Looking for sharpening mentor in Daytona Beach area

[ViperSTD]

I've been trying (with little success) to sharpen by hand for almost two years now! I've read a lot of material on the subject but still haven't got the hang of it. I am looking for someone that is willing to mentor me a bit on this skill. I am unable to learn this from father (because he can't sharpen a pencil) and it is a skill I want to learn so that I may one day pass it on.

If there is anyone in the DB area that would consider sitting down with me and teaching me, I would be very appreciative.

TIA

 

[metallicat]

I hope you find a mentor. Can't help you there. But in case you don't....well I'll take a stab at this. I expect you have reviewed info such as:

http://gpvec.unl.edu/filesdatabase/files/feedlot/sharp1.htm
http://www.handamerican.com/lhone.html
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=90315

These are only tip of the iceberg. At least two skills are required being able to maintain a consistent angle and being able to set an appropriate angle - too shallow an angle and you will be profiling the blade and it may be very long before you actually reach the edge. Too steep and you may not get the sharpness you want. The first skill requires practice. There are all kinds of things to help in learning the second skill - protractors, jigs, and a black marker. Personally I find the marker most helpful because it gives me visual confirmation.

I think all jigs and sharpening system have a bleed over effect and help somewhat in learning free hand skills, especially the edge pro system. I think however that honing a blade helps the most. In honing the blade it is easy to learn the correct angle and in stropping the blade, even though its trailing edge, you learn consistency of angle. From there you can transition to a stone. Unless you let your edges get really dull stropping shoud restore the edge and give you some reward and encouragement while you are learning.

Hope this helps.

 

[roughedges]

I am far from anyone's mentor in anything. So far, in fact, that my name and that word don't belong in the same sentence as one another.

I can put a shaving sharp edge (not SCARY sharp though, not yet) on a blade freehand though. Constant angle is crucial. So far, the only way I have been able to keep a constant angle involves me sacrificing the skin on my thumbs as I slide the blade forward on the stone.

None too bright but it works for me. Also, on a good stone you will not need to apply a lot of pressure, just enough to keep the blade from skipping on the surface. And of course, you'll need to use at least one finer grit stone at the very least to polish the edge and remove the burr.

what kind of stone(s) are you using? and what grits?

 

[ViperSTD]

metallicat:
Thanks for the links and advice. I hadn't seen the stopping link before and reread everything else. I do use a sharpie when I attempt sharpening. I find it does help me get the angle right.

Thanks for the encouragement and info.

what kind of stone(s) are you using? and what grits?

I had/have a lansky before someone "borrowed" it permenantly, a razoredge kit which I don't like at all, and a few other odds and ends. My stones are razor edge course and extra fine (300 and 1200 i I think). I generally try stropping on charged cardboard with mothers aluminum polish.

I really want to learn to do it freehand with a stone, since I love beeing outdoors/backpacking and may oneday need that essencial skill. I am on a tight budget to boot. I know I could use a machine/another lansky/sharpmaker/etc, but I want to have the "old school" aproach down solid... plus I think it would be much more rewarding.

Thanks again

 

[cbwx34]

Hey ViperSTD....

If you have the Razor Edge kit, may I suggest you take another look at it?

The guide is an excellent tutor for learning to sharpen freehand. I used it not quite like the directions.... first, i ground in the primary bevel on the coarse stone without the guide (angle control isn't that important, just keep a low angle). Then, I held the fine stone in one hand, and the knife with guide attached in the other, and paid attention to how my hand & arm moved, and alternated strokes back and forth to set the 2ndary bevel on the fine stone. Then removed the guide and practiced freehand. I learned to put a decent edge on a knife that way.

Use the guide on a decent size knife at first (I bought a cheap fixed blade hunting style knife at WalMart for about $8), then you can use the same technique on smaller/different knives without the guide. Particularly pay attention to how your hand/arm lifts as you near the tip.

Another technique I also like is the method Murray Carter uses in his DVD. I lost the link to where I purchased it... but do a search and I'm sure you'll run across it. Although it's more for waterstones.... he demonstrates sharpening a knife on a brick and strops it on a piece of cardboard using the same technique he shows in his video.

Just a suggestion on the Razor Edge... since you already have it.. and it teaches the "old school" method pretty well.

cbw

 

[ViperSTD]

Just a suggestion on the Razor Edge... since you already have it.. and it teaches the "old school" method pretty well.

cbw

I have it, have read the directions, and do attempt to use it every so often. I have never achieved a hair popping edge or better with it. In my mind, using the guide is cheating. It hasn't taught me that "feel" that I think is lacking.

I find it "ok" but I'm not very happy with it. I much prefer the lansky I had... it was much faster and I had control over the angle... something the razoredge system lacks.

 

[db]

You can do it. It's easy there is no trick or majic to sharpening. It does take time 90% of the time because you probably need to regrind the edge bevels to a point. 95% of the time sharpening needs to be done on your coarse hone. Don't move to a fine hone until the edge bevels on BOTH sides are ground all the way to the edge. Some get a burr and some use a marker to tell when they have gotten to the ege, doesn't matter as long as your to the edge on both sides. Then finish with a few, not many, strokes with a fine hone. If you went the burr methid make sure you grind it off. Thats it, I wouldn't even worry too much about your angle control just don't raise the spine up very much keep it down. That can be hard to do when you think you've been grinding too long and want to rush it by raising the spine just to see if anything is happening. Don't do it.
PS if you go the burr methid you need to hone one side at a time but to keep the edge in the middle switch sides after lets say 40 strokes or so. Pick any number of strokes you want, 20,40, 80, it doesn't really matter.

 

[ViperSTD]

thanks everyone. I will, of course, keep at it. I was hoping to meet someone that would let me watch over their shoulder a bit and share those "secrets" they accumulated over the years.

 

[DGG]

I would suggest that you go to a gun or knife show in the area. Usually there are knife folks there and many offerring sharpening services. Bring a couple of dull knives and a couple of bucks and pick their brain. I have found most to be very friendly and talkative about knife sharpening, types of knives, steels, etc. If one of them has a local shop maybe you could stop by with a box of donuts and ask him to show you how he sharpens.