What am i doing wrong?

B

Boneskid1

Joined
Apr 30, 2012
Messages
11
Hello all im a new guy here and love my knifes, but i have been having problems sharpening them. I read through this sub-forum and saw nothing of how to correctly sharpen a knife so i went to youtube and found several videos that said to sharpen one side until a burr forms and the sharpen the otherside and do this repeatedly until the burr begins to go away. Then most of them stropped the blade using leather. and they all finished with a hair splitting edge.

I did all of this on 2 of my knives so i wouldn't ruin all of them and the outcome was not a hair splitting edge but a half-way sharp edge that took work to cut through just about anything.

I don't really know anything about the metals used for the blades as most of my knives were either gifted, found, and non of them came with any of that info.

I Will say though that one of them is a victornix knockoff, and the other is some random lock-back.
this is the sharpener i have been trying to use http://www.amazon.com/Norton-614636855653-8-Inch-Combination-Oilstone/dp/B000XK5ZDY/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt
It is somewhat old but has done the sharpening duties for my dad for many years just fine, i just think i am doing something wrong in my procedure.
Thanks,
Boneskid1
 
Use a Sharpie, mark the edge where you're grinding to make sure you're getting all the way to a fresh apex. If the knives are dull, start with the coarse side of that stone, and once you're gotten a fresh edge switch over to the fine side. Use some oil - mineral oil available at any pharmacy will work. Dish soap and some water will work too (maybe better) - put a few drops of soap and mix with a few drops of water - you want it a little thick. Stropping will involve the use of cardboard, newspaper, leather etc. At that level of refinement, some compound (white buffing for stainless - can be had at many hardware stores, or use aluminum mag polish) will be almost required to clean up the edge nice nice. The fine side of the India stone (that's what you have) is capable of a very nice edge - it will be more of a working edge - kind of toothy. Should still be able to shave arm hair no problem. The hardest part is keeping a consistent angle as you flip it to reduce and remove the burr. It could take a dozen or more flips of two or three passes on the stone per side. Reduce pressure as you go and use strong overhead lighting to get a good look at things. Stop as often as you feel necessary to reapply the Sharpie. Sharpening stuff is very simple, but the devil's in the details. You need to build up an index of feel and motor skills. Look at what you're doing - your goal is to grind all the way to the apex on both sides and remove any burring formed by doing so. The strop is to help finish the job and give it a bit more refinement. You might want to practice on some of your old kitchen knives first.

Good luck
HH
 
sounds good i will give a try tomorrow after school and post results. the 2 knives i am practicing on were found in the middle of a field and i have no personal attachment to them, however i do have a old utica superedge meat cleaver that i can try out as well
Thanks,
Boneskid1
 
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