Transitioning into freehand-sharpening

[SteelStickler]

I'm a relatively novice sharpener working with an edge pro, complete with a set of choseras 400-10k, some strops, an atoma plate, bla bla etcetera. This system has worked fairly well for me, and although i'm able to produce good edges I find myself both frustrated both with the micro-wiggling of the blade as it rests on the table, preventing optimal results, and with the limitation of needing the whole rig just to sharpen anything. I find myself bringing the 1x6 edge pro stones out to my buddies houses in order to do some freehanding on those stones - blade in one hand, EP stone in other - and I've gotten decent results! Makes me want to try some bench stones to see if i cant get the hang of freehanding on some real stones. Don't get me wrong - i like my edge pro and will most likely hold onto it - i just want to branch out.

That said, i own a #400 atoma benchstone i got to keep my other stones flat. Thats it for full size stones. I imagine until i really lock in some technique i'll be setting bevel angels on the EP, but im looking for some reccomendations around a couple benchstones i could pick up to get into the freehand scene. So essentially im asking for your advice on what 2 or 3 stones you'd reccomend as a versatile and beginners addition into my arsenal of sharpening gear. I like the choseras i have for the ep, esp the 1k stone, so anything that behaves like that would be a win. Let me know what you think, and thanks again bladeforums for the reliably sagacious advice and good-natured banter i've come to love in the past months!

TLR. I want to start hand sharpening, tell me what 2 stones you'd buy if you didnt have to worry about setting the edge bevel (EP will do that).

Regards,
Turner

 

[Ben Dover]

Should I ever desire to use free hand for anything more than a field expedient, I would get two Shapton Glass Stones. 500 and 1000 grit. Along with your Atoma, that would pretty well cover it.:thumbup:

Shapton Glass is available from 220 grit to 30,000 grit, so if you get "bugged" on free hand, you can add stones slowly until you have the full set.:thumbup:

I understand your desire. A few years ago, I decided to learn free hand as a challenge. I bought an India bench stone, and a pair of Norton waterstones. 220/1000 and 4k/8k. I didn't like them very well, but I am a very stubborn individual, and I kept at it until I had push cutting edges completely free hand on a half dozen or so old beater knives. I quickly lost interest and went back to the precision of the Edge-Pro.

I use these stones, usually the India, once or twice yearly just to re-assure myself that I can still do it if I ever have the need to.

 

[Magnaminous_G]

I like the choseras i have for the ep, esp the 1k stone, so anything that behaves like that would be a win. Let me know what you think

Choseras behave amazingly similar to Choseras. Joking aside, you've answered your own question. Chosera makes full size bench stones.

 

[Will Batayte]

I like diamond stones. Currently I have a coarse and fine 6" diamond stones by smiths. They cut fast and there is no slurry to scratch the blade. The good thing is you have the edge pro so if you mess up you can always fix it. Another two tools that I find indisposable are the spyderco sharpmaker and a good strop. The sharpmaker is great for quick touch ups. Sets up fast and takes seconds to touch up an edge. A strop is great to get that final polish on your edges. I made mine. A pine board, contact cement and leather plus a little flex cut gold compound and my blades have never been sharper.

 

[fsatsil]

Since you don't need to a coarse stone to reprofile I'd go with a fine/x fine DMT and a strop.