Ok, I'm buying stones to freehand with.

[Doogoon]

Ok thanks Morkte for all the help! I'll be putting it to use

 

[Doogoon]

btw, how's this?

 

[Morkte]

I'd try to even out the compound more but I don't think it matters really, just rub it in a bit more by hand. I find I learn more about sharpening every time I sharpen a knife.

Ok thanks Morkte for all the help! I'll be putting it to use

Your Welcome
-George

 

[Doogoon]

Yea I figured the same thing but it doesn't really want to even out. I'll work on it tomorrow when I'm not so tired.

Thanks again George!

 

[Morkte]

It should even out over time. I reapply every month.

 

[Morkte]

If there's anything else you need feel free to email me - ghnsmith@live.co.uk

 

[Doogoon]

You bet dude. I don`t doubt that I`ll be coming across some problems.

 

[Morkte]

If I remember I'll post a pic of my sharpening set up in the morning.

 

[Morkte]

Here's My strop. I hope you can see the compound properly, I always try to even it out.

And the obligatory knife pic.

 

[Doogoon]

Hm. I'll get strait to working on that.

 

[MTHall720]

What are you hoping to gain with your new stones? Bigger? Flatter? More abrasive? Finer abrasive?

For me the medium sharpmaker stone is no where near abrasive enough for general purpose work. For knives that "stay sharp" as you noted, the sharpmaker is fine. As a freehand stone it's probably too small and too wobbly (even on it's base) to make a nice firm freehand stone. If that's all you're after, then the previous poster's idea of a Spyderco 8x2 bench stone is probably a really good one.

But what happens the next time you need to sharpen a knife that hasn't seen a stone in a year? You're going to need something that cuts way faster than a Spyderco medium.

I think a fast cutting stone is a prerequisite for making great edges. It all starts with that perfect, even, flat bevel that meets another perfect, even, flat bevel, in the middle for a perfect cutting edge.

Brian.

Definitely agree that the medium Spyderco is way too slow for blades that really need some work! Their super coarse helps but is extra

 

[C.S. Graves]

The sharpmaker has been a hassle to use on my big knives. It works great on the few folders I have, but I'm a big blade person. I may go with an extra low grit if I start getting nasty with my knives.

I too like many a big blade... multiple passes with fine Sharpmaker stones and then a strop with green compound has worked well for me. Mileage may vary though...