Lahar question

offsetlover

offsetlover

Joined
Feb 26, 2007
Messages
3,222
hey everyone. i have a simple question about the Lahar's edge. on mine i think that it has a slight burr on a small section of blade. now the knife will pop hair in every direction with every part of the blade except this part, where it will only pop them in one direction when the blade is going away from me, not towards me. im right handed so that should help a lil in the visualization. i am a total perfectionist thus i hate burrs. any one else have this problem? i really dont want to have to send it in for Kershaw to deal with. but like i said im a perfectionist, so i may. btw, i suck at sharpening, and i wouldnt touch this if i wanted to
 
:confused: Shaving arm hairs aside, how else would a burr affect the knife's ability to cut anything else? Why would you send them a knife that has a spot that "only" shaves arm hair in one direction?
 
my point is this. i want the knife to be the same sharpness through-out the entier blade, not with a part that isnt quite the same as the rest. like i said, im a perfectionist with this sorta thing.

also you can hear and feel that part of the edge pulling through paper, while the other parts of the edge just "glide" through

it is hard to explain in a way
 
All you really need to do is align the edge. Try running it, with very light pressure, edge trailing down a fine grit stone a few passes and then strop it.

As long as the edge grind is even you shouldn't have much trouble. No point in worrying about something as simple as a burr on the edge.
 
Psychopomp said:
All you really need to do is align the edge. Try running it, with very light pressure, edge trailing down a fine grit stone a few passes and then strop it.

As long as the edge grind is even you shouldn't have much trouble. No point in worrying about something as simple as a burr on the edge.
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well the grind isnt exactly even n the side with the burr and i compleatly suck at sharpening. would kershaw's sharpening their knives part of their warranty take care of it?
 
offsetlover said:
well the grind isnt exactly even n the side with the burr and i compleatly suck at sharpening. would kershaw's sharpening their knives part of their warranty take care of it?
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Wow, its hard to believe there is an uneven grind on a Lahar, there's probably an edge finisher in the factory in Seki about to commit Seppuku because of your post.

If the edge really is that uneven, then definitely talk to Kershaw about it. Maybe send some pics to the Warranty dept, see what they think (shoot a few to me and I'll compare it to mine). Otherwise, edge care and maintenance is an important part of having knives you intend to use.

Here's a post from Wayne Goddard that might be helpful.
Removing The Wire Edge

There are a ton of other relevant threads throughout the forums.
A good, structured sharpening system might be worthwhile for your next investment. The Sharpmaker seems to get a lot of great feedback.
Also pick up a couple of gas station knives to practice with.

I'd be willing to bet you are like me, and hate the idea of having to part with those hard earned knives just to get something done to them. This is way to help limit that to stuff totally out of your control. :)
 
kneedeep said:
Wow, its hard to believe there is an uneven grind on a Lahar, there's probably an edge finisher in the factory in Seki about to commit Seppuku because of your post.

If the edge really is that uneven, then definitely talk to Kershaw about it. Maybe send some pics to the Warranty dept, see what they think (shoot a few to me and I'll compare it to mine). Otherwise, edge care and maintenance is an important part of having knives you intend to use.

Here's a post from Wayne Goddard that might be helpful.
Removing The Wire Edge

There are a ton of other relevant threads throughout the forums.
A good, structured sharpening system might be worthwhile for your next investment. The Sharpmaker seems to get a lot of great feedback.
Also pick up a couple of gas station knives to practice with.

I'd be willing to bet you are like me, and hate the idea of having to part with those hard earned knives just to get something done to them. This is way to help limit that to stuff totally out of your control. :)
Click to expand...


i will take some pics of it later today and shoot you and Thomas/Kershaw Warranty them. the Lahar isnt going to be abused as much as the JYDII, but i still want that super sharp edge throughout the knife. im so scared to sharpen some of these knives from kershaw (i like shiny edges, and nothing i have makes anything shiny), that i dont know what to do. i'll see what i can get. i wnt post the pics, i'll just send them to you and Kershaw.

ive read alot of those threads and i wish i had some of that stuff that they use :grumpy:
 
Sounds like you might be able to do this job yourself.

It's easier than it often sounds.

Have you seen Ernest Emerson's sharpening page?
He shows you some quick and simple ways to sharpen your knife.
One of them might be just what you're looking for in this situation.

http://www.emersonknives.com/Latest_intel_index.htm (click on the Knife Sharpening tab on the left hand side of the page)
 
The best thing you could do for yourself is learn to sharpen. Practice on some cheap junk knives until you get the angles down and then you're all set.

A Spyderco Sharpmaker is a good investment that has very little learning involved. It won't make a butter knife sharp, but it'll keep a new knife sharp with regular touchups.

Once you get the hang of the Sharpmaker, try your hand at some benchstones. An investment in an extra course, course, medium, fine and extra fine stones will last you a lifetime and give you so many more options on angles and grinds.

Do yourself a favor and learn to sharpen. It's a very therapeutic skill. Sharpening let's you free your mind so that you're concentrating only on the edge of the steel.
 
