Sharpen Chive or Scllion or other recurve

M

mobenzowner

Joined
Oct 17, 2010
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Most people say a Sharpmaker is great for sharpening the type of curvy blades the Chive and Scallion have. I have an Edgepro and a Work Sharp and dont want to shell out more money on another sharpening system. Any good way to sharpen the recurve blades? Is convex with mouse pad & sandpaper and strop a viable option?
 
mobenzowner said:
Most people say a Sharpmaker is great for sharpening the type of curvy blades the Chive and Scallion have. I have an Edgepro and a Work Sharp and dont want to shell out more money on another sharpening system. Any good way to sharpen the recurve blades? Is convex with mouse pad & sandpaper and strop a viable option?
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The key to using any flat sharpener on a recurve, is to be extra careful to use VERY, VERY light pressure. The curvature of the edge will only make contact at the corners of whichever flat hone you might use, and too much pressure will create chipping or edge-rolling problems. It's do-able, but you just need to be extra careful about it.

Ideally, a curved/rounded surface could be used. This might be done with sandpaper on a section of PVC pipe, a dowel or other cylindrical surface. Another member here has done this using a Pringle's can (good idea). You could even add some leather or other soft material, between the hard backing and the sandpaper, if you wish. Use an edge-trailing motion, as in stropping. Personally, this is how I'd do it, given a choice.
 
Obsessed, thanks for the advice. I'm thinking and old broom handle I have might just be the ticket. I knew somebody would have a doable suggestion!
Thanks!
Kevin
 
i made a post in another thread on how to use a pringles can. here is the copied post.

get a pringles can with the bottom cut out and attach some abrasive paper to it. crimp down one side so you have somewhat of a square corner so you can sharpen the plunge line area of the blade. you put your arm through the can with the flat facing the knife for each side. match up the angle by tilting the blade and slowly push the blade away from you while working your way to the tip where you will stop. dont let the tip slide off or you'll round off the tip. switch the can to your other arm and repeat. once you have a burr worked up, go to a strop or ceramic stick to remove the burr.

for some recurves i use my belt sander or my paper wheels. i always finish off any edge with the slotted paper buffing wheel which gives me a razor edge.
 
I see what you are saying Richard, But there is no way that my arm would fit in a pringles can.
 
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