paper wheels?

All you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask is located at the top of this page labeled "paper sharpening wheels, when your time is important" It was started by RichardJ the guru of the paper wheels. I use them and my complete set-up including a buffer from Harbour Freight cost me less than $100. It took me less than 3 or 4 practice knives to start turning out shaving sharp knives regularly in less than 5 minutes. Read the thread, or ask any specific questions here and you will get answers. Where in Georgia do you live? I live near Atlanta, and would be glad to show you my set-up if you are interested.

Blessings,

Omar
 
Can you reprofile with paper wheels or is it just for maintaining the angle you've got?
 
Can you reprofile with paper wheels or is it just for maintaining the angle you've got?

I've reprofiled a few edges on them. If you sharpen on the front of the wheel just drop the blade down on the wheel. Same thing for the top, just move the blade towards you a little.
 
You can basically do anything on the paper wheels that you can do with any other sharpening system out there, only in a fraction of the time. With practice you can turn out bevels and angles nearly as good as you can on a WE or an Edge Pro, or other guided system. With the slotted wheel which is the stropping wheel, your knife can be near mirror finished. I use the slotted wheel on my knives to "tune them up" after use instead of going to the grit wheel and grinding any more metal away unless there is damage to the blade. Of course I do not abuse or hard use any of my knife collection. I have a knife I made from a cheap kitchen knife, that I reground into a warnclif type blade for carving wood. I whittle on it for about 30 minutes or so and then run it on the slotted wheel back to shaving sharp and go again. I have used this knife this way for over 6 hours of whittling, and have not needed to re-grind the blade yet.

I have a regular strop, but have better luck just using the slotted wheel for stropping. I could probably make my knives sharper with the strop if my technique on the strop were better. So far, I haven't mastered the strop good enough to make them sharper. With a knife with good steel, I can cut standing hair on my leg after using just the paper wheels. (No hair left on my arms:D , and no I don't normally shave my legs:eek:) I sharpen knives as a part time retirement job) The biggest complaint I have gotten from any of my customers is that their kitchen knives were too sharp, and that they have cut themselves. I now give them a bandaid when I return their knives. (done tongue in cheek just to remind them to be careful)

Blessings,

Omar
 
besides my paper wheel thread, i aslo have a tips page that you can check out that can answer some questions without reading the whole thread. i'll post a link to it again in the wheel thread. i try to post it every now and then just to make it easier to find.

omar, i have had guys bring me knives that they have stropped and ran them over the slotted wheel. they say the slotted wheel made their knife sharper than the stropped edge. it just takes practice to get an edge sharper than a strop.

i dont know if you ever sent me your number but i would like to give you a call later today if you would send it to me.
 
Ok, I'm into this!!! I enjoy the WEPS but this just looks awesome. Any recommendations on a decent bench grinder for not too much $$$$?
 
Ok, I'm into this!!! I enjoy the WEPS but this just looks awesome. Any recommendations on a decent bench grinder for not too much $$$$?

Harbor freight double wheel buffer for $80 looks like a decent unit, I plan to buy it
 
get a variable speed buffer. a 3400 rpm buffer runs way too fast. if you read my paper wheel thread you will see a lot of guys have switched to a slower motor. i have been sharpening with the wheels since 1991 and i have yet to use a motor that runs faster than 1725 rpm. a variable speed motor runs around 2000 rpm which is not bad. if you look in my tips page you will find a link to a motor at lowes that will work just fine.
 
I followed Richard advice and got a Porter Cable variable speed at Lowes for $80.00.
Like it, slow speed doesn't feel so "rushed"
 
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