Quick question: to get or not

Z

Zixinus

Joined
Apr 16, 2009
Messages
72
I recently just and finally got my khukuri from customs. I'm a very happy man that can only be happier if he could find something to chop and cut to see my beauty in action.

Already done the handle treatment and used some of my father's anti-rust spray (I can give details if necessary) to clean it up.

The khukuri itself is pretty sharp. The karda is not.

I have found plenty of information, even a book, on how to sharpen a v-edges, not convex.

I know of the mouse-and-sandpaper trick. However, I only have a few sheets of leather from my father. I suppose I can use the sandpaper and leather instead?
Is there any more trick to it? I have been struggling with the karda a bit and it won't take much of an edge.

I am also considering buying a Gerber Diamond rod. It is fairly cheap and I like how it is portable (I wouldn't be surprised if it would fit into your regular HI sheep).
However, I do not know what these would do to a convex edge. I do not want to use it only for my kukri, but I kind of see it as an ideal "field sharpener" if necessary.
Does anyone have any experience using this thing on kukris?
 
Zixinus said:
I recently just and finally got my khukuri from customs. I'm a very happy man that can only be happier if he could find something to chop and cut to see my beauty in action.

Already done the handle treatment and used some of my father's anti-rust spray (I can give details if necessary) to clean it up.

The khukuri itself is pretty sharp. The karda is not.

I have found plenty of information, even a book, on how to sharpen a v-edges, not convex.

I know of the mouse-and-sandpaper trick. However, I only have a few sheets of leather from my father. I suppose I can use the sandpaper and leather instead?
Is there any more trick to it? I have been struggling with the karda a bit and it won't take much of an edge.

I am also considering buying a Gerber Diamond rod. It is fairly cheap and I like how it is portable (I wouldn't be surprised if it would fit into your regular HI sheep).
However, I do not know what these would do to a convex edge. I do not want to use it only for my kukri, but I kind of see it as an ideal "field sharpener" if necessary.
Does anyone have any experience using this thing on kukris?
Click to expand...

Hello Zixinus,

Greetings and welcome! I see no reason why the sandpaper on top of the leather wouldn't work. Lots of guys use a leather strop fixed to wood with compound for a final strop on a convex edge, so this should work just as well.

I have a couple of diamond rods and they are great for touching up the edge, and if you know what you're doing and roll them over the edge on each side of the blade you can hand create a primary convex edge for that matter. Yvsa showed us how to do this with a DMT medium hone at the 2005 Khonvention in AZ at Mamav's house, and the Cherokee Rose he convexed for me there is still razor sharp.

I would get the leather and the sandpaper, read up on the technique here, and then give it a try. Then get the Gerber for your pocket or pack for touch ups. Works better and faster than a burnisher, and you won't hurt the edge, just take it easy and watch you don't scratch the sides of the polished blade with the sharpener. You're might get _some_ feathering on the steel near the edge, mostly towards the tip, but that won't hurt anything and can always be rubbed out. (Now of course if you ever roll the edge don't use the Gerber initially. Try rolling out the edge with the chakmak or a larger burnisher first to get it aligned then resharpen.)

By the way, forget the Karda. HI usually doesn't harden those for some reason. When you get the Gerber you can try to put an edge on it, because it's so short the leather / paper would be hard to use, but I don't think you'll have much success. The chakma is just as hard as the karda, but it's supposed to be soft. I've only seen one mfr. sharpen the karda actually; for the most part they are ceremonial, although the larger ones that come with the YCS model are generally very good.

Good luck and please let us know how it goes or if you have any other issues / questions.

Regards,

Norm
 
Last edited:
Thank you for the info and welcome.

Could you please detail how to "roll it over the edge" so I am sure of the proper technique?
 
I sharpened the karda on my HI blades just using the mouse and wet/dry sand paper.
There was one which I had to go with 400, 800, 1500, but it sharpened.
I look at the karda as being a third or fourth line back up personally.
A multi tool and a "normal" size belt knife ( 4"-6" blade) combined with your khukuri makes a good combo for woods loafing.
 
I've just brought my Gerber diamond rod. I have sandpaper and leather in the workshop room, however I am still unsure what should I do with the rod. I tried searching, but I can't find any info anywhere on how to use the rod to sharpen a convex edge.
 
Zixinus said:
I've just brought my Gerber diamond rod. I have sandpaper and leather in the workshop room, however I am still unsure what should I do with the rod. I tried searching, but I can't find any info anywhere on how to use the rod to sharpen a convex edge.
Click to expand...

Zixinus,

I'm not an expert, and since I got a slack belt grinder I've been spoiled, but do a search online (not just at BF) for a convex or "appleseed cross-section" edge. It is about the simplest grind there is. Some folks (Ranger knives used to do this) grind a convex edge and then put a micro-bevel on it with a hone, which you can do right now after getting the angle you want. But you can simply take some metal off of one side of the bevel until you get a slight burr on the other side, then flip over and repeat.

Search for "sharpening convex" here and online and you should get tons of info. There is some trial and error, but looking at a closeup cross-section of a convex edge will help you understand what you are doing.

Right now I wouldn't do anything with the diamond rod. Get the leather backed sandpaper and search here for "mousepad sharpening" or something similar and you will get the basics. Keep the diamond hone for touchups for now until you understand what's involved with standard sharpening.

Norm
 
I already do. I have sharpened before, although only with v-stlye blades.

I did some work on the karda (with sandpaper and leather). It is better now, much better. I have seen the convex tutorials beforehand. I can find those.

What I cannot find is how to make and keep a convex edge it with a rod (diamond or otherwise).

EDIT: For reference, I want to keep using the Gerbe for what it meant to be: a quick, lightweight hone to get your blade into a usable shape in case you snagged it into a rock or something. Getting the hair-splitting sharpness would be done with regular sandpaper treatment.
What I want to know is how to preserve/touch up or fix a convex edge with the diamond rod.

And before you ask, I obviously wouldn't start practicising on my kukri. That is what some Mora knives or those Chinese copy-cats are for. ;)
 
Last edited:
RE keeping a convex edge, I don't worry about it for maintenance. I just take a tool and sharpen by hand. Given the variability of angle, it probably ends up convex to one degree or another. Something like a ceramic rod removes so little steel I wouldn't worry about altering the geometry.

If a blade is in really bad shape or needs serious grinding I use a slack belt sander which probably puts on a uniform convex edge.

I've never examined any of them under a microscope. If the blade cuts it cuts. I've got plenty of other things to worry about.
 
Of course. I already got something on my old Mora with the diamond rod. It's just that I am not sure that I got a convex or something of a mix of the two.
I just want to be sure whether there is any special technique or anything regarding making convex edges with a diamond rod.
 
Last edited:
Erm, no I am not. I'm looking at the Mora now and it's all jagged up in regards of the edge.

I have a tool (the diamond rod). How do I use it properly?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top