Norton econo stone review Vid

[David Martin]

I agree, stropped past refinement stage is actually defeating the objective edge.

Well, said. I do not care for greater refinement beyond coming off a 300 grit stone. Which, has been show numerous times to be very sharp. Easily cutting every hair it touches and cross cutting newspaper. There is room for a different thinking and approach here without being put down as second rate. DM

 

[David Martin]

Even though the knife lacks execution it's steel is known to take a fine edge. So, this helps in the cutting. DM

 

[HeavyHanded]

Good job. Much different than the method I used on my wooden strop. This could be a clue why I didn't get the same results. Nor do I plan on using that method, the waterstone method. I may work some more at it. I could almost hear several of the posters here take a deep gasp of air when watching your video, saying, O, may, see he's sawing to cut the paper. However, your not at all, its more of a equal push cut with some movement. Still, its very sharp and many here don't understand this level is even possible coming off a mere 280 grit stone. So, perhaps hard to swallow. DM

Yeah, I'm holding it at an angle to the paper and the majority of the cutting is in one spot on the blade as it came off the stone, so perhaps a bit of 'static draw'. Carbon steel, 440c, or Aus8 will show a touch more refinement yet, especially if one mops up the slurry on the stone and uses that on the plain newspaper. The EKA using 12c27 Sandvik (and the Bark River blade I own with the same steel) isn't the best choice for a toothy edge either. When I first got it I thought it might have a bad heat treat - kept using finer stones and it kept cutting toothy - even continued to look fairly toothy under magnification. On a 6k waterstone it finally started to cut like most of my knives off a 1200. To show it in best possible way I should have had some unmolested newspaper to cut. This steel prefers to be worked pretty fine but felt it should respond well enough for a demo, especially as I wanted to show method more than super duper results - and it needed a touch-up anyway.

 

[David Martin]

Ok, I think that steel will ultimately take a finer edge than the steels you mention by taking it to a finer grit stone. It would also have performed better with a fine hollow grind. Still, a indisputable point was made
toward how a nice and very sharp edge can be obtained using a lower grit stone. Then with some know how and technique this can be refined to a level of a 4-500 grit stone where it will deliver good push cutting abilities. Thus, the conclusion is that not a arsenal of finer stones are required. Thanks, for showing this. DM

 

[HeavyHanded]

Ok, I think that steel will ultimately take a finer edge than the steels you mention by taking it to a finer grit stone. It would also have performed better with a fine hollow grind. Still, a indisputable point was made
toward how a nice and very sharp edge can be obtained using a lower grit stone. Then with some know how and technique this can be refined to a level of a 4-500 grit stone where it will deliver good push cutting abilities. Thus, the conclusion is that not a arsenal of finer stones are required. Thanks, for showing this. DM

Was working late last night and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror - hadn't shaved in a day and a half so I used the same knife and gave myself a quick shave in the mens room. With a little soap and hot water it was a respectable job, so a combination stone and a piece of oak with compound = a seriously sharp edge with the simplest of tools. Many ways of getting a good edge, this is another one. I wanted to illustrate the hardwood method anyway and this gave a good excuse. Mostly though I guess I wanted to illustrate how I do the actual grinding handwork. A lot of people that would like to learn freehanding or improve their technique, really cannot understand specifics without seeing it done. And this is just one way - food for thought. Reading someone discussing how they fold a burr, or work a stone is not the same as seeing it for even a few seconds, let alone raising, flipping, eliminating, refining etc. As far as I'm concerned, the edge turned out plenty sharp enough to not embarrass me - always good since I have no way of editing my clips and was relying heavily on my familiarity with the stone. Also a very clear example of what can be done with an econo stone - not saying I do it best, this stone is disrespected, or anything of the sort. That said, I do welcome anyone to produce better in a video format with the same tools - if I can improve markedly with this set-up, I genuinely want to see how!

Another item I'd like to see become a sticky along with the ones J D Wijbenga linked to, would be a thread with links to all the freehand videos that have been posted, all in one place. There are newbies posting every two or three days on the forum re freehanding who would hit the motherlode if they could watch many of the linked videos in one place.

How does one create a 'sticky' anyway?

 

[pjwoolw]

Great videos and your technique is outstanding!

 

[Magnaminous_G]

I do welcome anyone to produce better in a video format with the same tools - if I can improve markedly with this set-up, I genuinely want to see how!

This is why your opinion is so valuable to me, HeavyHanded. Never mind the extremely useful write ups you've shared with the community on many occasions, *this* is the attitude that makes us all better. I was so inspired by your and knifenut's comments on my last video, that you could say it put the fire under me. I hit the stones with a vengeance (link to redux video here: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1019082-knife-sharpening-video-redux-(humble-pie)). If you've got additional observations and comments, HIGHLY WELCOME!! Always.

 

[awestib]

Again, great video HH and great contribution to the BF community!! I adopted your technique and I now use a dotted diamond stone (red color) for the initial burr work and the same stone to remove the burr. I know I am not quite there yet to remove it entirely since my edges get significantly better once I strop them on green compound so I believe there is always a bit a burr left - one day though ...