Rethinking KISS and my WorkSharp

[NRA]

The other day, I needed a pocket knife, and my regular knife was not in my pocket, so I opened a blade on my SOG multi tool, and did my business.

After I used the blade to pry off a plastic lid, I paused to notice the edge. I had sharpened it on my WorkSharp.

The knife has a black finish, so the only polished bright steel, was the edge. As I look at the edge, I had all but forgotten making, I remarked to myself, how nice, and uniform the edge looked.

As is so often the case, as I go about seeking out perfection, what works best, was already under my nose.

Its fast, duplicable, time after time, impressive results,

Think I will pack in all my other stuff, and stick out the WS, for most of my sharpening.

 

[OHALLUM]

A lot of times, we tend to think we need the latest gizmo to get our knives sharp enough to do the job needed, and if we haven't spent at least a $1000 or more on devices to get our $50 knife sharp, then we are not with the crowd so to speak. Our (mine at least) ancestors before us carried a cheap "whet rock" and the sides of their boots to get and keep their knives sharp enough for the job at hand. They survived without any fancy guided, do it all for you device thank you very much, and went on about their business.

After reading your list in your sig line, the Work Sharp is a very able and sensible tool to keep your knives serviceable. All the other "toys" are fun to collect and use, but not really necessary to carry a good sharp knife in your pocket to use when one is needed. Congratulations on your realization that the KISS principle is the way to go! :applouse:

Blessings,

Omar

 

[dkb45]

While other methods give superficially sharper knives, the Worksharp is basically unmatched in speed, and gives a nice toothy but still able to push cut edge. It does a nice balancing act on razor vs toothy. A lot of the knives I have traded were sharpened on the Worksharp then stropped on my black and green, and a lot of people come away shocked that I use a Worksharp.

My only complaint is that the Worksharp is slow as s*** to do heavy grinding from the puny belts. For moderate reprofiles to quick resharpens, the Worksharp is a surprisingly strong contender.

 

[vic2367]

While other methods give superficially sharper knives, the Worksharp is basically unmatched in speed, and gives a nice toothy but still able to push cut edge. It does a nice balancing act on razor vs toothy. A lot of the knives I have traded were sharpened on the Worksharp then stropped on my black and green, and a lot of people come away shocked that I use a Worksharp.

My only complaint is that the Worksharp is slow as s*** to do heavy grinding from the puny belts. For moderate reprofiles to quick resharpens, the Worksharp is a surprisingly strong contender.

totally agree,,love my worksharp

 

[dkb45]

totally agree,,love my worksharp

I might upgrade to the KO at some point and get a wider assortment of belts. Then my edges will be sharper since the grit progression will be less insane (right from ~200 to over 2k!?).

 

[NRA]

My only complaint is that the Worksharp is slow as s*** to do heavy grinding from the puny belts. For moderate reprofiles to quick resharpens, the Worksharp is a surprisingly strong contender.

Adding the grinder attachment, is one way to go.

 

[banksy]

I was initially very impressed with my WS 1 and also decided to use it exclusively for sharpening. It wasn't long before I noticed that the amount of steel being removed was changing the blade shape much more quickly than expected, and I stopped using it for anything other than garden tools.
Wondering if the WSKO with its slower speed option would be better in this respect?
Currently getting good results with the KME diamonds, followed by polishing on a slotted paper wheel.

 

[HeavyHanded]

The other day, I needed a pocket knife, and my regular knife was not in my pocket, so I opened a blade on my SOG multi tool, and did my business.

After I used the blade to pry off a plastic lid, I paused to notice the edge. I had sharpened it on my WorkSharp.

The knife has a black finish, so the only polished bright steel, was the edge. As I look at the edge, I had all but forgotten making, I remarked to myself, how nice, and uniform the edge looked.

As is so often the case, as I go about seeking out perfection, what works best, was already under my nose.

Its fast, duplicable, time after time, impressive results,

Think I will pack in all my other stuff, and stick out the WS, for most of my sharpening.

As far as keeping things simple, nothing is going to touch freehand sharpening.

Taught one of the ladies that bought a WB from me how to use it, also covered using the Norton Econo stone with oil and stropping on plain paper to finish. Also showed how to use a coffee cup - unglazed underside and the glazed ring like a steel, to sharpen a knife made from 420hc. Between each method I dulled the knife by cutting firmly into some flat steel bar, finished by shaving arm hair each time. All three demos took under 1/2 hr total including some Q&A. There's a place for powered systems (a place for guided systems too, as a goad to freehand better!), but learning freehand is as simple and versatile as it gets - learning/mastering it should be an ongoing process for all knifenuts.

 

[OHALLUM]

As far as keeping things simple, nothing is going to touch freehand sharpening.
Taught one of the ladies that bought a WB from me how to use it, also covered using the Norton Econo stone with oil and stropping on plain paper to finish. Also showed how to use a coffee cup - unglazed underside and the glazed ring like a steel, to sharpen a knife made from 420hc. Between each method I dulled the knife by cutting firmly into some flat steel bar, finished by shaving arm hair each time. All three demos took under 1/2 hr total including some Q&A. There's a place for powered systems (a place for guided systems too, as a goad to freehand better!), but learning freehand is as simple and versatile as it gets - learning/mastering it should be an ongoing process for all knifenuts.

+++1
I rest my case! Sometimes all we "NEED" is right there in front of us. We just need to master a simple but effective method to keep our knives sharp and get proficient at it.

Blessings,
Omar