It feels great-and I'm humbled

A

Acesn8s

Joined
Sep 23, 2012
Messages
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For some time now I've been working away trying to see a little progress with my freehand sharpening. Problem was that's exactly what I was achieving,- little progress. I was starting to think about which of the sharpening systems I'd would need to buy. While contemplating a choice, I continued to plug along with my freehand technique. At one point I decided to increase my angle of contact to what I thought to be ridiculously high. When I stopped to check for results low and behold to my surprise I had imparted a ridge. I quickly grabbed another of my dull blades and was able to repeat the simple act. I was as happy as a child to have finally taken my first baby step in the right direction to sharpening a blade. I worked on my dull blades up through four grits each and although they have not been stropped as of yet, are now dangerously sharp as I warned my wife.These were just stainless kitchen knives, but I feel like I can start working on tougher steels. Apologies to any I have bored with my break-through. But I felt I needed to share with someone before I burst from enthusiasm. Thanks for reading, and sometimes trying what at the time seems useless, is just the ticket to success. I'm humbled-and it feels great.
 
yep gotta try new things =). congrats on the freehand sharpening. I think its definitely a skill worth the countless hours of practice. Now we gotta find out the next step >: )
 
Congratulations on your breakthrough. I'm on the same path you are but I'm considerably further behind ;)
 
Congratulations, to me every breakthrough in sharpening feels like discovering the cure for cancer :D You have plenty more wonderful breakthroughs to come too!
 
It never gets old, at least for me. I still recall the first time I ground a fresh bevel from heel to tip that was even and symmetrical. I marveled at it for a few and then it dawned on me how poorly most factory edges were ground and finished.

Whipping up a beautiful freehand edge is satisfying on many levels. Congrats, you will only improve.
 
Thanks for the words of encouragement guys. May your days be bright, and your knives be sharp.
 
Feels good when that light bulb comes on. Glad you made it.
 
Thanks pjwoolw, for a time there I was afraid it was not going to happen for me, and I wanted it so bad.
 
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Though I didn't realize it at the time, this is essentially the same thing I did when I first discovered micro-bevels. You are cutting a steeper angle onto your primary bevel forming a new more obtuse (but very small) micro-bevel. They get surprisingly sharp!

You can keep doing this and/or move forward to fully grinding the original bevel (at it's lower angle) until you achieve a very sharp edge that way too. It's more work, but a shallower bevel angle will give you a slightly sharper (thinner) edge. It's also very rewarding (for me at least) to see my progress on the relatively large original bevel, as opposed to forming a very thin new microbevel.

Keep at it and enjoy!

Brian.
 
HeavyHanded said:
It never gets old, at least for me. I still recall the first time I ground a fresh bevel from heel to tip that was even and symmetrical. I marveled at it for a few and then it dawned on me "how poorly most factory edges were ground and finished."

Whipping up a beautiful freehand edge is satisfying on many levels. Congrats, you will only improve.
Click to expand...

Amen to that brother !!!!
 
It is an absolutely essential skill for a knife enthusiast. The only way I've ever found to put a truly sharp edge on a blade. Now, the next mountain peak; Get Stropping!
 
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