Sharpening for idiots

Lord_Balkan

Lord_Balkan

Joined
Aug 25, 2016
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For all intents and purposes, I am an idiot when it comes to sharpening. I know absolutely nothing on how to sharpen because I am pretty new in the hobby in general, but I would like to learn. Where do I start? What all will I need and what should I have? Where is a good place to get those things and how do I pick a sharpening system?

I read all the stickies and I'm still not sure where to begin.
 
Sergeua said:
You start with spyderco sharpmaker
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Yep. 100%. I would consider myself barely passable at freehand sharpening on a bench stone. Got a sharpmaker a month ago and the extra diamond rods, and extra-fine rods. In no time (not like 4 or 5 knives, trying and watching videos - my first knife), I was able to achieve a hair shaving sharp edge.

There is an art to "chasing sharp" about edge angles and you can make a lifetime pursuit out of it (seriously!). If you are not that OCD, and just want a very, very good system to get consistently SHARP edges get the spyderco. Done.
 
if u want to learn how to sharpen like actually learn it get stones.. I recommend dmt but they're expensive . I heard norton is good for beginners too but never used one... u could even practice on a cinder block I seen ppl get razor sharp edges on concrete and a brick then they strop the knife on their denim jesn.. I'm sure that takes a lot more skill but might would get u started to atleast see if u wanted to learn that way or get a system like the sharpmaker
 
As always, I suggest starting out with a cheap but good stone like a norton jb8 combo, a bottle of mineral oil, a roll of paper towels, a cheap kitchen paring knife, and a cheap 10x loupe. A $50 max investment that is capable of respectable edges.
Start slow, stop often, pay attention to any progress, ask questions.
When you're satisfied that you've mastered the above system, you'll be ready to progress with your equipment, including whether or not you want a guided system.

The other way is start with a guided system. I suggest a cheap one like the diamond lansky, which is also capable of respectable edges. After mastering the lansky, you can decide whether to upgrade the equipment, or try free hand. If after mastering the lansky you want to free hand, start at the top of this post.

A sharpmaker type setup is another option, but doesn't handle heavy grinding well like the above mentioned ones do. This is important if you need to repair damage, or reprofile.

It's possible after the above, you may decide sharpening is not for you, in which case you won't have a ton of money tied up in now useless equipment.
 
I started with a Sharpmaker but the learning curve was pretty steep and frustrating. I learned a few lessons the hard way, most notably that unless you are very careful it's easy to blunt the tip of the knife. I was aware of this problem but still had to learn how to avoid it by falling into it. I have a steady hand and was unable to get bevels at consistent angles on some knifes. A few months ago I bought the Wicked Edge sharpener Pro I pack and you almost have to try to get it wrong. As an inexperienced sharpener I am able to get very sharp edges with consistent bevels without any difficulty. It's definitely worth the money if you have a growing collection.
 
I am worried that I am not able to keep a consistent bevil on the sharp maker. My hands are not really steady so I am not really really comfortable if it isn't a guided system.

EDIT: How do you guys feel about the KME Sharpening system?
 
Hi,
try unglazed bottom of cup, free brick , get shaving from ~$10 hardware store stone
Lord_Balkan said:
For all intents and purposes, I am an idiot when it comes to sharpening. I know absolutely nothing on how to sharpen because I am pretty new in the hobby in general, but I would like to learn. Where do I start? What all will I need and what should I have? Where is a good place to get those things and how do I pick a sharpening system?

I read all the stickies and I'm still not sure where to begin.
Click to expand...
Hi,
I know the exact feeling,
I've been there myself a couple of times,
absolute beginner should skip the stickies you need hands on experience
go into the kitchen and grab a paring knife and a coffee cup , or a couple of cups or bowls, anything with unglazed ceramic on the bottom, thats your sharpening stone
Take a few minutes , turn cup upside down, and get some experience sharpening freehand ... then come back and ask more questions

it doesn't take a lot of equipment or high grits (like coffee cup)
or skill to cut some paper or shave arm hair,
just don't wobble the blade too much as you rub it on the unglazed portion of cup ...
keeping thumb on spine helps with wobble/keeping angle ...
see an old boyscout (jackknife) do it its Instinctive Knife Sharpening
if blade isn't a butterknife, just guessing and rubbing the blade on a coffecup will improve the sharpness
See a first timer copy the internet 20 pulls around a cup Sharpen a knife - Katie Robichaud
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And see a sharpener do it like his mama :) There is no excuse to have a blunt knife! - stefanwolf88

Yeah, like the guy says its not the best way, but does work and is available in every kitchen, and it'll work quickly on any knife that was sharp sometime in the last five years :) any knife with edge that doesnt look like a butter knife -- I wish I figured it out years ago instead of relying on steak knives and buying new ones every few years

What they're doing with the coffee cups is microbeveling and/or "steeling"/honing/burnishing, by using high angle by instinct (guessing, essentially 20-30 degrees per side ), doing that will straighten any rolls , and also sharpen the apex, basically you'll see results real fast, but after a few sharpenings,, you'll have to do more

So start with instinctive sharpening, try it at least three times, slice some printer paper or cut some bananas :)

Come back and talk about what you did and what happened, ask questions...

