sharpning?

C

chinlong4ever

Joined
Jan 26, 2000
Messages
7
no matter how long i try, i just can't get the edge i want on all my blades. what could i be doing wrong? and whats a strop?
 
I suppose you are using a stone to sharpen your knives with. If so you could be holding the blade at the wrong angle to the stone. Try about a twenty degree angle to the stone.
Sharpen one side about twenty or so times and then switch sides. Try cutting into not away from the stone. You could also not have the right grit. If the knives are too dull and your using a fine grit it will be very hard to get a good edge it will take too long. A too coarse a grit and your edge may not get very sharp. try a coarse grit and then move to a finer one. hope this helps. There are a lot of ways to sharpen knives and if that way works its not wrong. see ya!!
 
have to agree with the above. Check you angle and the type of stone your using. Also make sure you know what type of stone your using and how your supposed to use it (dry, with oil, with water, etc.)
A strop is just a smooth peice of leather, usually glued to a board that is used to further polish the edge. you can make your own out of an old belt. They work better wit a polishing compound rubbed into them. Then you drag the blade up and dwon the strip of leather. You drag it so the the cutting edge trails and soen't cut into the leather.
If you need any more sharpening supplies, or want to see a picture of a strop, go to www.woodcraft.com


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Fix it right the first time, use Baling Wire !
 
chinlong4ever, try reading this. http://www.bladeforums.com/features/faqsharp.html . Its a sharpening FAQ written by Joe Talmadge. It should help you to find out what you are doing wrong and some new ways of doing it right. I would also suggest either buying "The Razor Edge Book of Sharpening" or seeing if a nearby library has a copy. This book was written by John Juranitch, in case you need the author to help you find it in the library. I'm pretty sure that he is the owner of Razor Edge Systems, that's who sells it anyway. The URL is http://www.razoredgesystems.com/ if you would like to buy it. They also sell good sharpening systems and steels. The book is also available from Smoky Mountain Knife Works, http://esg.interliant.com/smknife/main.html . They have it a little bit cheaper, and I have had good experiences shopping with them in the past. And finally, if you want to put a truly amazing polished edge on your knives and screw the cost, look into the Edge Pro Apex. I bought one a month ago and my only complaint is that I didn't get the video and the coarse stone. It's expensive, but more than worth the cost if you want unbelievable edges. You can check it out at http://www.gorge.net/business/edgepro/ . The owner, Ben Dale, is a good guy to work with. He's very good about answering any questions you might have, and his systems are guaranteed for life. And if you want any more info about anything im mentioned here, go ahead and e-mail me, I'll be happy to help you out if I can.

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Just because I talk to myself does not make me crazy. Now, when I listen to myself, that makes me crazy.
 
I'm pretty new to all of this and have a very basic question. When sharpening, should one move the stone/hone up and down across the knife or from back (bolster)to blade tip in a side to side motion?
If the sharpening motion is up and down, should one draw the hone across the blade from bottom to top OR gently push the blade against the hone from top to bottom? (I've got a Lansky system.)
Thanks for any advice! (I've been "lurking" for the past few weeks and decided to "educate" myself by reading BF before jumping in.)



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"It is wonderfull to be here in that great state of Chicago" - Vice President Dan Quayle
 
Bothrops, I personaly get better results by placing the stone vertical to me. (up and down) and pulling the blade to me from the top of the stone to the bottom. I sharpen from the bolster and move to the tip. I guess its really all you get used to. Practice is the best way to find out what works best for you and to "sharpen" your skills. Jeff
 
Thanks for the post Salamander. I guess you're right about practicing. My only concern is that I don't screw up an edge and end up in worse shape than I started.
 
I understand I have done it before. A good thing to do is start sharpening some knives that are old and you dont really care if they get messed up. Then once you feel comfortable move on to your better ones.
smile.gif

 
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