Psychopomp said:
The best thing you could do for yourself is learn to sharpen. Practice on some cheap junk knives until you get the angles down and then you're all set.

A Spyderco Sharpmaker is a good investment that has very little learning involved. It won't make a butter knife sharp, but it'll keep a new knife sharp with regular touchups.

Once you get the hang of the Sharpmaker, try your hand at some benchstones. An investment in an extra course, course, medium, fine and extra fine stones will last you a lifetime and give you so many more options on angles and grinds.

Do yourself a favor and learn to sharpen. It's a very therapeutic skill. Sharpening let's you free your mind so that you're concentrating only on the edge of the steel.
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+1 on this :thumbup:

Would only add that I'd recommend diamond stones/hones
 
you have a RESPONSIBILITY to learn how to clean, maintain and sharpen them...it is like saying...I SUCK at cleaning guns or I SUCK at caring for children.....no one cares if you suck at it...if you have the knife, gun or child...you HAVE to take care of it.

Otherwise, the knife will get rusty and dull, the gun will jam, and the kids will steal your guns and knives.:D

That said....buck up and practice, practice, practice. Thom Brogan is an excellent resource for patiently walking you through everything you need to know, without calling you a dumbass.

As far as making the edges shiny, that is really easy. Leather belt, used as a strop, and proper polishing compound, which is very inexpensive. Ask Thom to describe how to do it right, and tell him STeven sent you.;)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
Kohai999 said:
you have a RESPONSIBILITY to learn how to clean, maintain and sharpen them...it is like saying...I SUCK at cleaning guns or I SUCK at caring for children.....no one cares if you suck at it...if you have the knife, gun or child...you HAVE to take care of it.

Otherwise, the knife will get rusty and dull, the gun will jam, and the kids will steal your guns and knives.:D

That said....buck up and practice, practice, practice. Thom Brogan is an excellent resource for patiently walking you through everything you need to know, without calling you a dumbass.

As far as making the edges shiny, that is really easy. Leather belt, used as a strop, and proper polishing compound, which is very inexpensive. Ask Thom to describe how to do it right, and tell him STeven sent you.;)

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
Click to expand...

i am trying to learn. i know its my responsibility to learn how to sharpen. its the only thing i cant do well with a knife.
 
Everyone has given you some great places to start.

I can't believe you don't already have some beaters to practice on. (I know when I was your age I already had a bunch of total crap knives, purchased before I knew what was important in a knife. Although you may have gotten a good start :D)

How about that knife shop you go to? I would hope there's someone there with experience sharpening properly that can give you a bit of instruction.
 
kneedeep said:
Everyone has given you some great places to start.

I can't believe you don't already have some beaters to practice on. (I know when I was your age I already had a bunch of total crap knives, purchased before I knew what was important in a knife. Although you may have gotten a good start :D)

How about that knife shop you go to? I would hope there's someone there with experience sharpening properly that can give you a bit of instruction.
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yeah. i do plan on talking to Thom about the finer points of sharpening.

i do have a bunch of crap knives that i have worked on a bit. some have done well, others havnt. non have become super sharp. i will be sending you those pics later on tonight kneedeep.

i guess what bothers me, is that i like the Lahar so much and i want it perfect asap, im scared to touch it. i would rather have the pros take care of it. the JYDII, i will deal with myself.
 
offsetlover said:
i do have a bunch of crap knives that i have worked on a bit. some have done well, others havnt. non have become super sharp.
Click to expand...

Get a marker and color the edge. That way you can see where you're sharpening. You'll always take off steel when you run the blade over the stone, so it'll feel like it should be getting sharper with each pass, but if you're not hitting the edge you're wasting your effort.

I consider myself fairly skilled at sharpening and this is a trick I employ regularly.

Take your time with it. You won't be great at it overnight, but you'll get the hang of it eventually. It's like driving a car, it seems scary as hell at first, but you have to do it. The first time you put that expensive blade on a stone your heart will speed up a little, but you have to do it.

In the end, it's worth it. Keeping a blade sharp removes a lot less steel than sharpening a dull knife.

Good luck.
 
ok folks, you will all be happy to know that i am talking to Thom about stropping a knife. i will get to sharpening eventually, but i have the stuff for stropping availible right now, so i think its the better option. i will get there when it comes to sharpening, eventually
 
Any updates, offsetlover?

STeven,

TJ didn't tell me you sent him. I'd cry in my Rice Crispies, but I'm not sure they are Rice Crispies...
 
thombrogan said:
Any updates, offsetlover?

STeven,

TJ didn't tell me you sent him. I'd cry in my Rice Crispies, but I'm not sure they are Rice Crispies...
Click to expand...

well it looks like i will have to get some sandpaper sometime soon (gotta love college expenses :rolleyes: )

yeah i didn't tell you. im sorry to get your Rice Crispies wet lol

im going to send the Lahar in as soon as i have a box. but dont worry folks, i have the JYDII to work on. the more i use it, the more i will have to keep the edge up (duh).
 
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