Paper wheels for sharpening

Huntsman Knife Co. LLC.

Huntsman Knife Co. LLC.

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Sep 10, 2010
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I am looking at getting a sharpening system that will be fast and give solid edges. I don't need any mirror edges or atom splitting sharp blades, just solid working edges for anything from folders to big choppers. Ive been looking into the paper wheel setup. I can buy a bench grinder for cheap and the wheels for fairly cheap as well. Compared to something like edge pro which is even more expensive and very time consuming I'm really leaning towards the paper wheel setup.

Do you have any advice for the setup? Are paper wheels a good choice for sharpening? I mainly have SR 101, M4, S30V etc.. steels that are very time consuming to sharpen by hand.
 
Do a member search for "richard j" and send him a message. He enjoys helping people out with paper wheels.

Or just click here and send him a message.
 
Thanks! I went out and bought a bench grinder today. I figure that even if I don't like it for sharpening the number of things you can do with a bench grinder is only limited by the confines of the imagination :D
 
Holy crap I only have a 60 grit stone but I just took a crappy CRKT knife and sharpened the spine. I did 5 strokes and then 3, 2, 1 on each side and got to where it was sharp. Then with about 2 minutes of work on a ceramic stone I can shave arm hair. I have found a new addiction. :D:D:D:D
 
I have dispatched a search team to look for Richard because he has obviously fallen and can not get up:eek:
If anyone knows of his whereabouts this thread is beckoning.

HeeeeeellllllOOOOOooooo Richard.......

Filling in for Richard this evening is RubiconSS (He doesn't know what he is talking about) but is willing to stand in and fill space.

The paper wheels are a cost effective and time efficient way to get scarey sharp edges on your blades. I have seen the final product but understand the process and its desired results are a result of careful practice. The WEPS system I use was in excess of $400 but ignorance or the indulgence of said comes with a price tag. One I was willing to pay.
I like the results and enjoy the activity.

Richard, You there?
 
I need to get some higher grit wheels and some more crappy knives and get practicing. they had polishing wheels and compound there so I decided to spend a few more dollars and give it a try. I don't know which knife to polish though. Maybe Ill try and polish up the spine of that crkt fixed blade.

I am really excited to learn but Im also kind of scared because the amount of steel you can take off at one time is intimidating to say the least. Ill probably start out with a really really dull knife and a 220 grit silicon wheel and see how it goes on a kitchen knife or something.
 
i sent you a pm with the info on the wheels. take the stone wheels off and quit grinding on your knives before you ruin them :D get a belt sander instead.
 
KalEl said:
I need to get some higher grit wheels and some more crappy knives and get practicing. they had polishing wheels and compound there so I decided to spend a few more dollars and give it a try. I don't know which knife to polish though. Maybe Ill try and polish up the spine of that crkt fixed blade.

I am really excited to learn but Im also kind of scared because the amount of steel you can take off at one time is intimidating to say the least. Ill probably start out with a really really dull knife and a 220 grit silicon wheel and see how it goes on a kitchen knife or something.
Click to expand...

Kal- I even did that with the WEPS. I started on some kitchen knives and pocket knives that I would not have openly wept running down the center of my neighborhood street simultaneously screaming profanities and beating my head with a rolling pin.
What I'm saying is, definately...... practice! Yes.:o


Hey Richard is here... Hey Rich:o
 
you dont need any mirror edges or atom splitting sharp blades but that's what you will get with a paper wheel system. their super fast too and easy to use!
 
Ive been having some fun with polishing. I'm almost at a mirror edge on an AUS 8 blade using a medium and fine cloth wheel with green compound.
 
Ok so day one with the paper wheels and all of my knives have blazing sharp mirror edges. I started with two kitchen knives and was comfortable enough to do my para 2, then a rodent solution, then RMD, then regulator, and finished it off with the KZ II. The learning curve on the paper wheels is really quick. this is by far the best investment I've made in a long time :thumbup:
 
KalEl said:
Ok so day one with the paper wheels and all of my knives have blazing sharp mirror edges. I started with two kitchen knives and was comfortable enough to do my para 2, then a rodent solution, then RMD, then regulator, and finished it off with the KZ II. The learning curve on the paper wheels is really quick. this is by far the best investment I've made in a long time :thumbup:
Click to expand...

awesome! I dont understand why other would pay for other systems without trying a paper wheel first. fast and effective, what more could you want?
 
I think owning and using both may be the way to go. I have knives that wont fit in the WEPS and then there are my knives I would feel safer in a more controlled system. Looks like I have a reason to use that gift card I have for HD. Richard, what kind/size bench grinder do I need?
 
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I really can't imagine anything being better than the paper wheels. Its by far the fastest and price wise you could probably get a used bench grinder and all the wheels for around 100 or so dollars. And for being completely new to it I was able to pick it up pretty quickly and so was my brother.

This is awesome because now I can get into the S90V's and such and actually be able to sharpen them! And with the bench grinder once I get better I can shape and profile blades. I want to sharpen the spine on my RMD but I will wait till I've got alot of experience to do that. The sharpened spine variant looks so wicked but I dont want to spend 240 dollars on one, esp when with some practice I can do it myself :D
 
You are right KalEl, bought my bench grinder at Lowe's for around $50, and then bought the Richard J recommended paper wheel kit from Woodcraft for around $55. Have $105.00 in the whole system. Haven't tried em yet, but may give it a go this weekend, time permitting. Now where is Richard's phone number again, ha..:D
 
aephilli, if you are convexing your edges it wont help fix your tips. if you are putting a v edge on your knives you can fix them when you work up a burr. email me your number and i'll give you a ring.
 
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