Show your freehand edges

sogflash said:
What kind of waterstones do you use knoefz? Curious about both brand and grit.
Click to expand...

For reprofiling I have a cheap set of diamond stones from 200 up to 600 grit.

My normal sharpening is done on synthetic waterstones.
Don't know the brand (text has worn of) but the grids on my waterstones are 240, 800, 2000 and 5000.
Then some belgian blue that a bit finer then the 5000 grit stone.

After that I strop on leather with green and white compound, and a few strokes on bare leather.
 
I just can't get my edge this perfect. There are always angle difference and I even can't make the edge continuou, there are always portions of the blade where the edge is bigger.
How do I get a nice mirror edge, it's just a matter of practice?
 
ffp said:
I just can't get my edge this perfect. There are always angle difference and I even can't make the edge continuou, there are always portions of the blade where the edge is bigger.
How do I get a nice mirror edge, it's just a matter of practice?
Click to expand...

Practice helps, but most important is using fine grid stones (2k and up) and finish with a polishing compound loaded strop for the nice bling :)


cm8NFd09sBib_YDBkD6OKN2ZuqVaSfh82ag63pqpScc=w600-h400-no
 
I sharp with japanese waterstones if 1000 and 6000 grit and after that strop om leather.
I can give a nice mirror polished look, the problem is the inconsistency of angle and edge size along the blade. But I think it really is a matter of practice.
Now, I have a hollow ground blade and I can't make the primary bevel (secondary edge) polished, I think because I can't reach it with the stone. Should I reprofile my blade? Wouldn't thiS make it too thin?
 
I keep recycling this photo but it's the only one I have on hand. Sometime I'll snag one of my Ratmandu or Tojiros - I only polish my carbon steel and kitchen knives. Everything else is typically at a DMT F or EF level with a Spyderco F or UF microbevel.

uzuqbeY.jpg
 
My bevels aren't anywhere near as clean as you guys here, but at least my edges are sharp enough to not be labeled a plebeian :D
L0270337.jpg
L0060846.jpg

This picture particularly shows my inconsistencies, I've seen worse though!
ShowandTell.jpg
 
Last edited:
n7titan said:
My bevels aren't anywhere near as clean as you guys here, but at least my edges are sharp enough to not be labeled a plebeian :D
Click to expand...
As a matter of fact, your bevels look even. They look as good as the rest of them. Clean work.
 
IXLR8 said:
As a matter of fact, your bevels look even. They look as good as the rest of them. Clean work.
Click to expand...
Thanks, but it's a case of not zooming in enough for detail. I've stopped mirror polishing long ago because it gets scuffed so easily and I didn't like babying my tools that much.
L0151350JPG.jpg

Edit: I'll just eat that humble pie and say thanks guys. Couldn't have made it this far without BF
 
Last edited:
My only attempt at freehand sharpening.

Titan, I see your "inconsistencies" and raise you one totally messed up knife.

I am not giving up though. I practice on el cheapo, flea market knives now. But its like certain martial arts; you either just get it intuitively or you spend years and years becoming merely proficient. I will take the latter if it helps me get edges like I see on this thread.
 
Here's one I just pounded out, will have to get some pics of some of my other tools. Vintage Stanley bevel-up jack plane blade. Took it from XXC DMT through JUMMA waterstones and finished off on a diamond jointer stone with a very slight burnishing on Washboard with plain copy paper. No jigs allowed.

plane%20blade_zpskiyglfgl.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top