Sharpening backwards

3Guardsmen

3Guardsmen

Joined
Mar 16, 2005
Messages
3,652
After perusing the forums, I've come to the conclusion that I sharpen 'backwards.' That is to say, when I sharpen free-hand, I move the stone against the blade, not the blade against the stone, as appears to be the norm here. I have yet to be disappointed in any of the edges I've obtained, and find that my way of sharpening (holding knife in my left hand while moving stone against the blade with my right) works just fine for my purposes. Does anybody else here sharpen this way?

Regards,
3G
 
I never learned to sharpen by pushing the edge forward along a benchstone.
I actually did not really know how to sharpen until I got a Sharpmaker.
Now I often sharpen against ceramics or a benchstone in a stropping/edge trailing motion.

But I also developed a technique like yours, which I especially like for reprofiling or removing serious edge damage. I hold the knife in my left hand and a DMT folding diamond stone in my right. I begin by gently brushing the diamond against the blade to ascertain the proper angle, then rapidly rub the diamond back and forth along the edge, creeping up the length of it. As I reach the curve of the belly, I turn the blade so the diamond is at a constant right angle to the edge.

Once I got this techniue under control, I found I could add a turn of the wrist to create a convex secondary bevel.
 
Before I started using DMT 8x3 benchstones I always had the stone in one hand and the knife in the other, the DMT's are too heavy to do that though. The only time I use that method now is when I use my strop or dia-folds. Though similar I do it a little different, I tend to move both at the same time and instead of moving the blade to follow the curve I move the hone. It was actually hard for me to get use to how to sharpen while the stone was on a surface, learning how to follow the curve was my problem because I had never followed with the hand that held the knife.
 
Thanks, Esav! Glad to hear I'm not the only one who sharpens this way, and I too started with the Sharpmaker.:thumbup:
 
knifenut1013 said:
It was actually hard for me to get use to how to sharpen while the stone was on a surface, learning how to follow the curve was my problem because I had never followed with the hand that held the knife.
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+1! I have yet to be able to sharpen on a stationary stone, layed flat on a surface. Sharpmaker or similar, no problem, but if I'm doing it free-hand, the stone (or other media/device) is in one hand and the knife is in the other with the stone 'shaving' the blade, not the other way around. Thanks, Knifenut1013!:thumbup:
 
If your knives are sharp and youre happy
with the edges more power to you buddy.
There are lots of ways one can go about
getting sharp edges on their knives and no
one way can ever be said to be the best.
 
I stand to be corrected, but isn't that the way swords are sharpened, in particular, Japanese swords? Seems to work...
 
When I freehand, I almost always do it with knife in the right hand, stone/hone in the left. What's the point of mastering the skill and then not be able to use it unless you happened to bring along a workbench or table? :)
 
I am right handed and I keep the stone in the left hand and the knife in the right. The stone stays stationary except for a slight tilt in order to maintain contact with the edge near the tip of the blade. I mostly go heel to tip but will sometimes go tip to heel if I feel the tip part of the blade is not getting enough attention.
 
Now stop that right now you people are going to cause the end of the world.. Set those hones down right now and back away slowly. :) You need to sharpen my way or no way. :) Just joking As long as you get the edge the way you want it who cares how you do it. I've seen some very killer edges put on by people much better than me doing it the same way as you do it. I myself have even done it this way on longer knives.
 
People make much of technique. What they should make much of is results. If what you do produces an accurate edge, then you should keep doing it.
 
The "right" way to sharpen is to get the knife sharp. If your blades are sharp, you're doing it "right." :p
 
it doesn't matter which one you move, stone or blade, as long as you are pointing to magnetic north when you are doing it.
 
hardheart said:
it doesn't matter which one you move, stone or blade, as long as you are pointing to magnetic north when you are doing it.
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So just remember to take your iron pills and Viagra together and you'll point north consistently! ;) :p
 
i sharpen almost all of my knives the same way, it just feels natural
to me. and i am more than pleased with the results i get.
 
Thank you all for the replies! It feels good to know I'm not alone in my way of sharpening!:thumbup:
 
Blues said:
So just remember to take your iron pills and Viagra together and you'll point north consistently! ;) :p
Click to expand...
Now THAT'S what I call Feng Shui! Or whatever it's called... :D

I watched my hometown barber in amazement as he honed his straight razors 30 years ago. Broke every rule in the book, and he was lightning fast. Good thing nobody ever told his razors, they were the sharpest things I'd handled back then!
 
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