The Sharpening Thread

Either too steep an angle or too much pressure.

remember that stripping is just setting the microscopic edge back into place so too much pressure or too steep just rolls it over.
 
Lennox said:
If it's a factory convex from Busse a strop will in many cases (depending on how dull it has become) bring it back to shaving sharp. My NMFSHLE came shaving sharp but after a few days of chopping it would no longer shave or cut paper at all, 5 minutes on the strop and it was shaving sharp again, if i remember it correctly i stropped the NMFSHLE sharp again 4 times before i had to get the stones out.

The v edges that Busse put on many of Combat Grade knifes have a bit rougher finish and don't respond as well as the convex edges on the strop but after being sharpened on a fine stone or belt they can usually be taken back to shaving quite easily.
As for strops, I make my own and here is a good thread showing you how http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/640503-Make-a-leather-strop

If you want to buy a good strop you can try http://www.stropman.com or http://www.flexxxstrops.com/
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Thanks Lennox
 
Lennox,

Great thread, I'll definitely be buying some of the things you've mentioned. Have to get myself some strops and water stones and possibly a new sharpening system.
Question when you sharpen INFI do you drag the blade edge across the stone or push the edge ? Although I'm sure you'll be getting into technique soon enough, I saw you mentioned more was to come.
Thanks again !! :)
 
I do most of my sharpening on a belt sander these days, too. I get a better consistency with it over hand sharpening (at least as far as convex is concerned).

I use freehand with diamond and ceramic flat stones for scandi, and either freehand or an Edge Pro for V edges. The Edge Pro is kinda cool for V edges since I picked up the version that came with some extra fine grit water stones, so I can make mirror-polished edges pretty easily.
 
I only have a Sharpmaker right now, but I'm thinking about getting a Wicked Edge or Edge Pro. Anyone reccomend one over the other?

Thought I'd ask in this thread instead of starting another if that's alright?
 
duramax said:
Lennox,

Great thread, I'll definitely be buying some of the things you've mentioned. Have to get myself some strops and water stones and possibly a new sharpening system.
Question when you sharpen INFI do you drag the blade edge across the stone or push the edge ? Although I'm sure you'll be getting into technique soon enough, I saw you mentioned more was to come.
Thanks again !! :)
Click to expand...

Here is a great vid by Murray Carter describing how to do convex edges on a waterstone.

[video=youtube;3lxBVDAoqHM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lxBVDAoqHM[/video]

In the final stages when taking care of the apex you should only sharpen away from edge unless you are working on a very fine ceramic stone. I am working on a tutorial on how to do this on thick convex edges and hopefully i will get it up in the next few days.
 
Great info. Thanks!
I've been working with waterstones lately as well & am getting some good results, but more info./tips is appreciated.
 
Lennox, this is a great thread! When using the Spyderco sharp maker for convex edges, which of the two angles is best to put the rods? Thank you again!!
 
teaguzzler said:
Lennox, this is a great thread! When using the Spyderco sharp maker for convex edges, which of the two angles is best to put the rods? Thank you again!!
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I belive i had the rods at the 40° mark (20° each side) but when doing convex edges on it you have to twist the knife as you go, so my guess is that you are best off just putting them where you feel you have the most control when sharpening the apex.
 
Thanks again for this thread ! Starting to shop for sharpening supplies now, stones, guides, strops, system :thumbup::) I have an AMS that I received that needs a little TLC to make shaving sharp :) then it will be ready for EDC.
 
This is awesome, lots of great info.
 
Great info, Lennox!
Not to distract from the thread, but Murray Carter is a really great guy with some amazing sharpening vids.
I met him at blade show some years back, solid dude.
 
voracious1 said:
Great info, Lennox!
Not to distract from the thread, but Murray Carter is a really great guy with some amazing sharpening vids.
I met him at blade show some years back, solid dude.
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Yeah Murray is defintely one of the good guys :thumbup: . I am getting my wife some of his chefs knifes for chistmas.
 
:thumbup: good information

i gotta learn how to sharpen knives without a wicked edge or apex - thus not being limited to a V grind

to my embarrassment i must admit that although i started out as a trained tool maker several years ago i never learned how to sharpen knife blades :disturbed:
 
i posted this question in the switchblade forums already:

does an egde become dull because of oxidation when the knife is not being used for several years?
 
evolution80 said:
i posted this question in the switchblade forums already:

does an egde become dull because of oxidation when the knife is not being used for several years?
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Yupp! a knife in any carbon steel can react with the moisture in the air around it but only slightly. example: i sharpened my Gransfors axe to shaving sharp and left it in the woodshed for about a year, went to use it and it was not shaving sharp any more, it was not dull by any means but not shaving sharp.
 
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