Sharpening for Beginners

S

siguy

Joined
Aug 26, 2006
Messages
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The most basic sharpening gear, for the beginners. People that don't want to spend money (or that don't have any money to spend like I did when I started learning ;) ).

Youtube Link

Hope someone finds this useful!
 
I would rename it "anthing abrasive can be used to sharpen" though I don't know if I would ever consider using a cinder block or brick to sharpen.
 
Cool, the tools are crude, but the process seems right. That guy knows what he is doing. (He needs some new jeens though.)
 
Cardboard works quite well as a stropping surface. Even better when you load it with chromium oxide.

Brian.
 
I've used the back of a legal pad many times. Does a great job. However, since I was using wet/dry sandpaper, it was just easier to flip a piece over and use that as the strop.
 
Wow. This guy sharpens a knife better than I do with a cinderblock, a brick and a leather belt. I'm new BTW. ;)
 
Good video. It illustrates your point perfectly.
I love my old jeans as well. The wife, not so much LOL.
 
This is the best video I've seen in a long time about sharpening. No gizmos', gadgets, whatchmacallits. Just an abrasive surface and a knife. Siguy did a great job showing that there's no rocket science to this, just a simple down to earth practice.

You can also use the unglazed ring on the bottom of a coffee mug, and the top edge of your car window.

And I guess what I love most about it; siguy's a young dude, but had the common sense to figure it out, and not fall for the expensive gadgets that you don't need to have a really sharp knife. If you're using your knife out in the field, you should be able to sharpen it out in the field.

Good job siguy!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Like they said in the old days; He'd do to go up the river with.
 
This is exactly the same principle in Murray Carter's Youtube vid from quite a few years ago (I think it's an excerpt from one of the sharpening dvd's he sells. He does the same exact thing with a chunk of cinderblock, then strops on a piece of cardboard in the video. If you search for Murray carter and sharpening on Youtube you can find it.

Also, uhh, what's with the nail-painting vid in your other videos? I never did understand why in hell a guy would want to paint his fingernails!??! Jackknife, if you go up the river with that dood, better lock your tent flap at night! ;)
 
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Well, tatoos and piercing are the norm now. So if a guy wants to express his individualist self, then there you go. :eek:
 
Nice video. I think most of the issues were covered.

I have tried and used a lot of improvised tools. Rough sharpening on cinder blocks, bricks, concrete, and other masionary products like roofing tile, etc. Then there is a flat mill file, sand paper (really nice as it is graded like stones) paper cardboard, wood, loaded cardboard and paper (high value there), my cloths, skin, etc.

Also natural things like a river rock, stropping on wood or a fish skin (scales).

They all work to come degree.
 
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