The Science Behind Sharpening (Here at Bladeforums)

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D_R_Sharpening

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There is science in sharpening, right? Sure there is, but, Bladeforums seems to have more than it's fair share. I'd even go so far as to say it has it's own resident expert.

Why do I care about this, you ask?

Well, I don't actually care all that much but what I can't stand is contribed dribble from self prophets.

It just makes me sick to read false truths spouted off as facts. :barf:

It's the posts that walk in circles and preach false information over and over to every new want-to-be sharpener that comes down the pike. I know all about this because I used to be that newbie. I bought into some of this crap but thankfully I only listened so much and moved on to learn bigger and better things.

I spend 50+ hours a week making money from sharpening high end hair shears and knives. I spend another who knows how much time trying to improve my game and knowledge level.

I've put sharp edges on more tools than I care to remember and I've learned a thing or two in the process.

I've also learned to seperate those who know of what they speak and those who just rant and dribble.

I think it's the (un) scientific dribble that is what really gets under my skin. I've never read so much BS from one person in my life. It's all about someone's (not his own) opinions and winning witless debates.

The thing that bugs me to no end is the following he commands. It's actually quite a shame because intelligent people have been told so much BS for so long that they actually believe it.

I'm posting this to hopefully bring the BS'er into the light once and for all and to serve as a warning to those who wish to learn.

If knife sharpening pseudo-science just has to be followed (here at BF) then you can all have it and good luck to you all. :p


--Dave--
 
D_R_Sharpening said:
... what I can't stand is contribed dribble from self prophets....makes me sick to read false truths spouted off... posts that walk in circles and preach false information... some of this crap... those who know of what they speak and those who just rant and dribble.... it's the (un) scientific dribble that is what really gets under my skin. I've never read so much BS from one person in my life.... so much BS...

I'm posting this to hopefully bring the BS'er into the light once and for all and to serve as a warning to those who wish to learn.
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Well, it would help if you could be a bit more specific. What dribble? What false truths? What false information? What crap? And who is this BS'er?

Spit it out man.
 
I will tread extremely light here, but I think I know what he is talking about. I've seen some posts on sharpening that have struck me has being alittle much, and I tend to skip over the long-winded bs containted in some of those threads. It does not annoy me being a forum and all, but I know to disregard alot of the frivolous junk.
 
I know I’ve been one who has been involved in more than a few of the endless and frivolous bs arguments. I’m going to try and refrain from doing so from now on.
 
It's Professor Stamp I'm speaking of.

Pull up any post (yeah any) and you can see what I'm speaking of.

I'm with "db", I'm tiring of this.


--Dave--
 
Gollnick, you should just move the thread to W&C. It's some pointless rant about how newsprint apparently can't hold chromium oxide, and leather is able to polish the edges of S60V, ZDP-189, 3V, SGPS, or any wear resistant stainless than people don't even use soft arkansas on anymore because of the weak response.

This guy wants us to do mail order sharpening to his Chevy sharpening station, so we're not gonna get much info out of him. Just whining.

I used to strop on cardboard before I posted on BF or heard of Cliff Stamp, or the actual sharpening gurus that post here. It works, it works as well as clean leather.
 
So DR, what's the real deal on sharpening that you've discovered from sharpening all those edges? (Serious question - honest!)
 
hardheart said:
Gollnick, you should just move the thread to W&C. It's some pointless rant about how newsprint apparently can't hold chromium oxide, and leather is able to polish the edges of S60V, ZDP-189, 3V, SGPS, or any wear resistant stainless than people don't even use soft arkansas on anymore because of the weak response.

This guy wants us to do mail order sharpening to his Chevy sharpening station, so we're not gonna get much info out of him. Just whining.

I used to strop on cardboard before I posted on BF or heard of Cliff Stamp, or the actual sharpening gurus that post here. It works, it works as well as clean leather.
Click to expand...


1. Please move this thread anywhere you want. Maybe the planet Uranus might suffice?

2. I can see that you've learned well from Cliff. Good on 'ya!!

3. Please, anyone reading this, do not send me your knives. The last thing I need is to deal with fixing what you've done.

4. Time to bury your head again. :p


--Dave--
 
sometimes brevity can be your best friend; however your rant against mr. stamp appears more personal than factual.
 
