Poor man's sharpening ?

C

Cruzer23

Joined
Feb 7, 2010
Messages
57
I just got myself a few Smith and Wesson knives and they can't even cut paper if I try to... I even tried to run it over my hand really hard and nothing happened.

I need to sharpen them, but the local kitchen store wants 40 bucks for a stone... Is there a poor man's way of sharpening ? Maybe on a some rock outside ?
 
Not sandpaper! Use emory paper. I wrap various grades of emory (320 down to 1500) around wooden paint stirrers and using clamps to hold them to the workbench. Always work AWAY from the edge. Works great and can put a razor edge on most anything.

Rich S
 
Mousepad and sandpaper are definitely the cheapest best way. But you can use a rock, a concrete step or curb, the bottom of a coffee cup, the top edge of a rolled down car window. Walmart had a diamond butcher's steel for like fourteen bucks the last time i was in and they usually have some kind of cheap "arkansas" stone back in the sporting goods section. If you have an Ikea nearby they sometimes have a ceramic (porcelain) butcher's steel for like twelve or fifteen bucks.
 
Sears Hardware usually sells 2-sided carborundum stones for $10-12. They work.
 
Norton Combination Economy stone, 87933-2. I got one from Home Depot for ~$6 a few years ago. I also picked up a combination stone from an Asian grocery store for $2, though it really feels like a $2 stone.
 
Relative to most people's expectations, wet/dry sandpaper and a mouse pad will produce very good results for a very small investment. Just research what grits to buy first (do a couple web searches on convex edge knife sharpening).
 
Stones are cheaper than sand/emory paper in the long run. I use the paper, but it wears out pretty fast and is not exactly free.
 
Thanks guys !
I just remembered I have a small sharpener that came with one of my knives..
How do I use such a small thing though ?

41AEM4BER6L.jpg



Anyone have a video of someone using such a small tool ?
 
That is OK for touching up the edge in the field. Get one of the stones mentioned above. You can sharpen the knife on any stone in your yard but not having the experence you would be better off with a combo stone like a Norton. This also takes practice for it to come out right. Some never get the hang of it. Best of luck.
 
A single-cut mill bastard file will set the bevels with a few strokes. You can then use your small sharpener to refine the edge.
 
Cruzer23 said:
Thanks guys !
I just remembered I have a small sharpener that came with one of my knives..
How do I use such a small thing though ?

[pic]


Anyone have a video of someone using such a small tool ?
Click to expand...

With pocket stones, I basically hold the blade down and work the stone over the edge, kinda like you would with a file. Same process as most sharpening systems use, minus the clamps and guides. However, most videos I've seen of pocket stones show people doing the opposite - trying to use them like bench stones, working the edge over the stone - and I can't say I much care for that.

As for rocks... I have used rocks in a similar fashion as the pocket stones, mostly just to see if it could be done, and I have achieved acceptable results. Ideally, the rock should be from a river bed, having no jagged edges to gouge the blade, and having a fairly flat surface along one side.
 
Sandpaper on glass, widest selection for the cheapest price.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top