Maintaining a convex edge--options

K

Kenniets

Joined
Mar 17, 2011
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Hey everyone, I've got a question. I'm sure this has been answered somewhere sometime, so forgive me for posting a new thread. Truth is, my internet here is dialup, so pics are a luxury and even searching through old threads is a lesson in patience.

What would be the most compact and efficiently portable method for maintaining a convex edge on a khukuri? I'm interested in the combination of equipment that would require. I am aware there are processes involving a belt sander, and have also heard rumors of great stuff involving mousepads...:confused: I can sort the "how-to's" out myself, but was wondering, among all the available methods, which combination of equipment would be lightest and smallest to take and carry around with you? By "efficiently" portable, I mean something that's not going to get used-up quickly like sandpaper might. And by "maintain" I mean you should be able not just to straighten the edge but also to renew it after serious use. So don't get cheeky and say all you need is a chakmak and the leather belt you're wearing :D

Thanks in advance for the advice. It's great to have people around who have "been there, tried that." I'm not looking to debate the merits of a convex edge in this thread; just to find out, suppose I did want to keep it on the khuk, what would I have to lug around with me?
 
The cakmak provided will work plenty fine for field edging. for detail edging the old mousepad and sandpaper trick work best.
 
You could also contact chefknivestogo.com and ask about a leather strop kit. They make a metal base that holds leather strops that are glued to magnetic strips. I have a pair and a couple of different grits of compound. I don't remember his name, but the owner was very helpful in getting me started. This would be a more permanent solution compared to sandpaper, which is what I believe you were asking about.

Bill
 
JRE Industries (run by a BF member) sells various strops, some very long, some shorter, that can be rolled up and put in a pack. I bought one that has a sort of dog leash clip on one end that can be used to secure that end to most things via a bit of string or cord, the other end held in hand.

In the field, that's all the sharpening you probably need. If you roll the edge, you can use the chakma.

If you are planning an extended field trip, you can pack small stones (say a fine India and a soft Arkansas, and use them. To use them, you hold the blade still and move the stone in circular paths with your other hand, following the convex that is already there). The main thing is to do the convexing at home (or send the blade to someone who can), and then just maintain it from there.
 
I'd go with a small diamond rod. Any small whetstone would work too. I like ceramic rods but they are pretty much for maintenance. They just take off a tiny amount of metal.
 
I'm with my old friend Howard and the use of a diamond rod or diamond tool of any sort but I especially like the DMT Duofold models!:thumbup: :cool:
The reason being they come with their own two piece plastic handle that covers a two sided two diamond grits hone, the handles fold over the hone itself much like a Balisong/Butterfly knife. When I was actively out in the woods where I might encounter old wire fencing and the like I always preferred to carry two different models.
Both a black/blue and a blue/red that gave me three different grits to work with and they're small enough so that it's very easy to carry two of them. Both the black and blue models are very, very aggressive when brand new and only need a very light touch.:)
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Cpl Punishment said:
JThe main thing is to do the convexing at home (or send the blade to someone who can), and then just maintain it from there.
Click to expand...

Correct me if I'm wrong--don't the HI blades come with a convex edge to begin with? That'd save me having to send it anywhere. And, for the bonus question--anyone know what edge the karka comes (or should come) with?

Re: whetstones. Cpl, I have this uncanny ability to break whetstones :D I put them in the pack, I wait through a day's hike, and like magic, I have two smaller whetstones. I've always looked with skepticism on the diamond-based solutions...but you guys might have just convinced me. They're not cheap, but I could save up for them. By the way, for the record, Yvsa, they're called DMT Diafold, not Duofold sharpeners... just wanted to name it correctly here in case someone does a search later.

My main experience with anything other than a traditional whetstone is with waterstones I use to sharpen straight razors. I made a little dough on the side back in the day to help pay tuition by buying trashed straight razors on ebay, replacing the handles as necessary, scrubbing and polishing the metal, and bringing them to shaving sharpness. But those were hollow-ground. This "convex edge" idea is a whole new beast for me...and to be honest I didn't know they existed before I came here!! :confused:

Anyway, if I understand correctly, those two diamond sharpeners plus a chakmak and strop would already be a complete "system" for maintaining a blade? If anybody's got a link to a thread detailing how to use those sharpeners for a convex edge, I'd appreciate it.
 
I guess it would go with two kits: one for quick re-touches and one for camp resharpening.

Diamonds are good, especially if you get them from somewhere like DMT which has a good reputation. Sadly, the best I can get here without ordering from the USA is a Gerber. However, that has the option of being both a burnisher and a rod.

For camping gear, hobo sharpening systems (take wood + glue leather + then glue sandpaper = hobo sharpenign system). That's what I would do. Although I've read on some forum that a sandpaper by itself could do good.
 
Still wondering if the HI's come convexed already. And for the two knives I already own, what would be the cheapest way of initially putting a good convex edge on em?

Re: some cantina talk, I'm not too keen on accumulating more STUFF. I've got a Norton combination 4000/8000 grit waterstone (you can see ones like it here, but mine is like the white and yellow ones sandwiched together) which I absolutely love for my hollow-ground razors. Is a waterstone OK to use on a convex edge? I can't imagine though what technique would be appropriate.
 
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