What sharpening tools to buy?

A

Aelius

Joined
Sep 18, 2006
Messages
94
I want to try and free-hand sharpen my knives, instead of using equipment that pretty much does it for you.

So, I'd appreciate some suggestions as for what to purchase in order to get my knives hair whittling sharp.

Let me know if you need some more information. :)
 
Actually, if you have anything now, use the stones from that system.

If not, I'd go with basic diamond "stones" of mediam and fine grit equivalent (course is good for reprofiling, so if doing a lot of such, get one of them too). Then, some buffing/stropping compound and an old belt.

There are plenty of recommendations/reviews on this forum. Use the old google search of "TERM site:http://www.bladeforums.com/" to limit the search.

I started back when you could still find simple carbon steel knives and if you can find one/have one, start experimenting with that. Carbon steel is usually pretty easy to get a "gees, I cut myself" edge on. Builds confidence to succeed and all that.
 
I highly recommend The Razor Edge Book of Sharpening by John Juranitch, an excellent book about sharpening theory, principles, and instruction. No matter how great one's free-hand sharpening equipment is, it won't do them much good if they don't understand what they're doing.

Personally, I also like the Razor Edge hones.

orthogonal1 gives some good advice. One of the best Internet sharpening articles I've seen is by the moderator of this forum:
http://www.knifeart.com/sharfaqbyjoe.html
 
You want to whittle hair huh?

Leather strops will be a good free-hand way to learn without too much danger of damaging your knives.

2 types of leather strops: flat strop glued to a hard backing, or loose belt ones like the kind barbers use to strop straight razors. Which one depends on your style of knives.

Flat ground & Scandi style knives need flat strops while hollow-ground & convex will require the belt ones. Add stropping compounds as necessary depending on how much metal you need to remove.
 
A course/fine Norton India stone is all you need. I can get knives to whittle beard hair off the fine stone. Diamond is a good choice, but is more expensive. Maybe a DMT Xtra course (black), fine (red), and xtra fine (green) for starters. The DMT course (blue) might be a better starting point if the black ones are hard to find. Some sort of holder for the stone, like a 4x4 cut at the desired angle, to help keep consistent angles will help in the beginning, and save time after some experience. Something like this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TscN9h-1xQ

I find the angled block very helpful for holding a consistent angle. I can do it with a stone in one hand and the knife in the other, but thats quick and dirty and the bevels are not uniform. Its sharp though, so if thats all you're after, it will work.
 
I use a DMT Diafold fine/extra fine and after a few minuites I can shave hair off my arm no problem. I keep the angle around 30 degrees.
 
Excellent, I'll craft myself a 15-degree wedge to place my stone on, but where do you recommend I purchase several of these DMT stones? Direct links to exactly what I need would be appreciated, because when I search for DMT stones, sometimes it results in products like this, which clearly aren't what I'm looking for.

31w7hl9kqWL._SS500_.jpg
 
I agree w/ me2, a double sided 2x6" Norton stone of course and fine is all thats needed. Then start practicing. The books are fine but you really need a uncle or neighbor who knows how to free hand sharpen to get you started. DM
 
diamond stones do not require flattening as a norton will. i would recommend dmt blue,and finish with a sharpmaker.
 
just10minreader said:
stones wear, and you need a flat working surface
step 4 Flatten Away
Click to expand...

Norton stones are high quality stones and come flat to within 1/1000. Now those cheap stones the clip mentioned I've run into being sold road side in Arkansas which are very uneven requiring resurfacing/truing up. But sidewalk rubbing will not come close to specialized surfacing equipment like at any quality plant. DM
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top