Hi there, I'm new to the knife hobby and just found this great forum. I read a bunch of threads and all the lengthy guides and learned alot. I had no idea there was so much to know, like edge profiles, micro serrations, steel types, sharpening techniques for different uses and all that.. my head is still spinning.
I want to get some quality knives like a Fallkniven F1, Mora 2000 and maybe a RAT3 or 5 in 1095, and maintainence supplies to go along. Right now I just have some cheap S&W HRT fixed blades.
I think I get how the mousepad/wetdry technique works for the convex edge, and stropping with green veritas sounds easy enough, but what grits do I getand when do I use which ones? Would just stropping often be enough until it sees some heavy use?
I've been practicing the burring technique on some kitchen knives on a cheap stone, not sure what its made of but I'm pretty good with it so I want to go that route instead of getting a system. What kind of stones would you recommend for me? I'm looking at some 6" DMT diasharps, not sure which grits to get, I could probably afford 2. I hear diamond remove metal the fastest so maybe I'd be better off with a different material?
I read a ceramic rod is preferred to use after the stones but before the stropping phase? Where does steeling fit in? What kind of steeler should I get? The main thing I'm not sure of is which grit to use and when, depending on the current sharpness of the blade, how do you judge the proper grit to use? That all sounds very complicated.
Sorry for all the questions, Ive got alot on my mind. Thanks for your time, I'll appreciate any advice.
I want to get some quality knives like a Fallkniven F1, Mora 2000 and maybe a RAT3 or 5 in 1095, and maintainence supplies to go along. Right now I just have some cheap S&W HRT fixed blades.
I think I get how the mousepad/wetdry technique works for the convex edge, and stropping with green veritas sounds easy enough, but what grits do I getand when do I use which ones? Would just stropping often be enough until it sees some heavy use?
I've been practicing the burring technique on some kitchen knives on a cheap stone, not sure what its made of but I'm pretty good with it so I want to go that route instead of getting a system. What kind of stones would you recommend for me? I'm looking at some 6" DMT diasharps, not sure which grits to get, I could probably afford 2. I hear diamond remove metal the fastest so maybe I'd be better off with a different material?
I read a ceramic rod is preferred to use after the stones but before the stropping phase? Where does steeling fit in? What kind of steeler should I get? The main thing I'm not sure of is which grit to use and when, depending on the current sharpness of the blade, how do you judge the proper grit to use? That all sounds very complicated.
Sorry for all the questions, Ive got alot on my mind. Thanks for your time, I'll appreciate any advice.