What to usefor touching blade up?

Eliteone2383

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Now that I have these nice blades I need to know whats best for touch up work. For full on sharpenings i will be sending them to ApostleP. What do i need for touch ups?
 
Spyderco Sharpmaker and a leather strop is hard to beat.
 
I'd go with a microbevel a little less acute than your main edge angle. You can then keep it sharp with a strop or with a fine stone set at the angle of the microbevel. This system is fast and easy. Eventually, when the microbevel gets too thick for quick resharpening, send it back for a reset of the main bevel.
 
I would suggest thinking about learning to sharpen your own by hand. I think you will find the process fun and enjoyable. Sure, starting out can be a little frustrating as you learn the ropes but practice makes perfect. If you don't have any "test" knives, you can always visit the local thrift shop (pocket or kitchen knives) or spend $10 at Wally world and practice on those. By the time you send a few knives off for other folks to sharpen, you could have bought some basic equipment of your own. There are plenty of videos on youtube on sharpening. Just my two cents of course... :D

ps. I recommend the Smiths Tri Hone system. 3 stones + stand + oil for $25 or so. I think it's a good starter system.

Stropping is important. In a pinch, a thrift store leather belt can work. The wider the better. Again, check out youtube for sharpening and "leather stopping".
 
I would suggest thinking about learning to sharpen your own by hand.

This. ^^^^^

Part of carrying and using these tools should include maintaining them, IMHO.

Of course I grew up poor, in a small rural town. We never paid someone to do something we could do ourselves. So I just might not understand the concept of "professional" sharpening.
 
I would suggest thinking about learning to sharpen your own by hand. I think you will find the process fun and enjoyable. Sure, starting out can be a little frustrating as you learn the ropes but practice makes perfect. If you don't have any "test" knives, you can always visit the local thrift shop (pocket or kitchen knives) or spend $10 at Wally world and practice on those. By the time you send a few knives off for other folks to sharpen, you could have bought some basic equipment of your own. There are plenty of videos on youtube on sharpening. Just my two cents of course... :D

ps. I recommend the Smiths Tri Hone system. 3 stones + stand + oil for $25 or so. I think it's a good starter system.

Stropping is important. In a pinch, a thrift store leather belt can work. The wider the better. Again, check out youtube for sharpening and "leather stopping".

I get that concept but with close to $500 blades I wont chance ruining them. I sharpen my cheap knives with a diamond stone.
 
I get that concept but with close to $500 blades I wont chance ruining them. I sharpen my cheap knives with a diamond stone.
Just how are you going to ruin a $500 knife by sharpening it?

No matter the cost of the knife the principle of sharpening is the same.
 
I understand his concern. I just got in a nice used Sebenza today, and it needs a sharpening. But I'll be darned careful about how I do it. Just gonna keep original bevel. Less is more.

p.s. I did NOT need to re-sharpen at all.
I used a Strop with compound and the edge is now shaving sharp...
Strops (commercial): StropBlock from Knives Plus...or the StropMan strop. Easily found using Google.
A plain, wide (used is fine...) leather belt can also be used with any metal polishing compound as a cheap but efficient alternative.
There are lots of YT videos to watch...
 
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I get that concept but with close to $500 blades I wont chance ruining them. I sharpen my cheap knives with a diamond stone.

The most common problem is uneven grinds, but those can be worked on and with experience, they will happen less.

But hey, they are your knives, do with them what you will.

If you are looking for a portable solution, maybe a http://www.bladehq.com/item--DMT-Diafold-Knife-Sharpener-Double--26149
Again, you said touchup, so fine/extra fine should be fine. Again, stropping should be the final step.

If you want stones, again, a double sided diamond stone in fine/extra fine is probably sufficient.

What diamond stone do you currently have?
 
So do I. To a point.

Though really, my Cub Scout handbook had a section on sharpening. Free hand on a stone. Yes I am that old...

If 7 year olds can make a knife sharp, why send it out?

7 year olds are not sharpening a $450 knife. Have you ever seen a knife where its blade profile is destroyed? I do not know enough about bevels and micro bevels to keep the blade even. My cheap knives are all uneven along the blades.
 
The most common problem is uneven grinds, but those can be worked on and with experience, they will happen less.

But hey, they are your knives, do with them what you will.

If you are looking for a portable solution, maybe a http://www.bladehq.com/item--DMT-Diafold-Knife-Sharpener-Double--26149
Again, you said touchup, so fine/extra fine should be fine. Again, stropping should be the final step.

If you want stones, again, a double sided diamond stone in fine/extra fine is probably sufficient.

What diamond stone do you currently have?

Some old one my grandad gave me. It only has one side though.
 
The extra fine lansky stone can be bought for under $10 that and a strop is all you should need for touch ups.
 
Sharpmaker and a good strop are easy to use and hard to beat.
If you'd like to send them out, there are some EXCELLENT pro sharpeners here.
They'll get your blades back much quicker and they aren't pretentious blow hards. Won't cost as much either.
Check out the custom services sub forum.
Joe
 
7 year olds are not sharpening a $450 knife. Have you ever seen a knife where its blade profile is destroyed? I do not know enough about bevels and micro bevels to keep the blade even. My cheap knives are all uneven along the blades.

If you are so worried about the cost of the knife leave it in your safe.

These days, no readily available guided systems in the early 70's, maintaining a bevel is easy.

Oh, and yah I know of a 7 year old who sharpened over $450 dollar knives. My Uncles Randall, several times. No matter the cost it's just a knife.
 
Fine and ultra fine diamond sharpeners, whichever you like. a medium grit and fine grit ceramic, spyderco makes good ones. I use their tri-angle ceramic rods, but use them freehand, never bought a sharpmaker.

For one the go I have a DMT credit card extra fine grit diamond, sometimes a pocket size black Arkansas stone.

Lately for on the go I have been using this which has worked very well so far. https://www.knifecenter.com/item/EZLCD4
 
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