What kind of edge does a HI khukri come with?

Mitchell Knives

Mitchell Knives

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I order a 15" BAS khukri from HI a couple of days ago as my first khukri. The BAS seemed like a decent all-around choice.

What kind of edge does HI usually put on their khukris? Should I be ready to put in a little work to get it up to shaving status?

I was reading that most people sharpen their khukris to a convex edge. I was thinking about buying a small 1 X 30 belt grinder for this purpose. What belt grits do most people sharpen with?

I was looking around here: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=3&p=48040&cat=1,43072

Any suggestions on what belts to get? Thanks.
 
Now this is a COOL zombie ! :D

Khuk not arrived yet and thinking of belt grinder already !

:thumbup:
 
LOL...must be waiting for Kevan to turn the power plants back on.

They come with a thick convex edge Z...sometimes sharp enough, sometimes not depending on what you want to use it for.

A few belts in the 400 to 1000 range will get you started and sharp and you can expand from there. Be safe, keep the edge cool and go slow enough to learn.
 
I love the BAS and you will too. For a belt knife it may be my favorite. In addition to that belt sander make yourself up a strop. Or you could overpay and get one from LeeValley. Be sure to get some compound from them when you get your belts. Tripoli is my favorite. It cuts fast and polishes enough for my tastes.

I can detail making a good strop if you need. Lemme know.
 
In the past I have received HI khukuris with varying degrees of sharpness, from very sharp to dull.

If it's a user I'm going to have to sharpen it sooner or later anyway so I just sharpen it to my tastes if it's too dull.
 
Howard Wallace said:
In the past I have received HI khukuris with varying degrees of sharpness, from very sharp to dull.
Click to expand...

What Howard said, although most of the ones I have been gettting lately tend toward being sharp.
 
ElectricZombie said:
I was thinking about buying a small 1 X 30 belt grinder for this purpose. What belt grits do most people sharpen with?

I was looking around here: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=3&p=48040&cat=1,43072

Any suggestions on what belts to get? Thanks.
Click to expand...

You will never regret picking up a small belt sander too if you are getting into khuks. I got a 1x30 Delta because it's lighter than the 1x42, easier to move around if you don't have a shop and the shipping was free when ordered from Amazon.com. The 1x42 will run a little cooler and has other advantages.

The first time I used the sander to sharpen a khuk I used 320 grit, and that was way too coarse. Now I use 600 and that seems about right. Enjoy the new toys!:D :thumbup:
 
ferguson said:
You might want to check out this 1 x 42 at your local Lowes store. Not a bad deal for $99.
Click to expand...
That's the exact one I was thinking about getting. I think it's a 1 x 30 though. I might see if I can find the 1 x 42 instead.
 
Does anyone know if the Delta can use some kind of a speed control to slow it down without loosing torque? That would make it a better knife working tool.
 
Go for the 42" at least...

Yes...but the control unit costs more than the grinder.
 
Doesn't Harbor Freight or other importer sell a less expensive one??? I must admit I don't quite understand the speed controller thing very well. I have an old one for my Dremel, but at slow speed it has almost no torque.
I think the modifications I made to my old Rockwell cost almost as much as the original machine:eek:
Replaced sheaves with a 2" on the motor and a 6" on the drive shaft.
Replaced v-belt with a link belt
Replaced 3750 RPM motor with a 1725 RPM one.
Replaced and relocated the power switch to the right-front of the base.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=44518&d=1121830707
 
I checked the local Lowes today, and they do have the 1 x 42 in stock. The speed isn't variable, but I don't think that will matter too much. I'm going to order a bunch of belts and practice some before I start working on my nice blades.

How can you ensure that you are holding the blade at a consistant angle when sharpening on a belt grinder? Maybe coat the edge with black magic marker?
 
The best way for sharpening a khuk is what they call "slack belt". That means using the belt with no support behind it.
Dan Koster has some great tutorials on his site.

Convex edge
http://www.kosterknives.com/convexedge.htm

Sharpening
http://www.kosterknives.com/sharpening1.htm

I see that Dan is using a 1 x 42 in step 2 of his video. He has removed the table for better access to the belt. Others that use the 1 x 42 may chime in to tell what they have removed from their machines to use it for sharpening a convex edge.

Steve
 
Zombie,
I would recommend a 42" as well...I use the 30" to sand down leather and to butcher blades when I wanna practice my sharpening (read dulling) techniques!!





GO HEELS!!!:thumbup:
 
Where does Dan get those leather belts?
 
Zombie, it's just something that must be learned. I sharpen by holding the blade, then moving my entire body from the waist in order to move the edge along the belt. By holding your elbows tight to your body, you can hold the blade to a consistent angle along it's length.

aproy1101, I believe Dan got his from Lee Valley. That's where I got mine, it's a good one.
 
Yep - leevalley.com

:thumbup:



You just missed a free 1x30 over in the ShopTalk forum....:o

But they are regularly on sale at Harbor Freight:


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=2485

Right now it's at $39.99, but often goes down to $29.99....and a couple months ago dropped to $19.99 (rare).


Best of luck with it....once you start stroppin...there's no stoppin! :p
 
Daniel Koster said:
Yep - leevalley.com

:thumbup:



You just missed a free 1x30 over in the ShopTalk forum....:o

But they are regularly on sale at Harbor Freight:


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=2485

Right now it's at $39.99, but often goes down to $29.99....and a couple months ago dropped to $19.99 (rare).


Best of luck with it....once you start stroppin...there's no stoppin! :p
Click to expand...

What a deal! I paid about $78 for my Delta, but shipping was free. With prices like these there is no reason not to own a belt sander. For sharpening and handle shaping on a preexisting blade, a 1x30 is all you really need. Without one you are left with the half round file, which is 10 times more difficult to work with for some tasks. Thanks for the post Dan. :thumbup:
 
uhm, but it's harbor freight...

the belts probably cost more.

sadly, right now, i cannot use a belt grinder at my place. my gf's apt basement though ... - it's craptastic and she has my shopvac, so ...

bladite
 
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