What is your process for putting the first edge on your blade?

[VDub13]

Excuse my newbness, getting ready to sharpen my first knife and curious how everyone does it. Sand paper, stones, etc. course to fine, medium to fine or extra fine, etc?

 

[Dawkind]

I’ve worn out a number of Spyderco triangle sharpening ceramic ‘sticks’....the only things I’ve used for many years.

I do have a vintage Norton Multi-Stone for reprofiling a heavily used blade.

 

[john april]

i use a 220 grit belt to get a burr on each side, then to a lansky sharpener or stones by hand.

 

[Dr Heelhook]

Tormek, fine water stone, then a good stropping.

 

[Justin Schmidt]

i use a 220 grit belt to get a burr on each side, then to a lansky sharpener or stones by hand.

Same except i use a leather strop

 

[353]

Diasharp fine, Spyderco benchstone medium, Spyderco benchstone fine and then some light stropping. This is for setting my edge on it from factory. For resharpenings I just drop the diasharp.

 

[skyhorse]

My first sharpening on a new blade depends on what came from the factory.Most only require touching up on a stone, medium then fine. If it's a convex I use a leather strop, start with the black and move to the green.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Depends. If I'm just doing a standard sharpening I'll usually just use my Sharpmaker as it's quick, easy and effective. If I feel the need to reprofile the edge, diamond benchstones or, if I'm not feeling like I have steady hands, cubic boron nitride stones in the Sharpmaker, which take longer but I'm less likely to screw up.

 

[Dawkind]

I wanted to add that I use more than anything, especially on an already fine edge, is a polished Butchers Steel for ‘proper alignment’, some edges I leave alone right off of the gray Tri-Sharp sticks for a more toothy edge.

There are many great tips here....I’m sure something will suit you.