Sharpening Help Please!

[Dogukan]

Hello,

I am having trouble with sharpening. I am using a combination of Lansky table mount for angle guidance and combine that system with DMT Diamonds from my DMT alignment kit. The result is perfect when I am done with 1200grit diamond.

The trouble starts as I go to higher grits. I have mdf pieces cut to fit DMT aligner (exact width, length, shape as the diamond inserts) and I use DMT Dia-Paste on mdf pieces. (6, 3, and 1 microns). I perform the same technique I use to sharpen with coarser grits. The result is a mirror finish. The problem is that the blade doesnt slice as well as it does with 600 or 1200grit sharpening. It does however shave better. Shaving and slicing are two different things. I want my blades to slice extremly well in a way that I should be scared to move my fingers on the edge with no pressure.

I also tried lapping with chromium-oxide (0,5 microns) spread on leather; same result.

Either there is a problem with my lapping technique with leather, or sharpening technique with paste.

Or maybe shaving and slicing are two different applications.

Please instruct me on how I can get scary sharp edges on my hunting knives.

 

[FlaMtnBkr]

It sounds like you have a good system down. But a polished edge isn't the best for everything and you might just be seeing that. How about after you polish the edge give it a pass or two with your more coarse 1200 or even try the 600. This may give you the best of both worlds with a somewhat polished edge that has some micro serrations from the final coarse stone that would excel at slicing. Worth a try if you are not getting the results you want. If you try it let us know how it turns out.

You said it shaves better but how well does it shave? Can you cut hairs above the skin or cut little curls off a piece of hair (whittling)?

 

[OldDude1]

Greetings Dogukan: Welcome to Bladeforums. Depending upon the type of medium you wish to cut, a highly polished edge may seem more or less optimal to the task at hand. A polished edge is GENERALLY perceived to be better suited for PUSH cutting comparatively soft material. (Wood, leather, hair etc.) The micro serrations of a slightly less polished but truly sharp edge often feel sharper and seem to perform better at SLICING duties. (rope, meat, bread etd.) The unpolished edge may feel more aggressive when sliciing but will not last as long as the same edge geometry when polished. In my opinion you are correct, shaving and slicing are two similar but slightly different applications. Many cutting activities are a combination of both. Providing your lapping (honeing) was performed properly there should be no reason for concern. OldDude1

 

[Dogukan]

thank you guys for the reply.. I generally use knives that are in the $50-$100 range. Maybe I have to go up a level or two and start spending more on better grade knives. This way I can keep a coarse edge longer on a better grade steel.

By the way, I will be buying Edge Pro Apex with shapton stones made for it and also sharpening dvds by Murray Carter. I believe if I can apply the techniques I can learn from Carter's dvds to my blades on edge pro I can get better edges than the ones I get with the lansky dmt combination.

What do you think about those products???

 

[somber]

thank you guys for the reply.. I generally use knives that are in the $50-$100 range. Maybe I have to go up a level or two and start spending more on better grade knives. This way I can keep a coarse edge longer on a better grade steel.

By the way, I will be buying Edge Pro Apex with shapton stones made for it and also sharpening dvds by Murray Carter. I believe if I can apply the techniques I can learn from Carter's dvds to my blades on edge pro I can get better edges than the ones I get with the lansky dmt combination.

What do you think about those products???

Murray Carter's videos are geared more towards hand sharpening on waterstones. While he does go over the geometry of a edge, what's happening with the edge, and what you want to do to get a sharp edge, I don't think that these would apply as evenly to the Lansky system. His videos are more towards the technique in sharpening by hand, not the science behind what makes an edge better at different tasks.