Aww come on man , 'ol Cliff just wants to help out and he obviously enjoys himself while doing so.
Personally , my Grandpa Reynolds taught me how to sharpen when I was a wee lad and if you think Cliff is bad , my Grandpa's method would make you cringe and then faint. (but ya know what , it worked damn well for him for 70 odd years....)

Sorry man , this "science" is not set in stone.
 
DR if you have something to crontribute then do so, otherwise thise is just a bunch of whining.
 
I have nothing to contribute if you're not listening.

I know it looks like I'm a dickhead out on some personal attack, well maybe I am and maybe it is, but I assure you that I'm not usually like this. You don't have to take my word for it because it doesn't matter. What matters to me is that once and for all everyone who reads about sharpening (here at Bladeforums) be told the truth.

I don't think that personal opinions should be touted as facts unless their is personal experience behind the opinions.

That means that someone could give his/her opinion on the subject but note that he/she is giving an opinion and not necessarily a fact if that is the case. If they are stating fact from their own experience then fine as that is what it is.

I've watched hundreds of people over the years being taught BS and it's time it stopped. I just couldn't sit here any longer without saying something.

If this thread is too much for you then I apologize. If it hits a nerve then maybe you should think beyond what you think this is about and dig for the truth.

To qoute the great George Clinton, "Free you mind and your ass will follow"


--Dave--
 
What's your method. I'm not really good at sharpening. I generally use a Spyderco Sharpmaker for small blades. I have a several large knives I'd like to sharpen up.

Thanks.
 
I personally don't pay much attention to sharpening hype because sharpening is a pretty simple thing. Ya grind till it cuts and stop. If someone writes more than a paragraph about it then I know they are full of poopy. :)
 
Why don't you lay out your sharpening methods for all to see? I don't read many of Cliffs posts, so I have no idea what you are talking about.

It sounds like you are under the impression that it is your way or the highway, and that is a very shortsighted view. There is not just one way to sharpen knives- there are many systems. I use my own techniques, and a few systems, and at the end my knives are sharp.

You have not contributed any knowledge, just made a rant without even mentioning what are the "lies" vs the "right way"

In Summary, put up or shut up.
 
I could use some knowledge about sharpening stainless steels like S30V 154CM etc. If you have something to teach us, great. If you just wanna spar, do it in Whine and Cheese.
 
I wont comment on the appropriateness of this thread but state simply what I do with any piece of information I am given. I verify it.

If i read something about sharpening thats supposed to be better, i try it. If it works, great, if not than thats that.

If you think someone elses methods are innacurate or less effective than a technique you are aware of by all means, share it. Thats what this place is about. I'm a scientist, not a politician. Words mean little. I dont watch the news because its full of politics and politics are full of beliefs and opinions. We are at war right now because of some ones opinion regarding weapons of mass destruction, etc, etc. Nobody got shot when we learned about electron shells.

I am NOT taking sides or defending anyone here. However, Mr stamp has a webpage dedicated to his experiences in the knife world that users are invited to evaluate. Perhaps you could share some of your experiences and knowledge (as contrary as they may be) and let your peers validate it for themselves.

P.S. this is the ToolShed btw...
 
Hi Shann,
The Sharpmaker is a great touch-up tool but I don't like to refer to it as a sharpener or even a sharpening system. It is what it is and it's the best tool of it's kind though.

In the absence of powered options such as a belt sander/grinder I would say that the most effective way to sharpen a knife (of any size) is through the use of water stones and diamond plates.

The diamond plates are used for the initial shaping and the waterstones are used for edge refinement and polishing.

Depending on what use the knife has it would depend on how fine an edge you would want to create. For kitchen knives I prefer to go through as many stones as I can and finish on a leather strop. This type of edge in the kitchen rules supreme. If it's my EDC (every day carry) pocket knife then I prefer to leave a more toothier edge in the 120x-320x range. This allows for more easy cutting on things like packaging tape, rope, plastic banding, etc.

I think that a diamond plate (like the DMT Dia-Sharp 120x - D8XX) and a good set of waterstones (like Norton's 1000x & 4000/8000x combo) is just about the best way to spend your sharpening dollars. Learn the craft of free-hand sharpening and you'll be set for life.


--Dave--
 
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