Sharpmaker and Blunt Point

R

romanx

Joined
Jun 7, 2007
Messages
55
I have read that you should not drag the point of the knife off the sharpening rods to avoid blunting the point.

This is easy enough to do on the flat side of the rods, as you can make sure that the point finishes on the flat edge of the rod. But how does this work when you are using the narrow edge of the rod? (i.e. step 1 and 3 in the manual). It seems to me quite difficult to avoid dragging the point of the blade off the narrow edge of the rod.

Should I avoid dragging the tip off when using the narrow edge of the rods (and thereby risk not sharpening the point of the blade correctly), or drag the point off the rod when using the narrow edge of the rod (and risk blunting the tip)?

Any advice for me (assuming you get the point of the question, sorry about the pun, it's an unfortunate habit of mine).:o

Thanks Guys

Smokey
 
I use the corners of the rods only for recurves and for kitchen knives that I don't care about the points. It is possible to use the corners but stop before the point and then finish the point with the flats only.

I don't know whether its true or not, but some here believe the corners of the rods put too much pressure on the edge. I hope someone posts more about it.
 
While it is true that the corners of the rods will concentrate the pressure on a smaller area, the user applies all the pressure, not the stone. It is easier to use too much pressure on the corners, but that is all.

I would end my strokes with the tip still on the rod whether I was using the flats or the corners. I can always go back and carefully sharpen a dull edge at the tip, but I can't go back and add steel to a rounded tip. I really like sharp points on my blades, so I hate to round them needlessly.
 
When using the corners of the rods, I slow down at the end of each stroke. At that point, the tip is near the bottom of the rod...near the base. I keep going being careful to whet the edge all the way to the tip, and yet prevent the tip from gliding off the stone. No matter how careful I am, inevitably the tip rides off the stone at least a couple of times during each sharpening session.

Slow down near the tip but don;t neglect the tip just to keep from rounding. That's what I do anyway.
 
The Sharpmaker base can be turned over and you can lay your rods in a couple of grooves there. This lets you use the rods like a bench stone. In this configuration it is easier to finish your tips.
 
Thanks for the replies guys. I find it very hard not to let the tip ride off when using the corners of the rods.

Jeff, when you turn the base over you slot the rods in the grooves and then run the tip along them freehand, is that what you mean?

It helps to get tips like this.

R
 
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