Novice sharpening question

[jebib]

I just sharpened my fixed blade knife with the lansky system. I used medium,fine, and extra-fine. I set the angle at 25% and used 15 strokes for each stone. Further I only pushed (slightly) toward the blade for the sharpening action. Finally, I used my thumb to steady the guide rod when pushing the stone. When I got done to check my work, using the pull your thumb across the blade on both sides I was dismayed to find that while on one side the blade had that edgy feel that I associate with a sharp knife on the other side of the blade, nothing. What am I doing wrong?

 

[tueller]

hmmm. hopefully someone else will come along with more insight than me but here is my guess.

Either or both these things: Maybe you created a bur so one side felt sharp and the other didn't. Light stropping on anything will be an easy fix for this. The other possibility is the 25% angle may not have been enough of an angle. So you were reprofiling the edge but not hitting the actual edge. Depending on the size of the blade it might need a 18% to 22% edge.

Just my guesses. Hopefully you get it figured out.

 

[Bill Hoffman]

Perhaps nothing. I suspect what you're feeling is the burr on one side.
Try stropping the blade on a leather or denim strop and see if the blade
is now sharp.

 

[ChristoDart]

Watch some of the wicked edge YouTube videos. The guy on there explains getting your burr pretty well. Also, try marking your edge with a sharpie. It will help you visually see if you're hitting the apex of the edge you're trying to create. From what you're saying it does sound like you're feeling the burr on the 'edgy' side. +1 on trying to strop it away. Hook a belt around something, pull it tight, then strop.

 

[samuraistuart]

To me it does sound like you have the burr pushed over to one side only. However, if all you do is strop, then yes you will align that burr and make it straight, but the burr will be the edge, and will quickly be knocked off and then go dull.

I would advise strongly to go back to the finer stones and remove the burr, and actually form that apex with the stones. You can use alternating scratch patterns to help remove it. A couple of very light high angle passes as well will help remove a stubborn burr.

 

[Livin' On The Edge]

Burrs can only be on one side of the blade. Burrs are formed when an edge is apexed. This is a good sign. Now all you have to do is remove the burr. There are many tutorials on youtube for how to do this. Good luck!. The best way to learn sharpening is not just practice, but also research. Read articles, blogs, forums, videos, and magazines.

 

[stezann]

Stuart is right. When you do form the burr, reverse the blade and use less pressure, then again until you have a no-appreciable burr...and only now you can do a light stropping on a leather belt or even on wet newspaper.