What do you use to sharpen?

rdrogers

rdrogers

Joined
Jul 19, 2010
Messages
1,099
I've had good luck with just keeping my JKs sharp with frequent stropping. Lately, I have a couple that need more than just a touch up. Recently I met a bunch of family at a rental cabin in NC. Every knife in the place was butter knife dull, so the CBK pulled kitchen duty all weekend. All the fruits and vegetables sliced gave it one heck of a funky patina. Thank the Lord no one put it in the dishwasher when I wasn't paying attention.



Needless to say, it came home less than it's sharp self with others using it. My strop with black and green compound isn't getting it back where I like it. In the past, I have just gone to grab some sandpaper at Autozone, but lately I'm thinking about trying something new.

What do you use to sharpen your knives?
 
If I let them get dull, a dmt coarse diamond stone will reset the bevel. Then I use Spyderco bench stones and a strop loaded with diamond spray.
 
Rub a cement block down real good on one side with black jewelers rouge.
Place knife at 90 degree angle with edge on the rouged block and bang on it repeatedly with a billet of seasoned hard wood, this is sometimes called 'BA-TONING" it's a bushcrafters word.
When the block FINALLY BREAKS IN HALF your knife should be shaving SHARP!.

Works for me every time with the JK Improved Bowie with Modifications that I use for Black Bear dispatching and land mine detection.
 
Last edited:
Actually, I use an old Lanske System for 'new to me" knives to get bevel right and then its free hand on Arkansas stones and leather strop - except for concave grind, then its wet/dry paper on the foam mouse pad. Also, I don't use the Lannske on scandi grind. The JK Improved Bowie with Modifications (JKIBM) generally just gets stroked across the un-glazed bottom rim of ceramic coffee cup (remove coffee first!), but, it's a special knife.
 
Here's an old pic of my sharpening kit.As you can see, I'm a cheap SOB, but this stuff works for me.
I also use sand paper & a foam pad for convex edges and now have the strop loaded with one of the compounds that came with my polishing wheel kit for prettying up an edge when needed.(the strop is also used for polishing bolsters on slip joints)

8e591bdd.jpg
 
i continually play with what works best for me. it's interesting that some knives i can get real sharp, and others not so much....hence, the continued playing. same steel too, go figure.

if it's really funky, i will use a diamond rod. if not, i prefer to just use a ceramic rod. then, i will finish on black/green loaded strops. i will also sometimes just use sandpaper.

i recently just purchased a couple belts at goodwill for $4 to use as my "slack belt" strops. it works very well....for some. not others.

i've also played with water stones, oil stones, india stones and diamond stones.

but ultimately, i prefer just a ceramic rod and a couple belts (and/or sandpaper).

interested in seeing others' responses.
 
Norton crystalon and a price of scrap leather with black compound on the flesh side and green inthe skin side compound from lowes. Gets free topping every time. At least as close to tree toppingas I am capable of.
 
You can't go wrong with the Spyderco Sharpmaker. Affordably priced, easy to use, and versatile for all sorts of objects needing sharpening. I also have some water and oil stones for some knives with different grind angles but the SM covers lots of knife edges and will do serrated exceptionally well. I always follow with a strop on treated leather
 
I have some stones I keep trying to get good with but I use two lansky systems

this one when the knife basically need an edge from scratch or some serious work

51w1Ufl-%2BUL._SY300_.jpg


and this one for everyday general work

lansky_sharpeners_turn-box_crock_stick_sharpener_four_rod.jpg


neither one if great for a very long knife though :(
 
KYenglish said:
I have some stones I keep trying to get good with but I use two lansky systems

this one when the knife basically need an edge from scratch or some serious work

51w1Ufl-%2BUL._SY300_.jpg


and this one for everyday general work

lansky_sharpeners_turn-box_crock_stick_sharpener_four_rod.jpg


neither one if great for a very long knife though :(
Click to expand...

I used to have one of those little Crock Stick setups. I gave it to my brother. Those are great for smaller knives.

I had one of those clamp type systems once, but it only had three stones. Sold it at a garage sale because I was terrible with it.

Starting to think I need another crock stick or a sharpmaker type deal, and a decent coarse stone.
 
I try not to let mine get dull and usually touch the edge up after each use with a ceramic rod and loaded strop. If I need to sharpen them I use a Norton India oil stone coarse/fine combo, soft/hard Arkansas combo and hard black Arkansas stone for finishing.
 
If it is really dull I use a very fine file and then on to the Sharpmaker for a razor edge every time.!**
 
I have a Lansky, but I don't take that out much anymore. I like to do a lot of freehand sharpening.
 
I use the Shun DM0600 1000/6000 combination stone and a DLT leather strop loaded with Bark River white compound.
Takes my knives from barely cuts paper to shaving sharp in 10 to 20 minutes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top