"The edge leading sharpening stroke is the absolutely worst method ever taught to people. It is impossible to maintain a constant angle when you are taking your edge off the stone aftr every stroke. No way. "
I respectfully fully disagree with this statement. To be honest, I don't even know what you mean by edge leading being the worst way. It is called "honing" after all, it was how I was taught to sharpen a knife, and literally millions of sharpening experts use this very simple, age old motion. Taking the edge off the stone after every stroke? I think maybe you are inferring to the perceived inability of the human hand to maintain an angle during sharpening. Well, this human hand can do it quite well, as with anything in life it just takes practice. That is, after all, all we are talking about when it comes to sharpening. If you can just hold your hand at a relatively constant angle, it doesnt really matter what motion you use. All we are doing is removing steel.
I think the circular motion is great....for the coarse grits when a bevel needs to be established or nicks taken out, etc. But when getting down to the finer stones, honing works VERY well, followed by stropping (edge trailing). Practice is all it takes.
I just read this.....preferred or proper. I think a LOT of sharpening beliefs fall into preferred, and very little being proper. Creating a burr.....I would say proper. Keeping a constant angle (relative here....we aren't robots)....proper. Circle vs stroke....prefer. You get the idea!
I highly recommend people not using those guided systems, and learning free hand. That way you will be able to sharpen anything, anywhere, anytime, on whatever. The razor edge systems honing guides are GREAT. They offer two sizes, and between the two sizes and placement on the blade, just about any knife can be sharpened at any angle (you would need to use a bit of trig, sin, to figure out the angle you want and then place the guide to where that angle is produced). Once you get the basics down with those clamp on guides, removing them to do it free hand is very easy. I say that....I assume it would stand the test. I've been sharpening free hand since both grandfathers taught me at a young age.
I will say this, the edge (cosmetically) is very pretty using guided systems. However, the inability of the human hand to hold an EXACT angle every single stroke causes the edge to have a slight radius to it, differing from a perfectly flat bevel from guided systems. This tear drop shape being like the way samurai swords were made, the cutting medium being separated away from the edge as the blade is pushed thru the material. Like a Moran edge, if you will.
Sharpening is a topic that people are very passionate about, me included. My respect goes out to you all here. I just couldn't jive with that statement on leading edge strokes being the worst method ever. Works pretty darn well for me and millions of others.
I just read this.....proper vs preferred. I think a lot of sharping can fall into one or the other. I would say keeping a constant angle (relatively speaking...we aren't robots and an edge doesn't have to be perfectly dead nutz flat) is proper. But circular vs stroke....prefer. You get the idea!
