paper wheels?

M

manassas dragon

Joined
Dec 3, 2009
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158
been reading here about sharpening using paper wheels. where do you get same and what compounds do you reccommend to get with them?

thanx,guys
 
I spent on this item and perhaps it will need to take sometimes before I could use it to my satisfaction.
 
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Search the threads for richard j = KNIFEMAKER/ PRO SHARPENER. He is the king of paper wheel sharpening.
 
I spent a lot of money on crap sharpeners and then got the paper wheels. Easy to create razor blades. Edges have a mirror finish quickly and easily. I am sold on them.
 
bottom line is they work, but it takes practice. If you have hands on time grinding blades, your learning curve should be pretty short. I got to where I can take an edge from blunt/beat up/dull and make it shave hair in just a couple of minutes, but I can still get knives sharper with my Lanskey set up,(at the cost of more time) I think the wheels are capable of better results, I just need more time on them.
 
Bought mine from www.usaknifemaker.com

First time I used them I had about a dozen knives shaving sharp in about 30-40 minutes. Second time I used them, my wife asked me to sharpen her Kershaw (yep, she carries a knife too)... I had it back to her in less than 4 minutes so she raised the BS flag on me...I had to prove to her that I had actually sharpened it! Its a real time saver and very easy to use. I highly recommend them. As stated, there is a learning curve, so practice first. -Matt-
 
I have looked into the 3 major ways to put an edge on a knife: Paper wheels, shaprening systems (Lanski, Sharp Maker, etc) and traditional stones. A couple of observations: All of them require some amount of money, time to learn, and time to do. The Stones...well, are expensive (depending on brand and amount of stones bought), have a looong learning curve and, depending of severity of the blade, may take quite a while to sharpen a knife. The systems are cheaper (I bought a Lanski 5 stone for $40 at Sportsmans Warehouse), have a much shorter learning curve, and are quicker to sharpen up a knife. The paper wheel kit is pretty cheap. I found the basic kit at Woodcraft in Tucson on sale for $38. The learning curve is reletively short, and takes only a few minutes to work a knife to sharp. Now, it does require you to have a bench grinder or buffer, so the cost for that must be factored in. On the other hand, you do have it for life and you know you'll use it for other things.
You can always pay for sharpening, but that will get expensive over time and has no end. I have to say that Richard J is a helluva guy. I wrote him a few weeks ago and I no sooner had sent it as the phone rang. We chatted for awhile and was more than happy to answer any question posed.
I will state I am a total novice when it comes to knives and sharpening but that is what I am experiencing so far. Good luck to all in their quest for the perfect edge!!
 
DMT diamond stones with water as a lubricant will take a bit of a learning curve but give a reliable consistant sharp edge, and allow you to re-bevel or get to the bottom of nicks (not to mention they will not launch your knife through your crotch area if you are momentarily distracted. Higher initial investment, but I used to have a regular route sharpening restaurant knives for about 4 years, and have sharpened hundreds of edges on the same four stones (Black, blue, red, green) I also have DMT uninterrupted surface plates as well that I use for jewelry tools


-Page
 
A note about launching things into your naughty bits... I know a lot of guys set up their paper wheels so the grinder is "backwards" on the bench. The wheels spin AWAY from them, and they keep the edge near the top of the wheel. That way if it does launch, the blade is going away from you, not into you. If the wall behind the grinder is concrete I imagine a piece of plywood or rubber mat would help prevent it bouncing back into your face.

Why more people don't set up their paper-wheel systems and buffers this way, I have no idea.
 
in the 19 years i have used the wheels, i have never had a blade grab and i have sharpened thousands of knives and then some. the only way for something to happen is operator error and thats why i have in my paper wheel tips page to eliminate any chance of a distraction if possible. the wheels are not like a buffing wheel which can catch a knife among other things. i have my wheels running to me and hold the edge facign me with the blade at the back of the wheel. close to the 1:00 position.
 
When I bought my paper wheels I went to a second hand store and bought about 8 knifes in various sizes for $8. Practiced on them, made them gifts and everyone likes me for it.

I still keep a few of them around and sharpen one before doing my good knifes for practice. Have only 8-9 knifes made so far so am a real green beginner. BUt I love a sharp knife and if you make it sharp yourself, well its more satisfying.
 
I won't launch into a long rant, but there is a good reason that NO buffers/grinders/polishersare designed to run the way James was discussing. It is dangerous. If you did that in a professional shop, OSHA would shut down the machine.

To expand only slightly, if the blade catches, it won't fly against the wall. It will most likely run around the grinder and be propelled straight at you under the max velocity.
Please don't do this.
 
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