Noob needs help--Sharpening my SAK (my nightmare?)

[JohnnyR]

...

If you can learn to sharpen free hand, you'll be able to touch up your knife on just about any coffee mug bottom, brick, top of car window, anywhere, at any time. You won't need a gadget to lean on.

That is a great post and I'm going to save it to a Word file and keep it handy. Thanks jackknife. I'd just add that if you do use the bottom of a coffee mug, make sure you drink all the coffee first.

 

[Foilist]

I was just about to mention the coffee cup trick. The unglazed base is fine enough grit for touch-ups.

The people at work think I'm a little nuts when I do this in the break room.

 

[daemonza]

The coffee up trick sounds interesting. Use it just like a normal stone?

 

[Foilist]

The coffee up trick sounds interesting. Use it just like a normal stone?

Yup, just draw is across the unglazed ring around the base. If you think about it, it is no different than a ceramic sharpener.

 

[chainsawbrutality]

Okay max, we're gonna fix it. Do exactly what I tell you, and we'll get the knife pretty sharp. Your stone will do just fine for now, but later get a DMT or Eze-lap diamond hone. I carry a Eze-lap model L in my wallet with most of the red plastic handle cut off so it will fit in the zipper compartment.

Thanks for this small tutorial, I appreciate it.

Do you recommend anything other than a DMT or Eze-lap for sharpening blades? Would a DMT diafold or Eze-lap be enough to sharpen most blades, or do you have more sharpening tools you use for other blades?

 

[thejamppa]

I sharpen my SAK with whet stone, oilstone, Crock sticks 1500-2000 grit sandpaper, whcih ever is available to by my hands reach. Crockstics are good if you're hurry or want to learn sharpening. That is how I learned to put free hand about 20 degree angle.

I always strop my SAK's these days. With BR's green stuff. With what you sharpen doesn't really matter. Its how you sharpen and that comes down to skill. Practise, practise and practise. When you learn how to sharpen its fun.

 

[znapschatz]

I was just about to mention the coffee cup trick. The unglazed base is fine enough grit for touch-ups.

The people at work think I'm a little nuts when I do this in the break room.

The coffee up trick sounds interesting. Use it just like a normal stone?

Yup, just draw is across the unglazed ring around the base. If you think about it, it is no different than a ceramic sharpener.

Every old lady knows the "trick." That's how my grandmother used to sharpen her knives.

 

[jackknife]

Thanks for this small tutorial, I appreciate it.

Do you recommend anything other than a DMT or Eze-lap for sharpening blades? Would a DMT diafold or Eze-lap be enough to sharpen most blades, or do you have more sharpening tools you use for other blades?

A DMT or Eze-Lap is good enough for any knife out there. It's all I've been using for the past twenty years or so. And the pocket size ones at that. I have the diafold, and the bigger Eze-lap hones, but they are in the drawer, and rarely get used. I use the little red Eze-lap model L with most of the plastic handle cut off, so I can use it anywhere, as it's right therre in my wallet. If I have my pants on, I have the means to sharpen my knife.

But any decent stone will do the job. Sometimes, just for yuks, I will use my old Boy Scout pocket stone. Thats a grey carborundum pocket stone in a nice leather case, abut an inch wide, and maybe three inches long. The carborundum gets the knife just as sharp as the diamond hones. Remeber one thing; its not the tool, but how you use it. My dad used to touch up the kitchen knives on the bottoms of coffee mugs, and it drove mom nuts. Get good with whatever small hone you choose, and you'll have a sharp knife anywhere. Use the back of your belt to finish it off with a stropping.

Norton brown india stones are great, as is Smiths. But I really do preffer the diamond as its cleaner, works faster, and no mess. Just use dry. If you really want, you can use water to float the particles. I never use any oil, even on real stones.

But whatever you do, just remember theres no rocket science or magic about sharpening a knife. People have been doing it for thousands of years using just a rock. With a bit of practice, you'll never need one of those gizmos.

Oh, the only other sharpening tool I have is for my 12 inch machete. I just use a large mill smooth file. It's what I saw the rain forest guides on our Costa Rica trip use on thier personal machetes. All my pocket knives, fishing knife, and two sheath knives, all get sharpened on a small diamond hone.