Im considering using my sharpener for the first time today

I

ItsKYRO

Joined
Sep 17, 2017
Messages
73
Really hesitant to do so and potentially mess up one of my knives.

I have a Sog Spirit new never used thats 440 stainless i figured i could try out my lansky turnbox on.

Its not very sharp out of the box, the edge or the point.

The problem is when I'm using the turnbox how do i know when ive reached desired sharpness? Is there something i can visably see with the naked eye or do i have to keep cutting paper with it?

How will i know if ive done something wrong while using the turnbox?

Do i need any other equipment or can i just take the knife dry run it down the turnbox a few times and it will be decently sharp?
 
Check out YouTube videos and other sharpening articles here that are stickied.

Put some paper tightly on the rod of the turnbox and see if the edge is catching or it slides while you hold that spear you want to sharpen as you would be sharpening it. If it catches then you would be touching up the edge and it should be very quick. If not then it will turn into a reprofiling job which you might not even want to get into with that blade. You can angle it until you see it catch and that will give you a relative indication of what the angle is and how much work its going to be. You can just touch up the edge while it's angled also, but you seem novice and that can just mess it up. I'd practice on something else if i was you.
 
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Well, turnbox works with 20 and 25 degrees setup.
If you are familiar with blade shape and terminology you know what is apex, burr...

I don’t know you knife and don’t know how sharp it is, so you have to sharpen it at same stable angle until reach the apex.
I usually sharpen my knifes until reach a burr, a little tiny small burr.

You can face the apex to you with a very bright light and see if there are light spots shining before sharpening and after each level of sharpening. If yes you probably have a dull knife or if it happen after sharpening session you probably reach a burr.

I don’t know Turnbox (which grit comes with it) but if you need reprofile the bevel then you may need a more coarser stone then finish on it.

It take time, care, patience and attention.
Turnbox have round rod, take care with it, the over pressure can mess you blade because of the low contact area in rounded rods.

Recently I realize that Sharpmaker, Turnbox shape are excelent to remove the burr when you are in final steps of sharpening. With that “V” position is easier to control the pressure of the knife doing very very feather light strokes.

To test it you can search for 3 finger test or finger nail test on YouTube.
I test mines on my arm or leg hair. Or on the food I’ll work.
I also usually use a strop to clean the edge as final step and voiala... I have a sharp knife.

You will know if you did something wrong when you put your knife on sharpener and it back more dull than it come in.

I also recommend to you, as I did, practice, practice, practice before start using anything on the blades you care for.

With practice and evolution you will fell some things that you couldn’t fell on first knife sharpening.
With time you will start question about angles, bevel thickness, stone materials, how to deal with burr, microbevel...

Good luck.
 
Agree with Practice. You can get a cheap $3 dollar and change folding knife at walmart. Use that to practice on (and read the links provided by the other posters above).
 
It is likely that you will mess up the first edge you sharpen so practice on a cheap knife or extra kitchen paring knife or something. (No serrations)

Biggest tip to new sharpeners is to cover the edge in sharpie marker. It will come off as you sharpen. That way you can see where you are hitting the edge and missing. If the sharpie is not being worn you are not hitting that spot.
 
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