Keeping INFI sharp

FTR-14c · Mar 3, 2015

I've been off for a while experimenting and using other knife brands and steels. Mostly 3v with a little 5160 and 52100. There are a lot of great companies that are really putting out some fine products. Recently I've been back spending more time with Busse. The first thing I've noticed that I totally forgot about is how easy it is to bring back an edge with INFI. I beat up one of my edges using a Scotch Bright belt to polish a blade and was certain it would have to be sharpened. It felt completely dull to the touch. Before doing that I gave it two or three light passes on a ceramic rod followed by a few strokes on a leather strop. To my relief, the edge was screaming sharp again.... I mean blazing sharp! I've had no problems touching up other steels and keeping them sharp but today I was reminded that INFI is noticeably easier to sharpen and maintain.

drrickso · Mar 4, 2015

yeah I used a battle mistress to chop some branches and it got back to razor sharp after a couple of passes with the ceramic and couple more with the strop... and that's when my INFI-obsession began.

duramax · Mar 4, 2015

You gotta love that about INFI !!!! Currently I use a sharp maker and DMT guided kit. What are you using for ceramic rods ? Been searching just haven't decided what to order ?

Brummie · Mar 4, 2015

I was using a dremel to modify my skinny B4 once - grinding out a proper choil. I slipped with the dremel and touched part of the edge - lightly, but enough to blunt it. I was amazed when a few passes on a strop was enough to bring it back to sharp.

AmericanAsApple3.14 · Mar 4, 2015

duramax said:
You gotta love that about INFI !!!! Currently I use a sharp maker and DMT guided kit. What are you using for ceramic rods ? Been searching just haven't decided what to order ?

I'm curious about the ceramic rods also - I don't have a lot of experience with sharpening so I've thought of getting one of those guided systems, but do those work well for just touching up an edge?

duramax · Mar 4, 2015

essentialsplus said:
I'm curious about the ceramic rods also - I don't have a lot of experience with sharpening so I've thought of getting one of those guided systems, but do those work well for just touching up an edge?

The sharp maker works really well imho use it a lot on my small to med INFI - sr 101. The DMT as long as you stay with the extra fine stone, works really well too. But I'll always go to my strops first for a quick tune up.

drrickso · Mar 4, 2015

I used the WEPS Ceramics

FTR-14c · Mar 4, 2015

At the moment I'm using a Smiths 9" oval ceramic rod. It is just shy of 3/4" wide so there is a lot of real-estate on it. Its nothing special but has worked wonders. The key is getting that angle right, a few well placed passes does the job.

EDIT to add:
Keeping the ceramic clean is very important, it doesn't take much to clog it up.
I use Comet or Ajax with a scrubby pad. The difference is night and day after a cleaning.