Learning on Arkansas

[Old Lincoln Pipe Welder]

Tonight I owe my Arkansas stones a debt of gratitude. Over the last few days they’ve helped me learn exactly what I’ve been doing wrong with my sharpening technique and have helped me get my first shaving sharp edge!

My death grip and pressure I was using on my diamond stones was so counterproductive that I ruined a Spyderco Para 2 and I was at my wits end. I told myself I needed to go back to what I first learned on and boy was I glad I trusted my gut and bought a Dan’s Arkansas.

I really lightened my pressure I was using to where it felt like I was feathering the edge across the stone. Little by little I saw the scratch pattern form, it completely covered the side and I saw the tiniest burr on the edge under light. I did the same on the other side and slowly began to take the burr off.

Lastly thanks to a $16 microscope I bought on Amazon I noticed also that when I thought I had the burr knocked off I didn’t. Since I finally had a better understanding of what was going on after stropping a while I had it shaving arm hair!

Imho I feel like the Arkansas are perfect for anyone to learn technique on. It was grabbing the blade where the rough spots were and they were definitely telling me when my angle was too high. I guess the saying is true; they do “Talk” to you. Anyway. I know there’s a lot of people on here who can sharpen better than I can. And probably don’t care. But I’m simply ecstatic that practice and patience has finally paid off!

 

[jpm2]

Now that you know you were using too much pressure, you can try the diamond again with the new found technique and see what happens.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I actually learned the light touch on diamond hones first. They richly reward a very light touch and really punish a heavy touch. Diamond hones drove me crazy for a long time before I figured that out. After discovering what worked there, it all carried beautifully into the other stones I tried after (including Arkansas).

Everybody follows a different path to get to where it all finally 'clicks'. Getting there is the important thing. It's a nice feeling when that happens.

 

[Old Lincoln Pipe Welder]

Ye

Now that you know you were using too much pressure, you can try the diamond again with the new found technique and see what happens.

Yes sir I did! I got a very nice and very toothy edge off the extra course DMT by itself. This morning I took it to the course stone, I stopped it, and I was amazed. Then when I laid my girls down for a nap, I took it to the soft Arkansas for the hell of it. I now have an awesome edge, and I’m grinning from ear to ear!

I swear. Sharpening edc knives is almost as bad as a crack addiction! I’m hooked!!

 

[Old Lincoln Pipe Welder]

I actually learned the light touch on diamond hones first. They richly reward a very light touch and really punish a heavy touch. Diamond hones drove me crazy for a long time before I figured that out. After discovering what worked there, it all carried beautifully into the other stones I tried after (including Arkansas).

Everybody follows a different path to get to where it all finally 'clicks'. Getting there is the important thing. It's a nice feeling when that happens.

Yes sir it is! I appreciate everything I’ve learned from people like you who share their knowledge with everyone. My wife says I’ve I’m obsessed with it now lol.

You’re absolutely right about rewarding light touch. I tried my best to reprofile my Para to and failed. I was really blown when spyderco told me I can’t purchase a replacement blade for it. So when the opportunity presents itself, I’m going to frame it somewhere in my shop as a testament to Perseverance.

 

[Old Lincoln Pipe Welder]

Here’s how bad I messed up my Para 2 Compared to the Para 3 curve.. ugh ‍

 

[Old Lincoln Pipe Welder]

For some reason I can’t show the picture of my knives. But the picture shows the Normal Para 3 with the typical Spyderco curve, and the Para 2 with a completely straight edge! Haha