Who sharpens freehand?

J

Jamesh Bond

Joined
Jan 14, 2007
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Wondering who likes to keep their chisel edges keen freehand. What do you like to use?

I enjoy the freedom it gives me. I typically use a Spyderco Profile set. Medium, then fine. Strop on unloaded leather or jeans. Keeping it simple. Might try finishing at the medium next time.

Anyway, carry on ...
 
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I do. I use the folding DMT diamond sharpeners in fine grit (red color) in both flat and round/stick format with whatever random piece of cardboard around for a strop. Both sharpeners live in my backpack so they are with me most of the time. Been meaning to invest in a sharpening system but haven't felt the NEED to. Much rather spend that money on the next Emerson:D.
 
I do my mini 7 freehand with a fine smith's diamond stick. I can get a good utility edge but havent been able to duplicate the factory sharpness.
 
I sharpen freehand, most of the time I even do a good job. I can get most of my knives a solid shaving sharp, but I have to admit that I have not mastered the sharpening of S35VN at 61 hardness.
 
I do when I'm touching up on strops. I have been known to use a Sharpmaker for more serious sharpening and a KOWS for resetting bevels and convexing edges. The strops work well for routine edge maintenance, though. I do that freehand.
 
I use diamond stones to fix a damaged edge but other than that, maintain my edges using carbide paper over a heavy rubber mat. After I've got the edge polished/sharpened up to 1200 grit, I use a leather strop and finish on newspaper backed by my mat.

I'm sure those sharpening systems are great and all but I enjoy maintaining my knives without training wheels.
 
I use strops 99% of the time, and a Wicked Edge when it finally gets too dull for stropping (rare, maybe twice a year for a daily user). Strops allow for tiny errors in angle and result in a slightly convexed and stronger edge that resists chipping or rolling.
 
Touched up on a strop but break out the Sharpmaker or some rods every so often.
 
White ceramic bench stone to tune-up an edge, medium and fine translucent Ark stone and a short hit on a polishing wheel for final polish when sharpening an edge. I just like the idea of using natural stones and I have several in old boxes now.
 
For fast and effective, I reach for Syperco's Golden Stone--excellent for recurve blades too! Otherwise, I have a sharpmaker, dmt diamond stones, and a strop loaded with green compound. I also keep a Spyderco double stuff stone and a folding dmt fine/very fine sharpener in my daypack. Freehand takes practice, but works for me
 
I reprofile most production knives OOTB on the Edgepro to make everything even and set the bevel. I do touch up sharpening afterward on the Sharpmaker and then strop.
 
I use a 2 grit bench stone then finish with a old vintage rod and can get most steels sharp enough to shave arm hair with ease and slice paper like butter, I do prefer VG-10, 8rc 13MOV and Solingen steel as well as a few others as IMO they are the easiest to sharpen
 
Aias said:
For fast and effective, I reach for Syperco's Golden Stone--excellent for recurve blades too! Otherwise, I have a sharpmaker, dmt diamond stones, and a strop loaded with green compound. I also keep a Spyderco double stuff stone and a folding dmt fine/very fine sharpener in my daypack. Freehand takes practice, but works for me
Click to expand...

Word.

I wants me a golden stone.
 
Coarse DMT diamond, then Extra Fine DMT diamond, followed by Spyderco Ultra Fine Ceramic and end with a Knives Plus strop. For recurve, I use Sharpmaker coarse, fine and ultra fine stones, lying flat on the table (not propped up in the base). For serrated knives, I use the Sharpmaker as it is designed to be used (pretty much). I have a WE but don't really use it anymore. ..don't need to.
 
I sharpen kitchen knives freehand with Shapton Pro whetstones but its difficult to sharpen any of my folding knives like that. I just placed an order for a Spyderco Sharpmaker to at least maintain an edge on my folding knives and then follow with stropping it on leather with Kens CBN 1 micron spray. I can put a screaming sharp edge on my kitchen knives and I do it like once a week but when it comes to a 3.5 inch folding knife with no flex I struggle. I'll see how the sharpmaker treats me when it arrives in the mail.
 
I use a 400 grit stone and then jump straight to a Belgian coticule and strop. The edge bites like crazy.
 
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