Quick sharpening question

[RescueRiley]

Mods, I'm puttting this here because I'm largely discussing sharpening as it refers to field blades and would like to draw on the experience of other outdoorsman. So I've been hand sharpening on diamond hones for a bit.
My method it to work one side for a bit untill a burr is raised on the other..than I flip the blade and remove the burr. After the burr is removed I flip the blade back and move to the next grit, and so on before stropping..Should I be alternating Which Side I raise the Burr on? Thanks.

 

[Big Mike]

I would say yes.

I work hard to keep my edge centered on the blade.

By doing most of your sharpening on one side you will slowly move the edge off center.




"If you're not living on the edge, …you're taking up too much space."

Big Mike

 

[Jason B.]

I wouldn't worrie about the burr with all the stones, you should also be working both sides evenly. When you use your coarse stone you are setting the bevel for all other grits to follow, after the bevel has been set with the coarse stone the other grits are just for refinement. Now on you finishing stone you will want to start keeping a eye on that burr again and use light strokes to remove it as much as possible.

When you flip to remove the burr sharpen till you push the burr back to the other side. When the burr moves back to the other side start using alternating strokes (1 per side) to even everything up.

 

[RescueRiley]

So I should be raisng a a burr on oneside.. Flipping the blade raising a burr ont he other side, and than alternating till there is no burr on either side?

 

[CShepherd]

I do lots of counting when I'm sharpening. 3 strokes on one side, 3 strokes on the others. I try to be real careful to keep it even and centered.

Biggest thing I've learned when sharpening is to slow down and take it nice and easy. Be patient. To me, sharpening is a nice relaxing things. I got that from my pappaw who whould spend hours on the front porch sharpening every knife in the house with an old medium whet stone and some spit. It worked, you could shave with every knife he had sharpened.

Charlie

 

[CShepherd]

So I should be raisng a a burr on oneside.. Flipping the blade raising a burr ont he other side, and than alternating till there is no burr on either side?

Basically yes, you are actually moving the bur back and forth from side to sode. Eventually it will bet so thing (especially when stropping) that it will come off and you'll have a very keen edge.

Most people don't take long enough to sharpen and they wind up with edges that won't last. A little bit more time on the stones will pay dividends in the end.

Charlie

 

[dipbait]

When the burr is being moved, not removed, I use a coarser stick and "lightly" run the burr over it at a greater angle on the side the burr is. This will remove it. Then continue with the sharpening process. Sometimes I have to repeat this process. Its the only way I can get an edge sharp.

I learned this trick in the maintenance forum.