Sharpening the belly/tip of clip points

[Bladenoobie1]

Hi,

I've been experimenting with freehand sharpening a lot and I'm still very much a beginner. I much prefer sharpening wharncliff edges for obvious reasons and drop-points as its easy for me to follow heel to tip with relatively even bevels. I'm having the most trouble right now sharpening clip points.

When I sharpen clip points, I just lift my wrist to hit the belly and tip, but it results in a belly/tip with a slightly less aggressive edge than the rest of the blade.

I just would like to know how other seasoned free-handers sharpen their clip-points and if possible, link me to video or thread references.

Thanks,
BN

EDIT: On other question. How do you go about testing for a burr at the higher grits meaning for me, 4000 grit?

 

[HeavyHanded]

Raise the handle only as much as needed. Go slow and study the grind pattern/Sharpie marks to see exactly where you hit. Don't be afraid to make the bevel a bit wider (go for a more acute angle) in this area as many factory grinds are more obtuse in this area than the straight regions of the edge. I break the edge down into overlapping sections using a scrubbing pattern, especially in the belly of a fairly aggressive curve. Contact area is very small and its very normal to "feel" for the apex by increasing the pitch into the stone, broadening your edge. Use extra patience when working edges with a lot of curve and trust your observations.

 

[Bladenoobie1]

Thanks for the pics. My bevel does tend to be a tiny bit wider at the tips. I thought that's a bad thing though. And I do use a sharpie on the lower grits to 1000 grit, but after I have the bevel established, I just feel for the edge.

Anyhow I'm having lot of trouble refining the edge at the higher grits, meaning for me 4000 grit. Since I can't feel the burr, I have trouble getting that final sharp edge. From what I see in your pics, I do pretty much the same thing. I was curious as to if there were better methods. Really appreciate the pics though, thanks.

 

[David Martin]

Notice he lifts the handle some when working the belly. DM

 

[coot_shootr]

Put the sharpie to it as suggested above and readjust accordingly and it will work wonders on the edge.

 

[Jason B.]

The bevel getting wider at the tip is typically because clip points get thicker at the tip unless they have a very good distal taper.

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

Yes, I found mostly the thickness of the stock nearing tip is what causing wider bevel when sharpening to about same angle (freehanding, about is the closest I come to)

Good spyderco grind has less of this effect:

 

[Bladenoobie1]

I think I'm pretty good on the forward stroke, pushing the knife away from me, but on the returning stroke, I'm not as consistent. Advice on how to make it more so like the forward?

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

My method is always push away, so when doing the other side, I switch hand. This is because I have same problem pulling as well.

Alternately, keep trying & check the result often.

 

[Bladenoobie1]

My method is always push away, so when doing the other side, I switch hand. This is because I have same problem pulling as well.

Alternately, keep trying & check the result often.

Maybe I should do the same. Though I'm not ambidextrous I use my left hand for eating/writing etc, and my right hand for anything that requires hand eye coordination due to a dominant right eye. Though I well tuned in using both hands, what I do with my left I can't do with my right.

 

[StevieWunders]

I think I'm pretty good on the forward stroke, pushing the knife away from me, but on the returning stroke, I'm not as consistent. Advice on how to make it more so like the forward?

The pull stroke should, in the early stages, at least, be governed by your eye. Use a bright light, preferably coming from over your off-shoulder, and watch the edge. As you move down the sweep of the blade, look the edge of your blade into contact with the stone. Quite unconsciously, your eye will train your muscles and joints to perform the necessary adjustments. As experience accumulates, as with most things, your strokes will become quicker and more accurate and feel more natural. Don't waste time fretting over results. Practice reliable methods and results will simply appear. You will discover the Zen of Hand Sharpening. Grind on, Glasshoppah.