Next thing to try would be sharpening with a brick[/b] which includes some brick/stone maintenance...
if you have a free brick and you like to play

Next thing to try, a considerable step up from a free brick would be a basic double sided hardware store stone , like ace hardware( $3.99-$14)


After the coffee cups get a basic hardware store
If you have a sharpening stone, or a brick, these would be the follow up video to the coffee cups (actually video after that), try it with your std. dry stone
basic sharpening, raise a tiny burr, cut it off at elevated angle, shave how to sharpen a knife - Joe Calton
Good follow ups
Similar method (three step ) with a one dollar stone ? Cheap sharpening stone - does it work? - stefanwolf88
Extreme low grit sharpening : clay brick - Cliff Stamp


Thats almost all the secrets of sharpening freehand right there, easily get to shaving sharp with that info, and if you use a light touch, whittle hairs.

After you've sharpened a dozen times, watch the videos again, ... a lot of info you won't really appreciate until you try sharpening, don't watch too many videos before practicing

Come back and tell us how it went, ask questions

No luck with freehand? Try guided freehand or even jigs
There are all kinds of free devices you can make... some don't even require making
leaning your sharpening stone against a wall or book to make a bench stone sharmaker and just slice down the stone and pivot for tip
FTHZV98H9T4QPH9.RECTANGLE1.jpg

make one from paper, fold plastic V, mini clothes pin , gluesticks, wood ...
12802-t.jpg

jig2.jpg

Midrange-Knife-Sharpening-Jig

Simple sharpening jig - stefanwolf88
How to Sharpen a Knife with Paul Sellers
PaulSellersKnifeSharpeningSystem.png
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CPP said:
I started with a Sharpmaker but the learning curve was pretty steep and frustrating. I learned a few lessons the hard way, most notably that unless you are very careful it's easy to blunt the tip of the knife. I was aware of this problem but still had to learn how to avoid it by falling into it. I have a steady hand and was unable to get bevels at consistent angles on some knifes. A few months ago I bought the Wicked Edge sharpener Pro I pack and you almost have to try to get it wrong. As an inexperienced sharpener I am able to get very sharp edges with consistent bevels without any difficulty. It's definitely worth the money if you have a growing collection.
Click to expand...

Same thing with me. The sharpmaker was great up to a point. Got my wicked edge today actually and so far I am super impressed. I'll still use the spyderco for some things, but the wicked edge made even my tough to sharpen knives much better than I was able to get on the spyderco.
 
Wyckedan said:
Same thing with me. The sharpmaker was great up to a point. Got my wicked edge today actually and so far I am super impressed. I'll still use the spyderco for some things, but the wicked edge made even my tough to sharpen knives much better than I was able to get on the spyderco.
Click to expand...

I haven't touched my Sharpmaker since I got the Wicked Edge, it's either stropping for a touch up or WE
 
I'm not much further along than you. Got my sharpmaker less than a year ago. Watched the how-to video and started sharpening some cheaper knives. Didn't even really understand what I was doing, but magically my knives got sharp! Added some strops. Understood a little more. Added the extra fine and diamond rods to the sharpmaker and I understood a bit more. Read everything I can on here and watch a ton of youtube videos and eventually you start learning bevels, microbevels, sharpening angles, stones, etc. and it starts to make some sense. I still have no real "expertise" but I understand a ton better than I used to! I think my wife got me the KME for my birthday which will surely bring me further knowledge. If I fast forward a few years and I still remain fascinated by it, maybe I'll be one of the guys on here who can discuss the pros and cons of specialized and esoteric waterstones. Time will tell! Enjoy the journey.
 
Lord_Balkan said:
So do you guys think going to a KME Sharpening system at first is too much of a leap?
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I do not think it is too much of a leap - if you are sure you will stick with it. if you dont stick with it, its a good chunk of money for somethign that will set in an old forgotten drawer for the next 30 years.

I never could free hand, and tried some cheaper guided systems but never got good results.
Was introduced to a basic lansky kit a few years ago and was able to get a decent edge. since then I've gotten the deluxe lansky kit with 5 synthetic stones. added a couple more stones, a loupe, and mount, and always have a sharpie marker handy.

my friend has a KME and its a very nice setup and will likely be my next purchase in the world of sharpening.

for me, what has really helped is knowing a few basics things - but hands on will help you understand those things better.
1st and foremost is you have to get to the edge - which is where the sharpie comes in to play. i color the entire bevel of the knife with the sharpie to make sure I have the angle I want and that I am grinding all the way to the edge. it doesnt matter if you are using a course diamond stone, a super fine synthetic stone, or a ceramic mug bottom- if you arent grinding all the way to the edge, you are scraping metal. even with a very course stone, you can get a servicable sharp blade if are working to the edge.

once you have that down, the rest will start to fall into place. if you don't get that first step, all the other steps just lead to frustration
 
Read the three sticky threads at the top of this forum on sharpening, stropping, and microbevels. Also this thread The-Seven-Secrets-of-Sharpening. The actual list of secrets starts at post #31.

Good information there no matter what system you try.
 
There are several excellent books on sharpening (Google 'sharpening books'). I sharpen freehand on bench stones, with an angle guide occasionally when I need to re-establish a bevel. A good quality set of diamond hones will last practically forever; my 20-year-old DMTs still work as well as when brand new, or even better.
 
Lord_Balkan said:
I am worried that I am not able to keep a consistent bevil on the sharp maker. My hands are not really steady so I am not really really comfortable if it isn't a guided system.

EDIT: How do you guys feel about the KME Sharpening system?
Click to expand...
I have a KME with everything I need for sharpening my knives. It is very simple to use and the results are amazing. Better than factory by far. But that's my opinion. I'll use it from now on.
 
From what it sounds like, The Spyderco Sharpmaker is a good system if you want to keep sharp knives sharp ? Is that an accurate assessment ? Would it even keep tougher steels sharp like M390 or S35VN?
 
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