This is how I sharpen my knives.

[the kid]

There is A LOT of information about sharpening available and very daunting for new guys. Sharpmakers, stropping, steel, etc.

This tutorial is for guys who can't be bothered and just want a knife which is sharp enough to cut paper. Paper, not hair, I'm not good enough and don't care.
I don't want a shaving sharp knife, it's to dangerous for me.

I just sharpened a Victorinox Cadet and a Case Sodbuster. My bet is this easy technique works on all not high tech steels like 440C, Aus 8 and lower, perhaps even on all steels.
Both knives where very blunt but the blades were not much damaged.

I used a whetstone with two sides and my leather belt. Belt was not necessary.
No idea what grit the stone is, just buy a not to rough one. Mine feels smooth on both sides but its very very old.


START
Place the whetstone on your desk/table with the rougher side up.
Spit and smear it on the stone.

Look at your knife blade and check out roughly what angle the edge is. Use something flat like a ruler or matchbox if you must.

Now place the knife on the wet part of the stone with the edge at approximately the angle you just checked. It's more comfortable to not hold the whole knife at 90 degrees from the stone. Then pull the knife gently towards you following the curve of the blade while keeping pressure on it.

See picture for starting position.

Lift up knife, replace and repeat a few times then switch sides of the knife.
Then repeat the whole process again one or two times. If your edge is damaged, continue till it isn't anymore.
The curve of the edge you can touch up manual by making circular motions while holding the knife at the same angle as before.

Then repeat from the beginning but now on the finer side of the stone. Don't forget to spit!

Check if the knife can cut paper without to much effort.
If not repeat on the finer side of the stone only while checking regularly.
Done.

You could also strop the knife afterward with a leather belt or a glossy paper magazine. The magazine is the same technique as the stone.
Without the spit.

I use the inside of my leather belt myself.
I have my belt over the door and then close the door so the belt is fixed.
I hold the knife at 90 degrees this time at a slightly wider edge angle as with the stone to compensate the belt flexing somewhat towards the knife. Then I pull up and go sideways and also rotate the knife to follow the curve of the blade.

See picture for starting position.

After a few times I switch sides and pull the knife down instead of up. Then I do the whole thing two times more for good measure.
THE END

Knife sharpening aficionados and pros feel free to mock and weep openly.

Edit
Additional.
If your knife is not to dull and the edge is not damaged you could only strop. This works surprisingly well.
Or only use the fine side of the stone. (and then strop if you want)

 

[zyhano]

the KISS principle.
bravo for trying.
I'll sit back and see if there is a slaughter coming up

 

[Kbrasmodeler]

My philosophy is: there is no perfect or best way of sharpening. Whatever gets you the edge you want is the "best" way of sharpening for you. I prefer a polished, razor sharp convex edge, and sandpaper on a mousepad works for me.

Glad you found a process that you like. Keep it up!

 

[unit]

My philosophy is: there is no perfect or best way of sharpening. Whatever gets you the edge you want is the "best" way of sharpening for you. I prefer a polished, razor sharp convex edge, and sandpaper on a mousepad works for me.

Glad you found a process that you like. Keep it up!

Well said.

 

[me2]

I used to get a hair shaving edge off a $2 coarse/fine grit hardware store stone and a leather strop. It's not that tough, as long as you can hold the angles pretty well. I'm sure I could do it now without the strop. I'll try to pick up a $2 stone this weekend from the flea market/jockey lot. A paper slicing edge will stay at that level for a long time, and its a little safer test of sharpness than shaving hair.

Your post is the reason I recommend the Norton coarse/fine combo India stone for people who want a way to sharpen their knives. It will give a hair shaving edge without stropping, its dirt simple (no setup time, complicated instructions, or DVD guide required), and will last years for regular use on the kitchen cutlery and EDC knives, with the seasonal hunting knife thrown in. If all I wanted was a sharp knife, and wasn't worried about rebeveling, experimenting with different angles, thinning nearly every knife I own, practicing sharpening, or getting a hair splitting edge off coarse stones, I'd still have mine and use it as my only sharpening tool for knives. I have some chisels I use occasionally, and for these I prefer my waterstone, which works on knives as well. I got rid of my Coarse/Fine India. Where's the kick yourself in the butt smiley?

 

[David Martin]

Me2, I agree ! DM

 

[KennyB]

I used to get a hair shaving edge off a $2 coarse/fine grit hardware store stone and a leather strop. It's not that tough, as long as you can hold the angles pretty well. I'm sure I could do it now without the strop. I'll try to pick up a $2 stone this weekend from the flea market/jockey lot. A paper slicing edge will stay at that level for a long time, and its a little safer test of sharpness than shaving hair.

Your post is the reason I recommend the Norton coarse/fine combo India stone for people who want a way to sharpen their knives. It will give a hair shaving edge without stropping, its dirt simple (no setup time, complicated instructions, or DVD guide required), and will last years for regular use on the kitchen cutlery and EDC knives, with the seasonal hunting knife thrown in. If all I wanted was a sharp knife, and wasn't worried about rebeveling, experimenting with different angles, thinning nearly every knife I own, practicing sharpening, or getting a hair splitting edge off coarse stones, I'd still have mine and use it as my only sharpening tool for knives. I have some chisels I use occasionally, and for these I prefer my waterstone, which works on knives as well. I got rid of my Coarse/Fine India. Where's the kick yourself in the butt smiley?

Not that I'm trying to start a whetstone vs waterstone debate, but what are the advantages of the Norton ones over their waterstones? I've noticed that Norton's 220/1000 ( the one I use ) needs to be flattened quite a bit. I've probably paid for the thing twice now if consider how much I've spent on sandpaper and how much stone I rubbed off getting it flat.

:thumbup: for belt stropping.

I use to use a tiny piece of scrap leather glued to the top of a table, but I just tried out the belt. A lot more convenient and works the same as my piece of leather scrap.

 

[me2]

The India stones are oil stones, though I used mine dry. The do not have to be flattened nearly as often. I had mine and used it heavily for 8 or 9 years and only had to flatten it once. For some reason, I could get a lot of knives sharper off the Fine India stone than my 1000 grit waterstone. I have not tried the Norton brand waterstones. Mine is a King brand. The 220 grit side cuts very quickly. My Coarse India stone would only cut slightly faster than my old 800 grit waterstone. Basically, the India stone was better for knives. I could carry it in the car and if I needed to sharpen, I could just grab it and in about 5 minutes I was done, as long as the knife wasn't damaged. For ease of use and simplicity, the Norton India stones win for me. I still wish I hadn't sold it.