- Joined
- Dec 29, 2008
- Messages
- 1,647
This is something I'd like to share with you. It's nothing new to most of you guys but for me it means a big step forward in convex sharpening.
I have been neglecting convex sharpening for a bit just because I got frustrated but picked it up again yesterday for some reason. I had the afternoon off and it was gorgeous here in Alberta so I was in the sharpening mood. I grabbed my Fiddleback Bushcrafter which had (and came with) a convex grind but a primary v-edge. Some time ago I got rid of that v-edge but never got it sharp again?!
I started with a long leather strop loaded (and reloaded during the procedure) with black compound. I assume it is about 1000 grit or so. I was able to tell just from visual and tactile feedback when I was at the edge and I had never noticed that before so nicely. I continued on one side until I felt a fine burr and flipped over until the burr was on the other side. Since it was just a very fine burr that I thought I felt, I repeated this a few times, just to make sure. Then I cont. on the black compound alternating strokes until no burr was noticable. Then I switched to the 0.5 micron green compound from chefknivestogo.com which was recommended a while ago to me by knifenut1013 her on BF. I did about 5 strokes or so on each side but repeated this until I thought it was enough.
I don't know why, but this time it worked out great! I can cut phonebook paper and pushcut it without a sweat. It shaves, not quite hair whittling though and I can't cut TP cleanly along the whole edge length, just some areas but I am not sure whether I would be able to archieve that without a fine microbevel on ceramic anyway. Certainly a great working edge and the best thing is the ease of cont. maintaining while using it.
I have become a convex fan once again!
Thanks for "listening"
Andy
Something I wanted to add is that the leather on the strop is very thin, so virtually no risk of rounding the edge, even if I applied a bit more pressure. The bit more pressure actually helped me quite a bit to feel and hear the proper angle!
I have been neglecting convex sharpening for a bit just because I got frustrated but picked it up again yesterday for some reason. I had the afternoon off and it was gorgeous here in Alberta so I was in the sharpening mood. I grabbed my Fiddleback Bushcrafter which had (and came with) a convex grind but a primary v-edge. Some time ago I got rid of that v-edge but never got it sharp again?!
I started with a long leather strop loaded (and reloaded during the procedure) with black compound. I assume it is about 1000 grit or so. I was able to tell just from visual and tactile feedback when I was at the edge and I had never noticed that before so nicely. I continued on one side until I felt a fine burr and flipped over until the burr was on the other side. Since it was just a very fine burr that I thought I felt, I repeated this a few times, just to make sure. Then I cont. on the black compound alternating strokes until no burr was noticable. Then I switched to the 0.5 micron green compound from chefknivestogo.com which was recommended a while ago to me by knifenut1013 her on BF. I did about 5 strokes or so on each side but repeated this until I thought it was enough.
I don't know why, but this time it worked out great! I can cut phonebook paper and pushcut it without a sweat. It shaves, not quite hair whittling though and I can't cut TP cleanly along the whole edge length, just some areas but I am not sure whether I would be able to archieve that without a fine microbevel on ceramic anyway. Certainly a great working edge and the best thing is the ease of cont. maintaining while using it.
I have become a convex fan once again!
Thanks for "listening"
Andy
Something I wanted to add is that the leather on the strop is very thin, so virtually no risk of rounding the edge, even if I applied a bit more pressure. The bit more pressure actually helped me quite a bit to feel and hear the proper angle!
