Where to start with freehand sharpening.

bunnyhopskotch

bunnyhopskotch

Joined
Dec 8, 2012
Messages
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So I have been collection knives for the past year. I have been sharpening my knives with a Sharpmaker. Don't get me wrong, I love it, but I want something more challenging. However, when I look up freehand sharpening I get lost. There are so many types of stone (mainly Japanese and Arkansas). Some people say you need oil/water and some say you don't. It is a lot of information that makes a little sense to me.

Can someone point me to the right direction on what types of stones to get and some good videos to watch?

Thanks everyone!
 
As HH said, M-Gs thread is a great place to start. There are some stropping vids on the KnivesShipFree website that can help when you get to that part of sharpening. I'd suggest starting with a beater or a cheaper kitchen knife bought for the purpose of learning to sharpen. Starting with the Sharpmaker is a good thing because it's "sort of like" freehanding. Not exactly the same, but you've already gotten used to watching your blade angle against the stone. Now you're turning that concept sideways and having a stone that's flat and a blade that's angled. The loupe or some way to see what your doing on the blade edge is very good advice. I use a lighted magnifying lamp but a loupe is cheaper and portable. I wouldn't invest heavily in expensive stones at this point. Just follow the suggestions in the vids.

Watch the vids... practice... be patient... results will come.
 
bunnyhopskotch said:
Thank you!
Click to expand...

You are welcome.
I'd also suggest watching the videos that are linked to the thread in my signature. I'm between batches at the moment or I'd shamelessly pitch my sharpening block (will have more in a week or so), but the videos are applicable to all sandpaper sharpening. I have a couple of other videos under the same Youtube user name Neuman2010.

Knifenut has a bunch of really good videos as well
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfsHYm19KjjnUlpG8WVMZOA

And I can't recall Magnaminous_G's Youtube tag, but do a forum search and you'll link to one of his vids pretty quickly - track down his other vids easy enough.

These are just a few, there are a ton of good freehand videos.

For starters I recommend a silicon carbide stone from the local Home Depot or ACE, and some mineral oil. Results will be workmanlike and somewhat modest, but a very nice edge anyway, and a lot less to consider. Learn the basics and the intention of each step, and you'll progress a lot faster.
 
I need to consolidate that thread with my stickied thread... and edit because my perspectives and equipment have changed. HH, do you mind if I include your post in that thread in the sticky, too?
 
Magnaminous_G said:
I need to consolidate that thread with my stickied thread... and edit because my perspectives and equipment have changed. HH, do you mind if I include your post in that thread in the sticky, too?
Click to expand...

Not at all, would be happy to have it linked to a sticky. I go back and re-read it every now and then, still pretty much reflects my overall views.
 
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