Survey for sharpening via edge leading/trailing

[learnme]

When you sharpen edge leading, you create a smaller burr. When you sharpen edge trailing, you create a larger and more distinct burr.

What sharpening method do you prefer and why?

I sharpen edge trailing because I like the idea of a unified motion from beginning to end (stones to leather) and because I am still quite new to sharpening and need all the help I can get. The larger burr makes it easier to find.

 

[Jason B.]

And it makes it harder to get rid of.

I lead and trail, I never remove the edge from the stone though. If its a touch-up or when its time to do the final strokes on the stone I do alternating edge leading strokes. I do edge leading because that's how I started and everything I've read says to keep doing it that way.

 

[gunmike1]

And it makes it harder to get rid of.

I lead and trail, I never remove the edge from the stone though. If its a touch-up or when its time to do the final strokes on the stone I do alternating edge leading strokes. I do edge leading because that's how I started and everything I've read says to keep doing it that way.

I use the same technique. Back and forth without removing the knife from the stone for hogging steel off or getting the new grit's scratches all the way to the edge. For my finishing strokes or touching up with a microbevel I use light, alternating strokes edge leading with good results. It works well for me, though Murray Carter's method of stropping as the final step on a stone after doing the back and forth strokes works great for him and others. Though intuitively I would think that would be more apt to bring material to the edge to create a burr, for Murray Carter and many other fine sharpeners that use that technique they report it removes the burr just fine rather than creating one.

Mike

 

[Ben Dover]

Back and forth, both ways. (I use an Edge-Pro)

 

[Gotsouthern]

And it makes it harder to get rid of.

I lead and trail, I never remove the edge from the stone though. If its a touch-up or when its time to do the final strokes on the stone I do alternating edge leading strokes. I do edge leading because that's how I started and everything I've read says to keep doing it that way.

+1 I only lift the edge off the plate to change sides till near the end when I switch to alternating, edge leading only strokes. After that a few swipes through a hard felt block and voila`, no burr in sight!!

 

[learnme]

yea, after just a day of testing I now do the same as knifenut. The edge leading on the final strokes really takes it home.

 

[Jason B.]

Are you sharpening your convex falkniven an a flat stone?

 

[stitchawl]

Back and forth when using the EdgePro, DMT Aligner, and RazorEdge systems,
Cutting into the stone when using Japanese waterstones freehand, and when using rougher grits of wet/dry sandpaper. With very fine grits of paper or polishing film, as well as when stropping, the edge trails.

Stitchawl

 

[learnme]

Are you sharpening your convex falkniven an a flat stone?

No, i haven't dared to, or even need to sharpen my F1 yet. I've used it and its still as sharp as I got it. However, if the need arises, I will be using the DC4. Why do you ask? Should I only sharpen it on leather?

 

[Vivi]

I use either when reprofiling, but when sharpening or working the actual edge at all, it's always edge leading. I used to use edge trailing always, but someone here suggested I switch it up and Ive had smaller burrs ever since.

 

[learnme]

Are you sharpening your convex falkniven an a flat stone?

No, i haven't dared to, or even need to sharpen my F1 yet. I've used it and its still as sharp as I got it. However, if the need arises, I will be using the DC4. Why do you ask? Should I only sharpen it on leather?

Why do you ask?

 

[THG]

Edge-leading. I can feel when I'm at the correct angle when I'm leading with the edge. I can't get that same feeling if I do edge-trailing.

 

[Jason B.]

Because you get better/proper results with sandpaper and a soft backing.