Try this sharpening-enhancement method -- it works!

[peacefuljeffrey]

Since I've recently become a fan of LED flashlight technology (it's such great stuff -- efficient, clear light, long life...) I discovered that my blue LED flashlight can be used to help sharpen my knives.

I sharpen on a Spyderco Profile in bright light, eventually getting to the lighter and lighter strokes as I get near to finished. Then I turn on a small blue LED keychain flashlight, and turn off the room light. In one hand I hold the blue LED at my chin, facing away from my face, and observe the blade's edge with the knife held in the other hand a few inches in front of the light at a slight angle, horizontal, with the edge facing away from me. If there is a burr edge, it will be visible as a very thin bright blue line at the edge. If you see such a line, you have a burr, and if you turn the blade over you will note that there is NOT such a line on the other side. I turn on the room light and continue to sharpen on the side that has the line, LIGHTLY, until I feel a smoothness to the stroke that wasn't initially there. A few strokes and then I observe the other side under the blue LED with the room light off. If a burr has appeared there, I again finely stroke that side of the edge, even lighter, until I have worn the burr off but not put one back on the first side. Sometimes I have to do this several times until I am satisfied. The resulting edge is, I feel, as sharp as it can be without the sharpness resulting from a burr. I encourage you all to try this method. I doubt that the blue LED is the only color that would work satisfactorily, by the way. It just happens to be good for me. Good luck.

 

[Alberta Ed]

Thanks for the interesting observation. Must try that.

 

[Hawaiian]

Thanks for the tip. I have a blue led and a sharpmaker, I will give it a try.

 

[Blilious]

Aren’t we all sick?

Try to look at it from the side for a second: we will all go home today, turn out the light and flash our knives with a blue led...

 

[peacefuljeffrey]

Yes, but we'll all have sharper knives because of it Worth being a sicko, in my estimation!

Glad to see people receptive to the technique. I couldn't sit on it for long once I discovered it (though it took me some months to realize I should post it.) I've used the method on at least four different knives, from Spyderco Delicas to my little Buck Gent to my new Mini-Griptilian. They're all bastard-sharp! Again, good luck!

 

[PiterM]

Cool... I'll go back home today and will try blue, white, red and blue/green leds. Maybe with blue/green I'll get even better edge? This led is best to enhance edges and general shapes of objects (like burr) and white and blue is best for color recognition which is not an issue in this process... you know what, we may be sick but HAPPY people...

 

[Daniel Koster]

Great idea! I'll try it today, and let you know if I get the same results.

Dan