paper sharpening wheels - when your time is important to you

richard j said:
today i sharpened about 36 knives in about 40 minutes and that includes changing from grit to slotted wheel. some were kitchen knives ranging in length from 4" up to 8". there were 2 emersons that needed changed from a chisel edge to a to a v edge and a couple of duty knives for a soldier in the army. you cant beat the wheels for speed and a good edge :D
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man, i don't even understand how that is possible... I have sharpened a bunch of knives on my paper wheels, with fresh grit or no, wax on or without any and it takes at least 5 minutes per knife to remove any chips or reprofile the blade. is there anything special you are doing?
 
This gotta get this guy props he can make a knife ,my father tried to prove him wrong by shaving his face with one. o boy was that a bad idea his cheek started to bleed the cut was 2in long and 1in ,in width he learned not to mess around with one of his knives again.
 
razor-edge-knives said:
man, i don't even understand how that is possible... I have sharpened a bunch of knives on my paper wheels, with fresh grit or no, wax on or without any and it takes at least 5 minutes per knife to remove any chips or reprofile the blade. is there anything special you are doing?
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That's strange? It doesn't take me more than a few passes on each side of the blade to remove chips or nicks. What kind of blade steel do you sharpen? How fast does your grinder run? I guess the best way to see would be a video of you sharpening. Also, where are you holding the blade on the wheel and are you re profiling when it takes that long?
 
having everything set up right is important. i have my grinder set up right where i need it to be. the light i have above my grinder can be put right where i need it and i have been sharpening with the wheels since the latter part of 1991. i started sharpening knives for other people in 1973 so i have been at it for quite some time.

could you imagine sharpening 241 brand new folders? check out the link below. most of the knives had 2-3 blades each.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=651061
 
Glad you're doing well!
I just sharpend a Buck fixed blade. 80 grit belt sander then the slotted paper wheel. OMG! Toothy and shave hair and slice phone book paper! I finally got it right. No burr under 30x loupe.
I think I have my system down now. Quite a few knives have this keen edge on them.
It's all because of this thread and your generosity.

Thank you, buddy!
 
Im running into an issue reprofiling with the grit wheel. I have been using the polishing wheel so far for the most part. My edges have been getting inconsistent and I realized ive been polishing at 20 degrees when my edges are 23-24 (also some just need metal removed). Most of the time I corrected the angle by feel, and got a hair popping edge, so it took me until now to notice. So I have started to try reprofiling/grit wheel on my favorites, but find I can't apex the edge unless I run an angle 30 degrees plus. For example I ruined the coating/looks of a Spyderco Military trying to reprofile to 20 degrees, and then 25. I believe the edge was too wide/thick behind the edge for a wheel to hit, and I could never finish grinding the shoulder down to the apex. Progress stopped at 3/4, I gave up and did a 30 degree edge which whittles hair. Now im trying a Manix which is thinner and about 25 degrees already, it seems like the same problem is developing. I get a grind mark right in the middle of the edge, so the angle is correct. Also I use an angle template so I make the exact same consistent grind line every pass. The problem is they are narrow and don't hit the shoulder or the apex. It could be if I keep going it will eventually hit the entire edge, but I can't ruin any more nice knives. I don't have this issue with my customs which are thin behind the edge, or say an Opinel or kitchen knife at 20 degrees. What is the lowest angle you guys have done using wheels on a blade of average thickness? Cheers!
 
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I am having a hard time picturing what you are trying to describe. It sounds like you are trying to match the entire existing grind pattern, but want a different angle. Are you grinding from the top of the wheel, or along the side down in front of you?
If I want a different grind angle from what is on the knife, then I grind from the edge, or apex of the existing bevel to the angle I desire. It may or may not include all of the existing grind pattern. That way I have the angle I desire with the minimum amount of steel removal. I grind from the top of the wheel, and move my edge from the top dead center back toward myself, depending how acute an angle I desire. The further from TDC, the less acute the angle will be. Most of my knives are ground to "about" 15 - 18* per side or 30 to 36* inclusive. The exception would be my Opinels where they are about 10 - 12* per side. This gives me a hair whittling edge that can handle some abuse if need be with most steels.

Re reading your post it seems you are attempting to grind from the back of the existing grind pattern instead of grinding from the edge of your blade, which is where you want to grind from to remove the smallest amount of steel in order to form a burr indicating that you have reached the apex of your grind. ???

Blessings,

Omar
 
Thanks for reading into this. I was talking about matching the existing angle on my most recent attempt (manix), and before I had been trying to re profile (military). Angles I mentioned were inclusive, it's possible im trying for too low of an angle on the Military. I should be able to match the current angle on the manix with the first pass though. As far as position, I have the blade on my side of the wheel, blade horizontal, and set the blade closer to TDC for a lower angle. You are correct when saying im grinding starting from the back of the existing grind. I haven't heard of a different way, im trying to grasp the idea of grinding a lower angle starting from the edge. That would be the problem or part of it. I have been relying on knowing which angle a certain position on the wheel is, and holding the knife horizontally and laying it on the wheel at that point. Naturally when going for a lower angle, the shoulder will touch first so that's where I made passes. Now then; re profiling starting from the edge. Would that mean gradually decreasing the angle your sharpening at, rather than starting at the angle you want to end up at?
 
You want to start and finish at the angle you want to finish with. No need to change things up in the middle of the stream. Consistency is the key. The edge of the blade is what should come in contact with the wheel first. Adjust the angle by where you start on the wheel. For a 15* angle you would start approximately 3/4 inch from TDC. Get you some beater kitchen knives to practice on, and try grinding from the top of the wheel.

I used to grind from the front like you are doing, and then changed to the top of the wheel, and it changed my finished edges from wavy and un-even to looking like they came from an edge pro. Much better control and easier to see the burr form. I have to sit to work due to back and leg problems, so I lowered my workbench so I could see the top of the wheels better from a sitting position. Made all the difference in the world in my finished product. I have a small sharpening business that I use my wheels exclusively for. It takes me about 5 minutes to sharpen an 8 inch kitchen knife to shaving sharp. Practice is the key.

Blessings,

Omar
 
Say you're stone sharpening, to get a lower angle wouldn't you raise the edge off the stone so you can grind the shoulder? I can't see how to lower the angle grinding from the edge apex first, maybe a wheel is different somehow. Position shouldn't effect rather or not I can hit the entire edge (other than angle).

Cheers
 
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it looks like i'll be stuck with this bag on my side for a while. i had a colonoscopy yesterday and found out i have colitis also. i have to see a specialist to see if anything can be done.
 
rider675, if you send me your number i'll give you a call and help you out with the wheels. it will save you a lot of frustration.
 
You should have it, but I can resend. I had the same problem before with a khukri, which turned out to be too wide an edge. Keep the spirits high bud.
 
richard j said:
it looks like i'll be stuck with this bag on my side for a while. i had a colonoscopy yesterday and found out i have colitis also. i have to see a specialist to see if anything can be done.
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Sorry to hear about your unwanted companion needing to hang around for a while longer. Praying for a complete and speedy recovery. Good to see you back on the thread! :triumphant:

Blessings sent your way,

Omar
 
i go to see the specialist next month on the 9th. i hope he can figure out what to do to get me fixed back up.
 
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