Murray Carter's sharpening DVD?

J

James Falor

Joined
Nov 11, 2003
Messages
618
Has anyone in the community seen Murray Carter's DVD--"Introduction to knife sharpening...?" Just curious because I know he is an advocate of water-stones (about which I am clueless) and I would like to become proficient on something other than my old Sharpmaker. Thanks all. Jim SEMPER FI
 
I've never seen the video, but I have seen Murray sharpen a knife in person. I've watched him demonstrate his water stones and his technique. His results are quite impressive. I may be forced to buy his DVD and maybe his water stones if he's at ECCKS in NY next month.
 
It's a good video and he shows you how to make a spooky sharp edge using two waterstones and a tub of water. TedGamble recommends packing a lunch before viewing and I agree. Very long video, but has lots of gems.

Carter bags on the Sharpmaker in the video because it cuts slow and can load with steel. Having had the same thing happen to me with a 1200 grit waterstone (slow cutting and clogging with steel), I don't see the point of pointing fingers at ceramics.

Great video, though, and very helpful if you have any fears of freehand sharpening. QuietOneD recommends not watching it with the love of your life because she might ask why you want more than two waterstones when that's all Murray Carter uses.
 
The love of my life did not inquire about how many waterstones I had, but watched the whole video. I nodded off about 1/2 way through.

She thought ol Murray was a real hottie and why didn't I have any of his knives and did ALL knifemakers look like him, and why did I cut my hair, get fat, go gray, ect,ect,ect.

Guess if I want another Shapton Pro I'll just say, "Murray said so." LOL

Rob
 
Someone posted in another forum that they had talked to Murray Carter, and he was going to come out with another DVD this summer, that he said would be better.

cbw
 
The video is atrociously edited....meaning it is not edited at all. For about 1.5 hours you just watch a guy sharpening and hear him talk about sharpening.....

.....but that guy happens to be Murray Carter and you can learn A LOT just by watching him what he is doing. Its not everyday you get to watch a master at his work, and what he says and shows makes sense. He is very unpretentious about it, too.

Bottom line, it is probably the best sharpening video out there (only IMHO of course). Even though I have modified a few minor things that I found worked better for me, the way I sharpen a knife goes directly back to what I have learned from that video..... But boy, do I wish someone would have cut the video and separated it into chapters.
 
I agree with HoB. It could benefit from being edited properly. The one thing you can never get from a video is the feeling of steel on water stones. That's the practice part. I may not agree with everything in the video but I think I've used every tip there at some point so even what I don't fully agree with has been useful, I still don't like drawing through wood to pull off a burr.

The wife does still bring up the "why do you need more stones? Murray Carter only needs two stones." My answer now is let me go to Japan for a couple years, practice, and work and I'll be able to do it with two stones, a piece of concrete, and a hunk of cardboard. Usually I get to buy a new stone.

Murray Carter does have a lot to answer for including my growing stone collection.
 
I personally liked that it wasn't edited or shortened. Yes it is on the boring side but it does show that you do need to do some grinding to get right down to the edge and sharp. It's a great video and I wish it was available 15 years ago.
 
I guess I'll need to buy it and watch for myself. I have one of Murray's hand-forged (Hitachi White and 416- laminate) neck knives and I'm having a heck of a time getting her back to the hair-splitting edge she had when I got her. I'm using a Sharpmaker too which I know he doesn't use. I appreciate all the info and opinions! Jim SEMPER FI
 
Haven't seen it but I'm thinking about getting it. Can anyone tell me how much the set up would cost to implement his sharpening method? (i.e. how many stones and how much, any other equipment, etc.)
 
He only uses 2 stones a 1000 and a 6000. I'd also ad another coarser stone to that like 220. He also shows you that you can get a edge by useing a building block and a piece of cardboard if you want to go real cheap. :)
 
This setup is $54 plus s/h and includes the ever useful stoneholder and everyone's favorite nagura stone (some use it to raise a slurry for fine polishing; some use it to clean and flatten the 6000 grit stone; some use it for both; some don't use it at all and are just as happy as those who do). This combination grit waterstone cost $23 plus s/h and you can add the stone holder for $10 more.

You'll benefit from having a way to flatten your waterstones, too. Flat glass with 220 grit SiC paper works pretty good though diamonds are faster (but more expensive).
 
I have no idea what a 3 foot diameter wet wheel costs. But I want one. That part of the video really made me drool. I still don't have a clue how they even build them. Somehow the wife kind of skips over Murray Carter having that in his bag of tricks.

A 2x6 chunk planed off makes a good stone holder. Wet the wood and the stone and put it down. It does stay. I just ordered this set for the wife so she wouldn't use my stones. These will be HERS. A bit more than I wanted to pay but it's for valentines day so what the heck.
 
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