Problems sharpening knives...

[TheMightyGoat]

I can't get my knives as sharp as I would like them. I'm not talking about crappy 420J2 steel, either. I mean more like ATS-34, various carbon steels, 440C 154 CM etc.

I test them on paper, and they will all cut the paper without tearing it (starting from the top, not just poking into the middle.) But I am told that people can get these steels sharp enough to shave hair fromt their arm.

Could I be using a poor quality stone? I don't know anything about them, so I just bought the most expensive one in the hardware store, and I seem to recall it was made of silicon but that very well may be incorrect. Does the oil matter much? I use 3-in-1 instead of honing oil. I think I am sharpening at the right angle.

 

[torment]

If you haven't read the Sharpening FAQ available here on the BladeForums website I would suggest that. It helped me quite a bit in finding exactly what I needed to look for in a sharpening stone. I believe it also mentions if you use oil, continue to use oil and if you didn't use oil before and think about using it, don't. Don't quote me on that though, basing things on my memory can be a bad idea

 

[Mississippi_Dave]

I'm not an expert, there are some here though, hopefully they will chime in soon.

I have problems sharpening freehand also. Some days I can, some I can't aggravating to say the least. I use a diamond stone made by Eze Lap. Works pretty well now that it is worn in. Also to add when learning (still am) it was easier for me to use the largest hone I could find. The handy pocket hones didn't get me anywhere, have several laying around that I don't even use.

Alot of people here swear by the Sharpmaker by Spyderco. I have one and it works pretty well for keeping a blade razor sharp.

Another cheap alternative to buying multiple hone is using wet/dry sandpaper on a mousepad to touch up an edge and bring it back to razor sharp.

dave

 

[Matt Shade]

If your cleanly slicing paper, its pretty sharp. I'd be surprised if it wouldn't at least scrape some hair off of your arm. You might need to hold it at a different angle when you try

There is also a possibility that you have a slight burr left on the edge that doesn't curve enough to stop you from slicing paper, but keeps the knife from shaving.
If thats the case, just stretch a peice of split leather, or an old belt with the inside up across a board or the edge of a table and use it as a strop.Hold the edge at an angle pretty close to what you sharpen at and lightly draw the knife backwards across the leather. Flip it over and do the other side. Keep swapping back and forth and test the edge from time to time.
If it hasn't made a difference after 15 to 20 passes down each side you probably need to use the stone a little more again to keep the edge from rounding over.

 

[V10011011]

Polished leather side or rougher unfinished back side? (the belt)

 

[dylan_d]

Do yourself a HUGE favor and get a sharpmaker. I couldn't sharpen a knife by hand if my life depended on it. But with the sharpmaker, I get a perfect edge everytime, and it's razor sharp. (god I sound like a commercial trying to sell the thing )

 

[H2600]

So when you strop you pull the knife backwards (edge faces away from the direction of motion) and when you sharpen on a stone or sandpaper you push the knife forward (edge faces towards the direction of motion)? Does sandpaper work pretty well, I don't really have the money to buy any stones or anything right now but if sandpaper works I'd try that. What grits should I use?

 

[Jason Cutter]

Use a very hard dead flat surface. If the edge is not too dull / flat. I'd go for 320 or 400grit paper. I suggest glueing it down for ease. You should use a pull-stroke, NOT a push cut. A push cut will simply have the edge slice through the sandpaper. If you use a good wet and dry paper with a bit of oil it'll work even better.

A 320grit edge will be very good for general use. For a really fine, keen edge you can then finish off with 1200grit paper. Finishing the edge is another issue. An edge can already be deadly sharp but not be able to shave simply because there is a foldy little wire edge that keeps rolling over. You can strop it off or knock it off. Knocking it off can be as simple as slicing the edge into an old piece of cardboard or softwood. That'll tear the wire edge off. The edge behind the wire edge should be razor sharp. You can strop on wood, leather or even cardboard.

Sharpening is a skill well learnt. Unfortunately, with modern high-alloy steels it can be frustratingly slow and the best would probably to get a diamond coated hone - its the fastest. Cheers. Jason.