Rat Sharpening...

TEXMUD

TEXMUD

Joined
May 10, 2007
Messages
237
I was just wanting to see what methods of sharpening everyone has been using on their Rats and what there thoughs were on the best sharpener to use. :confused:
 
I usually put my HRLM to the sharpmaker and then strop to a mirror on a leather strop loaded with veritas green compound.

Got in trouble with the wife yesterday for starting to shave with it. :D
 
this may seem petty, but I use a strop with the veritas green compound, and it really seems to stain the blade. I'm probably the only one that is anal enough to be bothered by it. But is there a way to remove it?

ColdOne said:
I usually put my HRLM to the sharpmaker and then strop to a mirror on a leather strop loaded with veritas green compound.

Got in trouble with the wife yesterday for starting to shave with it. :D
Click to expand...
 
that would bother me too! I don't have any problems with the blade being stained though. are you using anything else on the strop?
 
nope, end up with a mirror edge. Occasionally a small bit of green ends up on the crinkle coat, but it rubs right off. what kind of stains are you getting?
 
here's a pic. Yeah, as you put it, stains on the crinkle coat (not the edge). Doesn't seem to rub off. Wonder if I'm using way way too much?

DSC04426 (Small).JPG
 
Ouch, mine never gets that bad. maybe try less compound and less pressure on the edge. I sometimes use a rag to rub the compound into the strop to have a smooth surface to start with.
 
And if you have any, try one of those coarse green nylon sponges to get the compound off.
 
I've been using sandpaper on leather, starting with 600 grit, moving to 1000, and then 2000. I finish off the edge on my M6 with a couple of passes on a strop with a bit of Flexcut Gold rubbed in. The edge is mirror polished, shaves hair nicely, slices paper, chops wood, deaniamtes zombies, and all that. I've been trying to figure out how to capture the edge in a pic, but while my camera is good my skills are lacking.
 
I seem to be having a hard time getting a good edge on my rat3. I've been using the sharpmaker at the 40deg. setting.... any tips.

Thanks,

-Coop
 
dcpopo said:
I seem to be having a hard time getting a good edge on my rat3. I've been using the sharpmaker at the 40deg. setting.... any tips.

Thanks,

-Coop
Click to expand...

Try dipping it to 30 (15 per side).

The way I sharpen is sandpaper/mouse pad finishing on a strop. I've been using 600 grit and getting decent blades but I think I'm going to up it to 1000.
Hey Maquahuitl, are going from 600 to 1000 to 2000 without any intermediate grits?
 
Gary007 - I checked my HRLM and noticed something. Mine has a decent amount of use on it now and the crinkle coat closest to the edge has smoothed quite nicely, however right near the choil it is still rough and there is a little bit of green compound there, however no where near your volume. So get out there an use it! :D
 
Purell/gelled alcohol hand cleaner works great. If you're near a Dollar Tree, pick up some Goop w/o abrasive and it'll clean your blade, your strop (should it need cleaning before recharging), and your hands.

As for sharpening, I like all methods. A belt sander and collection of belts in various grits is very nice. Fast, sharp, and easy. Also convexed by design if that sort of thing matters to you.
 
I have a hard block of green abrasive. I heated it a little and kinda smeared it on the leather. Is there a better method for getting a nice uniform layer of abrasive on there?
 
Mineral oil turns the stuff into a glowing green goo that eventually settles down as the mineral oil is absorbed into the leather. A little goes a long way.
 
I don't heat it and just rub the block on the strop. Friction does enough to put a light layer on the leather.
 
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