Noob Needs Help

DemonicMind666 said:
Haven't really tested it. I know I can sharpen it good enough to cut paper, but after a few minutes of work it doesn't slice paper anymore. Not sure if I'm stropping at the wrong angle or not taking enough time or if I'm just terrible. Lol
Click to expand...
:) you're doing better than I did a year ago

it sounds like stropping didn't remove the burr it just aligned it
and it folds over after 5 min

you should try cutting the burr off like joe calton shows, its faster than stropping

I did this also, after getting first knife to cut stuff, I moved on to a bunch of different ones... and cutting stuff all over the house ...
but my sharpness levels remained about same

its when I went back to doing three sharpenings in a row of same paring knife
that i noticed what I was doing and improved

just keep practicing, you will improve , short thin knife, raise big burr , cut it off, raise big burr, cut it off
 
For some reason I got a knife and my Kukri sharp enough to shave hair off my arm pretty easily, but they wouldn't slice through paper well.
 
Your edge angle is probably overly broad - it can well cut materials that don't require penetration and struggle with those that do.
 
DemonicMind666 said:
So basically I'm getting the knife really sharp, just at too wide an edge?
Click to expand...
Yes, kinda sorta , i think :)

instead of having a V shaped edge, a pointy triangle or pointy appleseed/convex shaped edge,
you have a U shaped edge, a round ball ball shape with a fat short burr sticking out,

this will shave but struggle cutting,

this can happen if you're wobbling or rocking

this happens to me with new knives
or knives that were never sharpened
because the edge was too thick to begin (and too dull)
or when i'm tryiing to lower the angle too much so my wrist rocks/rolls

solution is just just go back and sharpen same knife again, and maybe a third time

as you keep sharpening, you'll start getting more of a V shape,
and the knife won't want to wobble/roll so much
and it will start cutting better
and be easier to sharpen

so just keep at it, it gets easier

to help control wobble
you can maybe change your grip,

when going away from yourself, keep thumb on spine (of blade or handle),

when going toward yourself , keep thumb on the side (of blade or handle) like a pinch grip
you can also use index finger on spine but usually not required
 
bucketstove said:
Yes, kinda sorta , i think :)

instead of having a V shaped edge, a pointy triangle or pointy appleseed/convex shaped edge,
you have a U shaped edge, a round ball ball shape with a fat short burr sticking out,

this will shave but struggle cutting,

this can happen if you're wobbling or rocking

this happens to me with new knives
or knives that were never sharpened
because the edge was too thick to begin (and too dull)
or when i'm tryiing to lower the angle too much so my wrist rocks/rolls

solution is just just go back and sharpen same knife again, and maybe a third time

as you keep sharpening, you'll start getting more of a V shape,
and the knife won't want to wobble/roll so much
and it will start cutting better
and be easier to sharpen

so just keep at it, it gets easier

to help control wobble
you can maybe change your grip,

when going away from yourself, keep thumb on spine (of blade or handle),

when going toward yourself , keep thumb on the side (of blade or handle) like a pinch grip
you can also use index finger on spine but usually not required
Click to expand...

Do you do the back and forth strokes or the forward only? I tried the back and forth today, but I normally just do the forward strokes. I feel like the forward strokes are more precise, but the back and forth is faster and easier.
 
DemonicMind666 said:
Do you do the back and forth strokes or the forward only? I tried the back and forth today, but I normally just do the forward strokes. I feel like the forward strokes are more precise, but the back and forth is faster and easier.
Click to expand...
Yes, to raise a burr I use scrubbing back and forth strokes
To cut the burr off and/or microbevel I do forward strokes only.
 
DemonicMind666 said:
So basically I'm getting the knife really sharp, just at too wide an edge?
Click to expand...

Yeah, probably. You are likely widening the angle as you hunt for the feel of the apex on the stone. When starting out you're liable to have a ton of wobble in your pass. Keep the movements very short so your mechanics have fewer variables to account for. Stop often and observe, use the Sharpie liberally. Work from the shoulder to the edge whenever possible. Keep the spine low, is good to see some of the shoulder being ground back - if you cannot hold a clean angle, make it more acute to begin so as you work it still finishes reasonably acute.

Study the knife and your hands as you move and identify where its wiggling the most as you go. Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect (or at least critical/improving) practice makes perfect. Feel where on the edge you are - the shoulder, flat, and apex all have a different feel on the stone that you can use to guide your movements.

Raise a burr, flip it, remove it, hold good angles - that's all there is to it for the most part.

This is the instructional video that goes with the sharpening block I sell thru my signature below. Skip to about minute 7 for basic sharpening tips.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dYZe5uGoQA
 
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