I think its time to level up

justman, with practice you can get even bevels and grinds with the paper wheels that will rival the W E and the Edge Pro short of measuring with a caliper. In other words, your naked eye would have a hard time telling the difference between the two. The only thing that the other systems have in their favor is the ability to turn out mirror finishes. The wheels can turn out a near mirror finish in about 5 minutes. There will be inconsistencies with the wheels until you become proficient with them. However, with some practice knives or even some old hack saw blades, you can learn how to get excellent results in a short period of time. Just go slow and carefully and observe what happens when you are grinding and stropping on the wheels. The slotted wheel is your strop, so really there is no need for a leather strop unless you are going for a "show off" edge. Nothing wrong with a "show off" edge, but for every day use, the wheels will give you an edge to be proud of with room for bragging and showing off the practical useable edge that can be had with them.

About the only thing that can really out preform them without spending hundreds of dollars and lots of time would be some Japanese water stones, and they require a good bit of a learning curve. I can take a knife with some decent steel that is butter knife dull, and have it shaving hair off your arm and push cutting phone book paper in about 5 or 6 minutes. Hard to beat with other systems. Of course this is just my observations over the last several years, and my opinion. Take it with a grain of salt as everyone has an opinion, and opinions are like arm pits: everyone has one, and most won't pass the smell test. :eek:

Blessings,

Omar
 
OHALLUM said:
Now that might work if you can get the sandpaper to stay on. Make several with different grits on them. However if only 1/4 inch width, you would need some good glue on them. Perhaps some 3/4 or 1 inch would be easier. Lots of flywheel effect once you got them puppies spinning:) Especially if 1 inch was used. Not for me, but good thinking outside the box there Czechmate!

Blessings,

Omar
Click to expand...

Yeah, there's definitely potential issues with the DIY idea; I'm still going to try to build at least one wheel just to see what happens. :foot::D

In speaking with Richard J he mentioned a 1/4" wheel as being useful for recurves and other blades with tricky profiles as the narrow wheel makes them easier to sharpen...

I'll post pics as well as my "findings" if I do build one. :D
 
no your not messing the thread up, I think I got all the info I can get and I have already ordered my bench grinder and paperwheels, I went the cheap route, Harbor freight 6 inch buffer and paper wheels that cost me about 30 bucks, so far Ive spent 70 dollars but still need to get a bench grinder stand and speed controller. it seems like I will be spending another 50 or so. and then I will probably go spend about 20 bucks on thrift store knifes as to hone my technique(pun intended) so it seems Ill be all set and the final price tag is under 150.
 
Make sure that your HF buffer will work on a speed controller before getting one. Also, you can just sit the buffer on a work bench or the kitchen table as it is quite lite. Mine has never been bolted down and just sits on a piece of carpet sample on my work bench. I have hauled it up from the basement and used it on the kitchen table. The thrift store knives will be money well spent. I still have the ones I bought, and use them to lend to friends while I have their knives to sharpen up. Good luck!

Blessings,

Omar
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top