sharpening tips for the f1

[RescueRiley]

juist wanted some advice on the best way to maintain and than resharpen the edge on the f1...the factory edge is awesome and real sharp for such a thick blade the packaging says to use a a diamond or a whetstone and pretend like you were taking slices off of it. Howeve I know many people prefer to sharpen a convex gring using the old mouspad and sandpaper method. I'll just strop on a belt to maintain but I imagine that'll only last for so long...and I suck at sharpening...so the more idiot proof the better. thanks.

 

[dantzk8]

I use a ceramic whetstone. I push the blade from the edge to the spine follwing the convex grind. I've heard good things about the use of a mouse pad but have never tried it myself. Hope it helps.

dantzk.

 

[Foilist]

Go to the Bark RIver website and find the tutorial on sharpening convex blades. They use sandpaper on a mousepad, which is idiot-proof (I should know).

 

[GibsonFan]

They use sandpaper on a mousepad, which is idiot-proof (I should know).

Same here, it's one of the best parts of doing it that way.

 

[hollowdweller]

I use a Jemico adjustable tension strop with strips of wet/dry sandpaper laid over top.:thumbup:

 

[Fieldtestornothing]

For Convex maintenence I use a strop with that green cutting compound on top. If you stay on top of the maintenence I've never had to really remove a lot of metal, although I've heard the sandpaper/mousepad trick works well.

 

[Fiddleback]

You can make a great strop cheaply. Or you can do the mousepad and sandpaper trick. Or you can do as HD does, I think his system is awesome!

For a cheap strop (or you can do a mousepad on a handle this way):

-Next time you're at Home depot get a couple of paint stirrers.
-Glue them together using carpenters glue.
-Cut a couple of pieces of leather to fit the width of the stirrers. An old leather belt works great for this (see Goodwill).
-Contact cement the leather strips to each side of the stirrer glueup.
-Load one side with emery compound. (fast cutter)
-Load the other with a polishing compound.

Man, you just saved a buncha dough and got one every bit as good as a Lee Valley.


-To use a mousepad, just cut it and contact cement it to the stirrer.
-Get some 3M spray adhesive from Home depot.
-Spray the mousepad, and the back of the sandpaper
-Wait 3 minutes
-Stick them together.
-3M spray adhesive makes a temporary bond so when you wear out the sandpaper, peel it off and do another round of spraying.


TIP --- When learning to sharpen a convex edge use a permanent marker to color the edge. ****Use light pressure and check the edge every few strokes.*** If you're not getting all the way to the edge, change the angle, not the pressure!!!!

Edit: Oh yea. Use 220 grit paper for bad edges, and 400 for fine ajustments.

 

[task force k]

For Convex maintenence I use a strop with that green cutting compound on top. If you stay on top of the maintenence I've never had to really remove a lot of metal, although I've heard the sandpaper/mousepad trick works well.

Same here. So far has worked great.