Sharpening on a stone.

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TheMightyGoat

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What is the correct movement to sharpen a knife on a stone? My dad taught me to swhirl the blade over the stone while moving it back and forth, like a circular motion, and it seems to work fairly well. Is this correct?
 
I have been using stones for 45 years and have never seen that method work as well as making long cutting strokes against the stone at the angle of your choice. I hold the knife at 15 to 20 degrees from flat depending on the type of blade. Alternate sides every few strokes to keep the bevels even.

The trouble with making the circular motions while sharpening is that it is hard to hold a consistant angle
 
I have been using a base to tip, corner to corner movement. easier to see a diagram, but words will have to do.

stone in left hand, knife in right, hold the stone so it points away(90deg to body) and relativly level. Starting with the base(near handle) and as close to top corner(bottom(left palm)/right for reference), then stoke in an arc, finishing with the tip on the top/right corner. for the other side, base starts on top/right and comes as close to your left hand fingers/thumb as your comfortable with. I stop about 1/2" from my fingers, using an 8" stone.
 
Whatever gets you good results. The circular method, is what I use when I'm trying to remove alot of material/raise a burr along the length of the edge. At that point I switch over to long strokes down the length of the stone.
Pretty much comes down to preference. I can get good results either way. The circular method is faster since the knife is always in contact with the stone. Its also good for making the stone wear evenly.
When I get to that final stage of sharpening it doesn't really take more than one of two passes before I want to switch sides. So I just make full length passes and work back and forth across the stone switching sides when I switch directions.
 
I only use free hand methods, I still subcribe to the instructions from my first set of Bucks stones in 1969. Edge into the stone like trying to take a thin slice, while maintaining consistant angle. Or words to that effect.
It still works well.

I have seen folks use the circular movement, but to tell the truth, it does not seem to get a knife a sharpe as consistant strokes into the stone from heel to tip of the blade.
 
Originally posted by .45acp

I have seen folks use the circular movement, but to tell the truth, it does not seem to get a knife a sharpe as consistant strokes into the stone from heel to tip of the blade.
Click to expand...

Looks like I'll change my strokin' method, then.

...Oh crap, the innuendos. :eek:
 
Yeah I agree.., and I have seen a few guys that sharpen well with that circular method (on certain knives). For consistency.., I do think conventional wisdom dictates the methods mentioned above, but as Matt mentioned, whatever gets you a desired result is fine.

I simply believe that circular method has an extended "Learning Curve" to get really good at it..., whereas a concerted effort to be proficient using long stones end-to-end can be learned relatively quickly..., and facilitates maintaining a consistent angle.

Since you learned in cirular fashion.., goof around with both methods.., and a combination of both.., sharpening different knives, etc.
 
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