Need some tips for sharpening system

iMarcoU · Dec 28, 2015

Hi all,

Just received some cool gear for sharpening.

A lansky Arkansas sharpening system

Not very experienced with sharpening, maybe there are some users on this forum that use this system to. Can you guys please help me with some tips to get razor sharp edges?

Thanks in advance

stkh22 · Dec 28, 2015

Check youtube for how to videos, I have learned alot by watching those. You can also check out the Maintenance section for tips here http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/794-Maintenance-Tinkering-amp-Embellishment

I advise using a knife you don't care about to practice, maybe pick up a inexpensive paring knife at walmart for like $3 to play with before jumping into your own.

bflying · Dec 28, 2015

The best tip I can give is to go the maintenance section and start reading all of the threads on sharpening. You'll know when you've read enough because you will look up, and an entire year will have passed by.

Here's a link....

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php/794-Maintenance-Tinkering-amp-Embellishment

iMarcoU · Dec 28, 2015

Both, thanks a lot! Did not know yet of this part of the forum.

Twindog · Dec 28, 2015

The key is going to be raising a burr and then properly removing it. If you practice on a thin, cheap kitchen knife, you'll build those skills faster and easier.

Pondoro2310 · Dec 28, 2015

I agree with what has been said. I've got the Lansky with synthetic stones (not Arkansas). I like it.

If you can fine a carbon steel paring knife versus stainless I think you'll find it easier to learn on.

iMarcoU · Dec 28, 2015

Thanks for the tips, going to read some more about sharpening on this forum and try it tomorrow on a old/cheap/dull knife. I will post the results!

Helleri · Dec 28, 2015

I have one broad tip. Be methodical and consistent. There are a lot of little points in technique that people will recommend. But what ever you end up doing when it comes to the small specifics. Decide on an approach before you start. In my experience what will get you the worst results is not having your mind made up about what exactly you are doing in a given sharpening session.

For instance: Starting out with a single pass on each side, before alternating to the other side; But then at some point, finding that you have slipped into making 2-3 passes on a given side, before you flip it over. Or even doing more passes on one side than the other. As apposed to deciding before hand that you will only use a set number of passes per side before turning it over and not allowing yourself to deviate from that.

I am not saying that you should never change your method. Just not within a single session. If you get a bad result. Having at least gotten a bad result with a consistent method, will help you remember exactly what you did. And it will help you consciously decide what to change with your next attempt. And when you start to get good results, it won't be an accident or a mystery as to how you managed that. You will know exactly what is making things better and what is making things worse.