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SHARPENING YOUR >Emerson Commander or recurve blade
- Thread starter simko
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2001
- Messages
- 4,623
Recurve edges are the only thing I use my Lansky sharpener for. I set the edge with the Lanskey and then maintain it with Spyderco Sharpmaker.
For serrations Lansky has a few stones that are basically Sharpmaker rods glued to their handle.
I like the Lansky but not for everyday sharpening - works good for setting an edge but you have to be careful to keep the edges even.
For serrations Lansky has a few stones that are basically Sharpmaker rods glued to their handle.
I like the Lansky but not for everyday sharpening - works good for setting an edge but you have to be careful to keep the edges even.
- Joined
- Sep 23, 1999
- Messages
- 3,831
IRC is internet relay chat 
There is a #Bladeforums.com channel, and knife nuts chat there each night.
Aaron, you bastid, you need something roundish to do those kinds of knives well, unless you have a belt sander and a lot of skill too. The sharpmaker is probably the best gizmo for this chore, thoush a thin diamond rod (small diameter is important) would work too.
Go buy a sharpmaker man!
There is a #Bladeforums.com channel, and knife nuts chat there each night.Aaron, you bastid, you need something roundish to do those kinds of knives well, unless you have a belt sander and a lot of skill too. The sharpmaker is probably the best gizmo for this chore, thoush a thin diamond rod (small diameter is important) would work too.
Go buy a sharpmaker man!
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 4,842
The trick to sharpening recurved blades is to use a stone which has a much smaller diameter than the diameter of the recurve itself. Triangular stones are the best, I think the Sharpmaker 204 is the best bet for recurved blades. Smaller-diameter round ceramic sticks work well also.
I describe a recurve sharpening strategy here: http://www.bladeforums.com/features/makeaxisperform.shtml
It's an Axis 710 I used, but the same theory applies. Basically I thinned out the blade, razor polished it, then roughed up what I call the "front recurve" (the curved part just behind the belly). That gives me high performance all-around, plus great shaving and push-cutting at the belly, and awesome slicing. The front recurve is the part of the recurve blade that makes recurves slice well, so you can rough up just that part and see amazing results.
Joe
I describe a recurve sharpening strategy here: http://www.bladeforums.com/features/makeaxisperform.shtml
It's an Axis 710 I used, but the same theory applies. Basically I thinned out the blade, razor polished it, then roughed up what I call the "front recurve" (the curved part just behind the belly). That gives me high performance all-around, plus great shaving and push-cutting at the belly, and awesome slicing. The front recurve is the part of the recurve blade that makes recurves slice well, so you can rough up just that part and see amazing results.
Joe
- Joined
- Sep 23, 1999
- Messages
- 3,831
Aaron,
I don't really know how to do a large recurve like that on a belt- the more complex the shape, the harder it is to sharpen on a grider. But it isn't impossible, since most knifemakers (factory and custom) that I am aware of use their grinders to sharpen everything! What you need to do really ois use a narrower belt (1" belt?) and make sure that you are always shapening perpendicular to the belt.
I think a good idea to practice sharpening something like a commander on a belt sander would be to go to the store and get some mild steel and cut out a blank in the shape of your knife. Then practice putting an edge on that. Once you learn how to pull your blade across the belt smoothly, quickly, and always keep ing it perpendicular to the belt, you'll be fine. If you haven't sharpened a non-recurve blade on a belt sander before, I'd start with one of those first. Sharpening on a belt isn't that hard, but you do need a light touch, you have to pull the knife quickly and smoothly, and you have to watch the tip. We can chat about this more later.
I don't really know how to do a large recurve like that on a belt- the more complex the shape, the harder it is to sharpen on a grider. But it isn't impossible, since most knifemakers (factory and custom) that I am aware of use their grinders to sharpen everything! What you need to do really ois use a narrower belt (1" belt?) and make sure that you are always shapening perpendicular to the belt.
I think a good idea to practice sharpening something like a commander on a belt sander would be to go to the store and get some mild steel and cut out a blank in the shape of your knife. Then practice putting an edge on that. Once you learn how to pull your blade across the belt smoothly, quickly, and always keep ing it perpendicular to the belt, you'll be fine. If you haven't sharpened a non-recurve blade on a belt sander before, I'd start with one of those first. Sharpening on a belt isn't that hard, but you do need a light touch, you have to pull the knife quickly and smoothly, and you have to watch the tip. We can chat about this more later.