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paper sharpening wheels - when your time is important to you

tonydahose said:
some people like working their way thru all the wet stones to stropping etc. i tried it and it takes too long for me.
Click to expand...

And those stones sold quicker than all heck. By the time I saw that post, you were cleared out. Will check out your vid tonight.
 
over the years of sharpening knives, i have had guys bring me knives they sharpened using different stones, contraptions and devices, they even brought me some of the contraptions to check out.

i used to work at a company that made aircraft lights and they had a buffing department that would be the envy of many knifemakers. these guys could put a pretty impressive edge on a knife in no time. i seen some of these guys after i bought my wheels and they liked the edge the wheels put on a lot better than what they could do.

i have super fine diamond discs that i have put on my dremel tool and experimented with sharpening tool steel test blades i made.

i have ceramic sticks that i still use on kitchen knives to touch them up if i'm in the middle of cutting up some food.

on my ez sharp i had a pure white fine stone that was smooth as glass that i could polish up an edge with.

i tried a 9 micron belt just to see what it would do. out of everything i have seen or tried, nothing else i have seen or used can compare to the edge i get with the wheels.
 
I've found through useing and sharpening many knives and useing many different methods that one persons super fine / smooth as glasss is anothers coarse. The thing is there just isn't any majic to the paper wheels. Grit size plus speed works the same if on a paper wheel or something else as long as the angle is the same. To really suggest other wise is just a little silly. I do feel foolish but not for useing other methods than the paper wheels but for getting sucked into such a silly disagreement. However, as long as I'm in I guess I'll ask. Did these wheels of yours that have lasted for so long do so without being trued or without being regritted?Do you really do all sharpening on the wheels alone or do you shape the edge on a belt sander?
 
last yera before the blade show i was brought 241 folders on a friday night. they were divided in 3 orders. the first order was about 120 knives. they ranged from single to triple blade folders. i had burrs worked up on the first batch in about 6 hours before it was too dark outside to continue. the next day i finished up the remaining order and was done by 7:00 that evening. i have several wheels ready to go but now i have several more. they need regritted after a while but it depends on how many knives you sharpen. the only time i use a belt sander is when i'm convexing a blade but i finish off the edge with the paper buffing whee. if you read this thread you'll find answers to all your questions. the same with my tips page. i have the tips posted at my website too.
 
BUMMMPP

All of this will sound very familiar and repetitive because I have taken much of the advice of richard j and others in this thread.

Sooo I just got my paper wheels. I happened to walk into the Woodcraft store in my area right before it closed its doors for good. I figured I'd get a deal but no dice. Anyways, I had got tired of relying on my Norton India Stone and decided my time was important to me.

First of all, wow this works fast. I am just using a 1/3 hp grinder that runs at 3400 RPM or so. I would agree with richard j that this is too fast, especially for the grit wheel. I have a 1/2 HP 1725 RPM motor that was used for awhile as a door opener for a double wide truck dock. I just have to remove all the door mechanism stuff from it because it has pulleys on it that are reduced way too much. I may or may not be able to use the cage it comes in but either way I will post pics of it when its done.

Anyway, I sharpened a couple of old severely dull Buck and Schrade knives back to new-like condition and polished up some of my newer Spyderco and Kershaw EDCs. I really like the idea of using the polishing wheel as a touch up because it is so fast. I will still probably use my Norton Combination India Stones to relax from time to time but the wheels are very ideal for what I need them for.

Thanks guys.
 
Well I have jumped in and taken the plunge with the paper wheels. After having to sharpen all my friends knives on my edge pro I have been looking for a faster way. After reading through this thread I think I may have found it. Also going to get a 1x30 belt sander and should be good to go with anything they throw at me. At which point should probably start offering to do this for some money here around town. Maybe have to get one of those calls from the king of sharp about scissors and such. We shall see how it goes.
 
i still get asked about motor speeds. a 3400 rpm buffer will work but i suggest using a 1725 rpm motor since its not necessary to run the wheels that fast. you get the same results as you would with the 3400 rpm motor. if you are sharpening a knife and happen to push a little too hard or place the blade on the wheel in the wrong spot it wont be as bad as it would be at the higher rpm.
 
Well after practicing on a hack saw blade for a bit. Then on a couple dozen cheap chinese knives and having pretty good results, I thought I'd have a go at my BM 580. That went to so well, I figured why not, and pulled my BM 710D2 out and after all that I must say......I'm a believer!! These wheels are great. There is a slight learning curve, but once it all makes sense it's like second nature. Next I'm going to try to figure out some scissors and see how that goes.
 
scissors can be tricky. before you try sharpening any, send me an email with your number and i'll give you a call so you dont ruin your scissors.
 
I will be shooting you an email this coming week Rich. I am sure I have a few questions about the whole set-up. I have played with a cheap pair of scissors and they came out pretty good. I am sure you would get them MUCH sharper, but I don't think they came out bad for a first time.
 
Richard, I've been debating on whether or not to get paper wheels for awhile and I've decided to buy them. I understand the knife sharpening but have a simple question.
I'm sure scissors are different to sharpen but the concept would be to get a burr by sharpening the bevel side and then polish it off right? A simple yes or no is fine but I just want to make sure that's the concept. I'm assuming that's all there is to it right?
I can't wait and I'm guessing within the next month or so I'll be posting a thread raving about how great paper wheels are. :D
I can't wait to get sharper. :D
 
got my paper wheels set up and so far im impressed, hopefully with a little more practice ill get that shaving sharp edge.
 
when sharpening scissors you dont use the buffing wheel to finish off the edge. after working up a burr you close the scissors and that will shear off the burr. do this each time you work up a burr. you should have a nice sharp corner when done.

watch out for spots where one edge is cutting into the other. this is usually caused from the scissors being too loose. scissors with a screw can be adjusted but ones with rivets or pins are pretty much set unless you can tighten the rivet or pin a little bit at a time so you dont get it overtight.

any spot where one edge is cutting into the other needs taken down so the edge is straight again. sometimes this can take some time and or a lot of metal from the edge. its best to do it a little at a time.

right hand scissors are done on the right side of the wheel only and you dont touch the sides. i seen a guy turn a brand new pair of large wiss scissors into scrap by sharpening them to a knife edge on a grinder :rolleyes:. he worked for a company that had me come in and sharpen their scissors after he ruined about a dozen new pairs that were slightly dull. i was talking to the manager and cussing the guy without knowing he was behind me watching :eek:. needless to say the guy never touched another pair to a grinder after that :D.
 
hey richard i think i put to much wax on the grit wheel is there any way to remove some or should i just continue to use it and wear it down.?
 
try rubbing the wax into the wheel but you really dont have to worry about too much wax. it will come off as you sharpen knives.
 
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