POLL: Sharpening Frequency

Frequency of sharpening/touch-up

  • DAILY

    Votes: 18 13.3%

  • WEEKLY

    Votes: 48 35.6%

  • MONTHLY

    Votes: 39 28.9%

  • A FEW TIMES A YEAR

    Votes: 22 16.3%

  • SEMI-ANNUAL

    Votes: 5 3.7%

  • NEVER

    Votes: 3 2.2%
  • Total voters
    135
M

microtech85

Joined
Dec 1, 2015
Messages
468
Hello, im conducting this poll to find out how often we bladeforum users sharpen/ touchup our knives on average. For me it has been about every other week. I have just made a new policy for myself though; that i will only sharpen or touchup once a month if necessary
 
After every use I'll touch up with a couple strokes on UF rods if Im at home. If I'm out I'll do that in the evening. I don't know what a dull knife is.
 
It varies depending on use ...but I will assume you're asking about an EDC used daily ... I touch them up in the evening either with ceramic rods or a strop

other knives get sharpened after use the same way but some may only be used during hunting season or other during camping trips ... but if I use them I prefer to touch them up that evening ... its much easier and I feel doesnt wear as much steel as allowing further dulling and having to remove more steel to bring the edge back ... and I may be wrong but that's how I feel.
 
A few times a year since rotate over a dozen folders and my daily use is not really hard use. Cut fruits, veggies, open envelopes and some zip ties. Other than that mostly fondling.

First i put a mirror polish via my wicked edge then just maintain it with a strop. Have not been collecting for long so they still have the first really sharpening job other than strop maintenance.
 
Yes, i was assuming edc knives. I brought this up because i like to keep my knives razor sharp and based on my use that is sharpening once every couple weeks or so. Which brings me to another thought. If we are sharpening so often is it really so advantageous for us to have high alloy content and carbide powder steels? i do understand they are great for people who cut a lot of abrasive materials everyday. but for the average edc user?
 
Daily then, if you consider stropping/straightening knives used for prepping food as sharpening.
I call that basic maintenance, proper sharpening being something more planned - involving setting up the sharpening system, soaking the stones... I do sharpening as needed, even if I rather wait to have several blades beat up to get all the sharpening gear out. So that would be, once every 2 months or so I guess.
 
Last edited:
I sharpen mine at least five days a week, but I work a trade and use my sebenza and zaan for every little thing within reason, so they get used a lot. Usually 50-100 strokes each side on a fine diamond, and 25-50 on a fine ceramic is enough to get a semi razor/ nice working edge back on each.
 
I sharpen when I need to. It is not a passion with me. I like sharp knives, but I'm not obsessive about it. So, I said "weekly" as that is about how often I touch up my SAK.
 
Way too often because I need the practice! I'm just now getting what I consider semi-decent results now after dulling knives trying to sharpen them for many years (being an entry level seasoned citizen at this point). My knives get used often here on the ranch.
 
I have 5 blades I rotate, with the count growing as able, and use and mostly use on breaking down boxes, cutting tape, opening letters/mail, and scoring cables that I don't find they need work very frequently so I would say a couple times a year.
 
I guess it's monthly for me. I keep up with my knives and because of my steel preferences I don't have to sharpen them that often. Most get a make over once a month, some times quicker, some longer.
 
I work in the trades, so whichever knife is in the rotation for EDC that I am carrying probably sees the 1200 gr stone 2 - 3 times a week depending on what I am doing.

On the other hand, I cook about 10 meals a week and my chef's knives get sharpened before every use. Just a few swipes on the diamond rods, and they are ready to go.

Robert
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top