Sharpening System

U

Utican

Joined
Sep 18, 2010
Messages
215
Alas my "trusty" Harbor freight sharpening system is not adequate for sharpening a mass of carbon steel so I'm looking to buy a good set of stones, diamond plates etc. At a first glance DMT offers a kit of sharpening tools, I would imagine you guys have a ton of experience sharpening steel and would have a thing or two to say about it, what would you suggest?
 
I have been using a set of Norton water stones (220, 1000, 4000, 8000) to finish up my edges, but I was finding that I was eating through the 220 so I picked up a cheap set of Diamond hones (14.99) to try once I get back at it. My thoughts are that I can get a good edge with the diamond hones and refine the edge on the 1k-8k water stones. If this works I will spring for the better DMT diamond hones in the future, but I will always finish on the Nortons because I like how they finish an edge.
 
+1 on the lansky. I've been using one non diamond set for almost twenty years and couldn't be happier. I don't use it exclusively, but as a way to get a reliable angle it's great. I only use my wet stone to finish up or on knives where the lansky isn't practical for some reason.
 
I prefer to use DMT bench stones, then finish with micron belts on my KMG grinder.

If you however, are set on using a fixture style sharpening system, the absolute, hands down, best I've seen is the Wicked Edge System :thumbup:

Wicked Edge Precision Knife Sharpener ................

http://www.bestsharpeningstones.com/Wicked-Edge-Knife-Sharpener.html

Check out the little video tutorial and it will become evident that wicked edge has taken the Lansky style to the next level. I've seen these first hand and IMHO, you would really have to be a dufus to screw this one up ;) :D




:cool:
 
I mean no offense to anyone and I'm not posting this to any person in this thread - just to the subject in general (please understand this).....but I always wonder how a knifemaker can employ such skill in grinding out a knife to the levels I see but yet not feel that he's able to use the same machine to edge a blade? I know many do use their grinders for their edges but it's also true that soooooo many more don't. Why do you suppose this is?

Again, I'm not trying to insult or push buttons, I'm genuinely curious about this.
 
Power tools speed up how fast you ruin blades. Additionally, you have much more control with sharpening on a stone.
 
I like regular DMT diamond stones, my philosophy is that even if I am not super great at sharpening freehand now, I will learn, and its a skill I really want
 
DaveMartell said:
I always wonder how a knifemaker can employ such skill in grinding out a knife to the levels I see but yet not feel that he's able to use the same machine to edge a blade? I know many do use their grinders for their edges but it's also true that soooooo many more don't. Why do you suppose this is?
Click to expand...

Dave,

There is a little thing with finer grit belts called "belt-bump" (where the belt is put together). It actually only comes into play when using the steel (or glass-lined) platen.

Now, with that said, I can split a 2X72 belt and use the "somewhat" slack belt method that could surgically remove the hair from your grandfather's nose.:) That is, of course, if you don't mind a "convex" edge.

There is nothing wrong with a slight convex edge (if the edge is thin enough to begin with), but it is hard to duplicate in the field.

Just my thoughts to your questions. Please feel free to trash my observations.

Robert
 
DaveMartell said:
I mean no offense to anyone and I'm not posting this to any person in this thread - just to the subject in general (please understand this).....but I always wonder how a knifemaker can employ such skill in grinding out a knife to the levels I see but yet not feel that he's able to use the same machine to edge a blade? I know many do use their grinders for their edges but it's also true that soooooo many more don't. Why do you suppose this is?

Again, I'm not trying to insult or push buttons, I'm genuinely curious about this.
Click to expand...

Like Robert said there is only so much you can get out of a machine. You can get stones that last A LOT longer than any belt you can get. And also you can get way more control when going for a hair popping edge when doing things by hand. Natrally having some kind of guide to keep everything consistent makes the task a bit easier and faster and more "oops" proof. All it takes in many instances is a small mistake and the edge you've spent perfecting just got trashed and you've just taken two steps back. This again is assuming you're not going for slightly convex edge. Again there are makers who can get hair popping with a machine however like anything else it takes time to perfect. Many of us were sharpening knives way before we started making them and as a result it was done in some way or another by hand. It just feels more natural to me at least, to go for that razor edge by hand.
 
DaveMartell said:
I mean no offense to anyone and I'm not posting this to any person in this thread - just to the subject in general (please understand this).....but I always wonder how a knifemaker can employ such skill in grinding out a knife to the levels I see but yet not feel that he's able to use the same machine to edge a blade? I know many do use their grinders for their edges but it's also true that soooooo many more don't. Why do you suppose this is?

Again, I'm not trying to insult or push buttons, I'm genuinely curious about this.
Click to expand...

Destraal said:
Power tools speed up how fast you ruin blades. Additionally, you have much more control with sharpening on a stone.
Click to expand...

Sharpening needs to be consistent, what ever apparatus is used. If there is no consistency it is almost impossible to produce a sharp edge;
A sharp edge can be achieved on the belt as well as on stone; being consistent is the trick whatever your using.

Fred
 
I settled on DTM deluxe aligner kit, should be here morrow ill let you know how it works out
 
I'm curious as to which Harbor Freight system you were using. I use one of their 1" x 30" belt sanders. It works great, and I don't see how you could get much faster. (Although the paper wheels are probably just as fast.)

image_76.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top