Where do you sharpen?

65535

65535

Joined
Mar 14, 2007
Messages
3,736
How to you setup your area when you sharpen?
How do you stand/sit?

Things like that, I just am having hell sharpening knives right now, I have my good phases and my bad, this is a bad bad phase. I'm giving up for the night.
 
There are good days and bad days when it comes to sharpening no matter how long you have been doing it, if not then we would all be perfect :D

I use a small table most of the time that is about level with my thigh's when sitting down. If I am using my smaller hand sharpener (dia-folds, spyderco ceramics.....) I usually keep the stone in one hand and the knife in the other. Waterstones are used by the kitchen sink and stropping is done the same way as using a small hand sharpener.

Wait untill tomorrow then try it again and NO caffeine.
 
Most of the time it's standing in the kitchen where I keep my chakma/ceramic/diamond/sandpaper. Now and then, it's standing in the garage where I keep the belt grinder.
 
I work in my garage, I use a work bench for my belt sander, and another table for hand sharpening, I always sit down while working.
 
if i'm sharpening a few knives i'll do it in my basement but if i'm sharpening more than 15-20 i'll go outside if the weather is nice. i have a portable sharpener that i use when i'm at a friends place.
 
I use higher tables in my shop and stand w/ stones layed on them.Sometimes I get a sharp knife and other times its trying.But I always enjoy the journey.Time spent with knife in hand is always enjoyable.DM
 
I always sharpen in my garage/shop. Don't want to track metal dust indoors. I have belt sanders on a bench off to one side, and can bring out the 9" DMT stones, Sharpmaker, or strop depending on what I'm doing and use them on my main bench. I have a padded area on the floor so my feet and back don't feel it too fast - I never sit down while working unless doing fine detail work. I have a sink in the garage and always use water when sharpening with the DMTs. I keep lots of shop towels handy to wipe up the inevitable wet mess, wipe off stropping compound, clean up blades, etc.
 
I setup my Sharpmaker on the kitchen counter, best overhead light there, and seem to do a much better job standing up in front of it.
 
I sharpen in my bedroom at my computer desk. I sharpen outside if I'm using the belt sander.
 
Gotta go with your Zen ... most sharpening done in the workshop, but sometimes the moment calls for a calming freehand session, diamond hones relaxing on the sofa in the den.
 
For manual sharpening it's the kitchen counter. I sharpen the kitchen knives more often than anything else so it's a natural. I also clean my hones in the sink often and use some of them wet. My belt sander lives in the garage.

At my office I usually use the coffee room sink area or at my desk. Of course there are sharpeners scattered around wherever I spend time. There are some in the night stand and some in every desk I ever use.
 
Both at home and mobile/onsite for customers, I would have say I stand mostly unless doing many knives during the same time frame. I then incorporate sitting.

I like natural light best when sharpening and always try and sharpen outside when onsite at a customers location....only temperature or rain bring me inside....same goes for at home....its outside first then garage if I have to :D
 
I sharpen with belt, stones,and files. I sharpen anything from small pocket knives, to large fixed blades, to hatchets and axes, to mower blades. Belt is belly button heighth, stones are sternum heighth. When I use a file, I clamp my work to an office desk, and sit down. Just seems to work for me.

Matt
 
Back when I was 20 I had trouble finding a summer job so I went door-to-door sharpening knives. This works best in really upscale neighborhoods. I stopped at one house where a pretty twenty-something housewife in a bikini greeted me at the door. We talked a fair bit at the door and we figured out that both our dads were Caltech professors and knew each other. She asked me to sharpen all of her kitchen knives and a couple pairs of scissors out by the swimming pool. She provided me with ice tea and even offered lunch. She never did switch out of the bikini. So I would have to say that out by the pool is a nostalgic favorite place to sharpen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top