Sharpening question: H.E.S.T. vs RC-3

M

monk3yfist

Joined
Mar 24, 2009
Messages
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I have noticed that my RC-3 seems sharper than my HEST even though I sharpen them the same way. (Sharpmaker w/ ultrafine stones/strop). Is this just due to the fact that the RC-3 is a thinner knife? Just a question for those more experienced than me...
 
Perhaps you need to start with something other than the ultrafine stone you mentioned on the HEST? If

If you are raising a bur on the entire length of the HEST blade, then progressing to the next grit of finer stones, then ending with a strop loaded with proper compound, both knives should be equally sharp. It could be something is amiss, either during the sharpening with stones or honing with the strop. Until I learned the proper way to strop my knives, I tended to dull them rather than sharpen them.
 
LUW said:
Could it be that his blades received slightly different HT?
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??Regardless, he should still be able to get that HEST razor sharp.

monk, sharpen your blade on one side only until you have raised a bur on the entire length of the blade. Hit the opposite side a couple of times until you see the bur has moved to the other side of the blade. Then move on to the finer grit stones and do the same thing with each stone. Finish using the same procedure with the strop until the bur is completly removed.
 
Moengo said:
Perhaps you need to start with something other than the ultrafine stone you mentioned on the HEST? If

If you are raising a bur on the entire length of the HEST blade, then progressing to the next grit of finer stones, then ending with a strop loaded with proper compound, both knives should be equally sharp. It could be something is amiss, either during the sharpening with stones or honing with the strop. Until I learned the proper way to strop my knives, I tended to dull them rather than sharpen them.
Click to expand...

Just to clarify, I progress through all of the stones finishing w/ the ultrafine for both knives. Reguarding stropping: When i strop a convex blade I was told to listen for the edge of the blade to "catch" and when you hear that sound you know you have the right angle... When stropping a v-grind blade does it work the same way or do you adjust it to match the sharpened angle of the v grind? (ie 40 degrees).
 
Moengo said:
??Regardless, he should still be able to get that HEST razor sharp.

monk, sharpen your blade on one side only until you have raised a bur on the entire length of the blade. Hit the opposite side a couple of times until you see the bur has moved to the other side of the blade. Then move on to the finer grit stones and do the same thing with each stone. Finish using the same procedure with the strop until the bur is completly removed.
Click to expand...
make sure you know what you're doing when using this technique. If you only sharpen on one side, you will alter the knife's cutting abilities because the sharp edge is not directly under the spine but will be offset because of the metal removal on one side only
 
monk3yfist said:
Just to clarify, I progress through all of the stones finishing w/ the ultrafine for both knives. Reguarding stropping: When i strop a convex blade I was told to listen for the edge of the blade to "catch" and when you hear that sound you know you have the right angle... When stropping a v-grind blade does it work the same way or do you adjust it to match the sharpened angle of the v grind? (ie 40 degrees).
Click to expand...

It sounds like you're on the right track. As you "finish" with that first grit stone, do you raise a bur the entire length of the blade?

I strop a V-bevel using the same angle I sharpened with...in your case 20* each side.
 
I need to buy a sharpening system for my RC3 and HEST, is the Sharpmaker a good option or is there something better for these blades?
 
monk3yfist said:
Reguarding stropping: When i strop a convex blade I was told to listen for the edge of the blade to "catch" and when you hear that sound you know you have the right angle... When stropping a v-grind blade does it work the same way or do you adjust it to match the sharpened angle of the v grind? (ie 40 degrees).
Click to expand...

not sure this is the right way...but its the way i do it, and i have never failed to get my knives shave sharp. I'll stick the knife flat up against my strop, and then lightly push it forward (edge first)...all the while lifting the spine off the leather...once my knife digs in, that is the angle i strop (of course once i'm used to the angle its no longer necessary to do the 'dig in,' as its just a matter of muscle memory.)
 
well one has a significantly thinner blade... my HEST is convexed after 4 months of use and my rc3 is almost scandi now... kinda crazy how that works, both were done with arkansas stones and wet-and-dry.
 
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