it bad to sharpen knives on the bottom of coffee mugs because thats what ive always done and it works for me. I can shave with knives after doing this for a few minutes
 
CRossRifles2008 said:
Well within reason. I would say between $100 -$200.

I'm not sure I'm thinking freehand is more versatile, unless its gonna ruin my knives.

I like Diamond for speed.
Click to expand...

I have never owned a diamond stone, but it is the same idea as many other sharpening mediums, so if that's what you want to start with then go for it. What I usually say about knife sharpening is that it's 99% skill, and 1% the tools you use. There are many different ways to sharpen, and most of the techniques can achieve hair popping edges if you possess the skills.

It takes a few failures and a lot of practice to finally get it. There is a lot of knife sharpening instruction on youtube, although some of it is junk.

I began practicing using Murray Carter's knife sharpening instruction. He has a few DVD's out there and they are what I credit for turning me into a knife obsessed maniac...

I use his methods and can essentially get my knives as sharp as they can be. I use a coarse and a fine japanese water stone (1000 grit and 8000 grit) and just recently started finishing the knives on a leather strop. I can also sharpen using sandpaper and a leather strop, but after practicing both I prefer my stones. Here is one of his youtube vids.

[youtube]QuOlGGl97dI?fs=1&amp[/youtube]
 
DMT 8x3 in XC,C,F,EF plus a aligner clamp would be a excellent start. That would get you very sharp and be a very useful grit range. For further refinement DMT diamond compounds on 1/2in thick balsa would get you to that mirror finish hair splitting sharpness. FYI, 1/2in balsa is the exact height of the 8x3 stones with the rubber feet attached. This allows you to continue to use the clamp in the polishing steps.
 
Get the smooth, hard leather on a hard backing and some green paste to apply on it . The stuff is cheap . Thank you for serving . DM
 
knifenut1013 said:
DMT 8x3 in XC,C,F,EF plus a aligner clamp would be a excellent start. That would get you very sharp and be a very useful grit range. For further refinement DMT diamond compounds on 1/2in thick balsa would get you to that mirror finish hair splitting sharpness. FYI, 1/2in balsa is the exact height of the 8x3 stones with the rubber feet attached. This allows you to continue to use the clamp in the polishing steps.
Click to expand...
What is Balsa?
Cheers A.
 
CRossRifles2008 said:
OK, so I have sharpened knives since I was a boy, but never really got any great instruction on it. So I never got my knives hair splitting sharp, just sharp enough. I am very mechanical, just never really researched this skill. I know of stropping, but never done it, and I know of the Lansky System, Smith Precision System, and Bench stones. I know if your not very good at following the angle you could start to get a rounded edge that doesn't stay sharp very long. I currently own a Smith Precision Sharpening System that sharpens at to angles 20 Degree & 25 Degree. I have decided this is not versatile enough for me. Thus I need advice on how to become a hair spiting knife sharpener, and what to purchase.

Like if I go bench stone should I get this one?
http://smithsedge.com/products/product.asp?id=41&cid=4

Should I Go Lansky?

Whatever I use what method?
Click to expand...
I don't know if I would even start with a clamp or angle guide etc. I would get one or more cheap knives and start freehand sharpening. You have to master the technique so start doing it. I think the main problem is to find the right freehand technique that works for you. There are many different ways and most are posted somewhere here or on Youtube etc. I am still not very good and have not been doing it for long but what works for me is a coarse diamond stone for regrinding and 2 japanese waterstones, 1000 grit and 3000 grit. I sit when I do it, almost at the height where the stone is sitting and the stone is kind of going away from me so I look at the short side of the stone. At first I use a reference height which sits on the stone that gives me the idea of how high the spine needs to be for a given angle that U want (e.g. for 20 degree per side with a blade "height" of 25 mm the spine needs to be about 8 mm high). I found an online calculator for that. I start sharpening always towards me, I find I am more consistent that way and "when the blade comes back" to the reference height, I am able to adjust the angle a bit. Once I have the edge "set" on the diamond stone you will be able to "feel" where you are on the finer stones and don't need the reference height anymore. I get my knife almost shaving now which I find is pretty good for a beginner and it gives me the confidence to be able to do that outdoors one day. Problems will occur with very big knives but that's another story. By the way, I also used the medium and fine profile rods from Spyderco freehand and that worked really well too and it's less messy. Probably excellent for outdoors sharpening.
Thanks, A.
 
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