I'm in the club!

V

Vegas Blade

Joined
Feb 9, 2012
Messages
902
After many, many so so attempts at freehand sharpening, usually with very dismal results, I've finally got it!! Last night I broke down and Sharpied my edge. I then took one stroke and checked it, then another, checked it, etc. I finally got a knife that is genuinely sharpened on a stone and it is SICK!!! It eats through rope and meat. What I found was that I was WAAAY too obtuse on my angle, and needed to lay her down more. The Sharpie doesn't lie. It shows you when you have it exactly right. Rub, rub, rub, check for burr, rotate and repeat. I also noticed that there is most definitely a "feel" when your angle is right and you are hitting your edge. So my "words of sharpening wisdom" 1)use a Sharpie at first to ensure your angle. 2) keep it closer to flat than you probably think. 15* per side for a 30* inclusive is not very high with the back edge of your knife. 3) Go slow and check your progress often.

I know that the biggest post question on here besides "what's the best EDC for under $XX.xx?" is "how do I freehand sharpen my new XXXX knife?" But I finally got it and wanted to share in hopes of helping others in the quest. Thanks for reading, and feel free to respond.

Now, "What's the best EDC for under.....?" :-)
 
that actually inspires me to get kid of my smiths kit and pull out the stones ive used once. that sharpie idea is a good one!! Congrats and thanks.
 
garykentjr said:
that actually inspires me to get kid of my smiths kit and pull out the stones ive used once. that sharpie idea is a good one!! Congrats and thanks.
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Welcome to the forum. Hang out here a while and you'll pick up lots of good info.
 
@ Chris: :-), good one. I do in fact, and I'm spending toooo dang much on them of late. There is a certain member here, not naming names, but it sounds very much like "Wire edge", has been supplying my habit too much!!! These Millies are like a drug. :-) BTW, it's cool you remembered that.

On that note, and more in line with the topic, I actually achieved my first "hair whittling edge" last night! I must admit that it was on my Sharpmaker though. I went 100 sofffft, smooooth strokes on the diamond rods, this got both sides very even and very symmetrical. I then moved to the brown stones for another 100 soooooft/smooooth strokes. I got one of my wife's long blonde hairs and after a few attempt, it looked like a feather stick. :-) I was really excited. Mrs. VegasBlade just gave me her best "this guy's an idiot smile" and said "oh, great honey, is the eternal quest now over??"

BTW- BG42 is capable of really, really sharp edges. No doubt do to the cleanliness of the steel.
 
Glad to hear that! I'm still yet to achieve every time hair splitting level, but as long as it's ok to shave with then it's ok for my EDC.

Checking back this sub forum & reading the basics such as the stickies help to remind me again & again.
 
That's pretty sweet when you can sharpen your knives freehand! I enjoy freehand way more then my wicked edge. So it just sits collecting dust...

I'm glad you spent the time and had the patience to get a sharp edge on the stones. You will be able to get that hair whittling sharp edge freehand next. Keep up the practice my friend :)
 
I saw somewhere where a dude drew a couple different lines on the side of his stone of various common angles with a sharpie so he could line up his knife with it by eye looking down sighting it with the line to get the angle right. Simple and ingenious idea! Who woulda ever thought thought a marker by the name "Sharpie" would prove so valuable in knife sharpening!?!
 
I learned very early to use permanent marker on the edge. Saved me a lot of time and let me get proper edges until I got a tool that could reprofile properly. Even once I had my belt sander, it still helped me see how close I was to hitting the apex and where I needed to focus on grinding. It makes me wonder how any knives were sharpened before markers existed.
 
dkb45 said:
I learned very early to use permanent marker on the edge. Saved me a lot of time and let me get proper edges until I got a tool that could reprofile properly. Even once I had my belt sander, it still helped me see how close I was to hitting the apex and where I needed to focus on grinding. It makes me wonder how any knives were sharpened before markers existed.
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Patina?
 
just don't use the "Industrial Super Permanent" sharpie... that's what I had handy and I had to use Brakleen to get it off my Grip blade :) Regular Sharpie is just fine...
 
N8N said:
just don't use the "Industrial Super Permanent" sharpie... that's what I had handy and I had to use Brakleen to get it off my Grip blade :) Regular Sharpie is just fine...
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Alcohol or acetone should take it right off. I use 90% isopropyl to get everything off: skin oil (on my face with a cotton ball), marker, adhesive, gunk build up on old knives, etc. A liquid of a million uses.
 
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