sharpening

[stlsrgn]

I would like to hear from the knifemakers on this forum,how they put the final edge on a knife and get it shavin sharp?

 

[Crayola]

I have never gotten a better edge on a knife than when I used my knife making gear. I am a newbie knife maker, but putting an edge on with power equipment is dangerous, but not that hard to do.

I first set edge bevels on against the platen. You have to go quick, as heat builds up fast. I dunk the blade in water after each pass. After gettign nice flat bevels with a rough grit, I move the blade to the slack portion above my platen. A few quick passes puts on a convex edge. THen I go up to a 400 grit belt and slack belt the edge. Once that is done, I buff the edge with green compound and then to get rid of the burr I very lightly stroke the edge on the white Spyderco Sharpmaker stones.

I want to start going from the buffer to a strop though, as I think that will make an even sharper edge.

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"Come What May..."

 

[stlsrgn]

Hey crayola
Do you use some kind of angle guide or just by eye?What do you think of those leather belts or leather clad wheels to strop the edge? Thanks.

 

[Crayola]

I am a newbie maker, so I don't have those fancy leather belts!!

Leather is the way to go for stropping, but I don't know how necessary power stropping is to do. To get the ultimate edge I would like to get a stiff felt wheel and dress it with compound. I hear that they are awesome. I'd still like to strop by hand after any wheel though.

Yes, I do just do it by eye. You can get a pretty even angle by eye, and when you slack belt grind the edge the belt does most of the angle guess work. I was petrified to start sharpening using my grinder, but it is easy to learn how to do, and you get AWESOME results. ANY belt sander will work too. You can get a cheap 1x30 to do the job.

I hope other makers chime in for you, but I bet no one else has because the way i have described is pretty much a standard way of doing things. Sharpen on the sander, and buff/strop.

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"Come What May..."

 

[kile]

I am also a new maker, I just finished my first three knives today. I sharpened them on the slack belt like crayola does with a 400 grit belt, then buffed very lightly to remove the burr, all three knives were very sharp, all shaved hair effortlessly, even if I didn't press the blade against the skin, they would cut hair.
kyle

 

[Bruce Bump]

I use the 8" wheel on the burr-king with a fresh 320 belt and take the wire edge off on the 8" cardboard wheel with white compound. I test them by throwing a sheet of paper in the air and slicing it in half before it hits the floor. Dont miss and cut the work bench in two. Been There. Bruce B

 

[stlsrgn]

Thanks for all the info guys!