Sharpening - to the next level.

Z

Zak Smith

Joined
Oct 6, 1999
Messages
17
I recently purchased the Spyderco Sharpmaker 204, and have been "practicing" on some of my old childhood (read: inexpensive) knives.

I was able to get my 3-blade "Old Timer" (blade says "Schrade USA 340T", FWIW) sharp enough that if I scrape it across my arm hair a few times, the hair is cut off - I don't say "shaved" because it doesn't pop off individual hairs as it passes over.

Tonight I was feeling somewhat confident and sharpened my Spyderco Calypso, Jr. to about the same level of sharpness.

First, what is a good way to "measure" sharpness, eg: a knife this sharp can do X?

I've been following the directions that come with the Sharpmaker: steps 1-4, using about 20 swipes per knife edge per stage.

I've read Joe Talmadge's "How to make a benchmade axis perform", but I think I am lacking enough basic skill to follow his directions. :-( I don't feel confident enough in my sharpening skill yet to even attempt to sharpen any of my Benchmades (both relatively new, and still sharper than the blades that I have sharpened so far).

What do I need to do to get to "the next level" of sharpening?

thanks
Zak


[This message has been edited by Zak Smith (edited 03-11-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Zak Smith (edited 03-11-2000).]
 
Hello Zak, how's it going? I've got no business telling my opinion on sharpening knives but...
I use a sharpmaker also with good results. Anyway I saw a post in another forum and a gentleman was talking about using strops (leather). He referred me to www.knifecenter.com to I believe what is item J45. I believe it is a block of wood with 4 sides (no kidding) with different types of leather you use in sequence. I was looking for some "finishing" sticks but I believe I am going to get me one of these.
They are currently "out" of this item but it will be worth the wait. It is pretty pricey at $52 bucks plus $5 bucks for the cream.
If you want to look at his post go to microholics.com his name is George.
Hope this helps you out
Cordially
Ode
 
Zak,

In addition to the "How to make a 710 perform" post you mentioned, Joe T. has also written a more complete treatise or "FAQ" on sharpening. Perhaps you've seen it already? If not, you can find it here: http://www.bladeforums.com/features/faqsharp.html

Following Joe's instructions, and with a bit of practice, you should be able to get better results than what you have described.

Good luck.

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AKTI Member # A000846
Stop when you get to bone.
 
After ascertaining I was never gonna get sharpening down as good as some of my friends to whom the act is a kind of spiritual thing, I found the perfect solution. I use what is known privately to me as the ronnie method.

In the dark of night, I sneak all my knives to a guy named Ronnie in the next town. I take him a bottle of Jack Daniels and he sharpens my knives.

I did have to learn to give him the whiskey "after" he does the sharpening though. Only downside is that Ronnie's wife hates me.

My friends, however, are in awe of my new found sharpening secret that I will not divulge even under threat of being forced to carry a Frost.

Mark

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A Patriot's Work Is Never Done--greetings from The Occupied South
 
lmao! truedge, i love that last line about being forced to cary a frost! too funny
 
I've been using the same strop for 25+ years and it works like a charm. Try this:

Cut a board about 15-16" long, 1 1/2" wide and about 3/8" thick. On one side epoxy a length of military web belt (10-11") and on the other side, epoxy a good piece of leather (I used an old belt I had--don't use a piece of leather that is too thin or "flaky"-get a nice solid but somewhat supple piece of leather). You should have about 4 or 5" of the board left that serves as a handle.

Now buy some jeweler's rough (try Dremel #421) and smear it on both the leather and web belt. After the sharpmaker, strop your blade on the web belt and then on the leather strop (omit the leather strop if you want to "rough sharpen" your blade). If you do it this way, you will get a hair shavin' edge every time.

I have smaller versions of this for travel and field use. You can't beat the price!


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Hoodoo

The low, hoarse purr of the whirling stone—the light-press’d blade,
Diffusing, dropping, sideways-darting, in tiny showers of gold,
Sparkles from the wheel.

Walt Whitman
 
If you're not confident of your skills, Benchmades are tough to start out with -- the steel is very hard, and the initial angle from the factory is very very thick. The first time you sharpen a Benchmade on a Sharpmaker, you can work a long long time and not see much progress.

It's not a bad idea to spend $30 on a spyderco delica and learn to sharpen on that. The angles already match the Sharpmakers, and the hollow grind helps move things along nicely. And you'll end up with a great low-priced knife besides

Joe
 
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