Sharpening on the go, best method?

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Sauce1

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Jan 18, 2013
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I currently sharpen at home only with a Wicked Edge sharpener. Going away for a week, bringing a couple knives with me and want to know how you guys are sharpening while out and about? I have no hand sharpening experience. Thanks for any info.........

Sauce
 


For 'on the go', I use a piece of oil stone and a leather pouch that can be used to strop a knife if I'm out for a busy day just to do touch ups.

If you want something like the sharpmaker..



People love it, but I'd recommend a Spyderco double stuff - ceramic double sided pocket stone. It's very high quality and comes with a suede pouch to strop the finished edge. Far superior to the Fallkniven DC4 and as they have now changed their materials to cheap crap they are never worth buying again! The older Dc4's were good though, providing the factory bothered to flatten them! (fallkniven are rude d'bags!)
 
I use 2 pieces of equipment while traveling for work and pleasure.

DMT Coarse/Fine
Spyderco UF

or

If only one. A 600 grit diamond paddle (can be substituted for a DMT coarse fine folding paddle).

One can get a good shaving edge of the first combo with proper technique.
 
Turn over your coffee cup (Ceramic by the way) and sharpen on the exposed ceramic ring on the bottom. Might not be recommended for an 8 or 9 inch combat/bushcraft type knife in your local coffee shop! :eek:

Blessings,

Omar
 
I used (still do) my Smith's 3-in-1 which is similar to but much smaller than the Sharpmaker. Lansky's 4 stick turnbox would be another choice and you can glue a hunk of leather to the bottom for a strop.

But what I'm using mostly now are a pair of the Spyderco pocket stones. The same two as are bonded together to make the Double Stuff but I bought them as separate stones so I could have both sides of each grit rather than one only. Plus, they each come in their own pouch. Less than $10 more and you get double the work surfaces and two pouches.
 
I also like the Spyderco Double Stuff. I prefer it over having the fine and medium stones separate because one 1/4" stone is less likely to break in my bag than two 1/8" stones, however, it would be nice to have twice the surface area to sharpen on. Since you don't have freehand experience, get a sharpie and mark your edge. Go slow and use very light pressure. Focus on maintaining a consistent angle on every pass over the stone. Freehand sharpening can be fun and rewarding once you get a hang of it.
 
DMT credit card ( C, F, EF ), 1000 and 1500 grit sandpaper & a piece of cardboard + compound on it.

I'd second the notion to practice freehand matching your Wicked Edge angles, otherwise you won't do well on the trip.
 
Samon, nice Bull Nose. :) (and kit)

I've actually never really needed to sharpen on a trip. I guess if I had to I'd take my translucent Ark slip and pocket strop.

I WILL need to maintain my carving stuff when I go camping, but I should be able to manage with my strops alone. Maybe some 400 grit sandpaper.

What will you be sharpening? That makes a difference. If it's a simple high carbon you can get away with more than if it's a high abrasion resistant alloy super steel.
 
Here is my field sharpening kit:

[video=youtube;XWE14n6-8MU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWE14n6-8MU&feature=youtu.be[/video]
 
I use A DMT folding diamond sharpener with a different grit on each side. They are very light, compact and get the job done easily. I also use a Falkniven DC4 combination stone.
 
P.E.T.A said:
I also like the Spyderco Double Stuff. I prefer it over having the fine and medium stones separate because one 1/4" stone is less likely to break in my bag than two 1/8" stones, however, it would be nice to have twice the surface area to sharpen on. Since you don't have freehand experience, get a sharpie and mark your edge. Go slow and use very light pressure. Focus on maintaining a consistent angle on every pass over the stone. Freehand sharpening can be fun and rewarding once you get a hang of it.
Click to expand...

This is what I take, along with a slightly cut down CrO2 strop block. Everything fits in a long Otter Box and carries easily. It gives me a lot of flexibility in a small package. If I wanted to go smaller, I could cut the strop block in half and put it in a smaller Otter Box for hiking, or just take the Double Stuff and strop on my belt.
 
OHALLUM said:
Turn over your coffee cup (Ceramic by the way) and sharpen on the exposed ceramic ring on the bottom. Might not be recommended for an 8 or 9 inch combat/bushcraft type knife in your local coffee shop! :eek:

Blessings,

Omar
Click to expand...

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
I like to carry a cut down Eze-Lap model L in the zipper compartment of my wallet. It does for those away from home trips, or out in the woods where there is not a coffee mug around. :D

Or I can just drop a small sharpening stone in my pack. That works well too.

9091091979_435cc4e74c_c.jpg


9093339698_23b0cfbcc4_c.jpg
 
Awesome feedback and ideas, lot's to look at. So many portable options.........

Thanks,
Sauce
 
I give another vote to the sharpmaker. Easily carried and great for a quick touch up
 
I love the Sharpmaker but it's a bit heavy for a pack. You'd be ahead just taking one of each rod or just the medium rod. Same with any ceramic rod system. I felt the Spyderco pocket stones were a better way to go because you get the same material but in a 1x5x1/8" pouch. I understand the fear of breaking them but they seem pretty sturdy to me and the brown stone will touch up an edge in a hurry. Not even sure the white stone is needed in the field.
 
Usually a small triangle ceramic stone. Mine is a gatco triseps I've taken the rubber ends off of. A quick touchup/alignment on that and a quick strop on a bit of paper or my pants and we're good to go.
 
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