Zero dollar sharpening system – from dull to push cutting edge

[Magnaminous_G]

I think it's worth mentioning an important point in response to a post by Omar in another thread (which I didn't want to hijack, so I'm posting the response here): http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1029230-New-to-Sharpening-Need-help!

Why don't you tell us how you really feel Jackknife! Just kidding, because what you said has a lot of truth in it. These different systems are all pretty much alike in their bottom line of getting your knife sharp. However, some people do not have the experience or fully understand the physics of sharpening a knife. Possibility not even the ability to use a brick, or a cup bottom. I don't think I could have had any success if I had started out with just a rock or a ceramic cup, until I had some experience and success with something else first.

If all I wanted was a knife to cut a package open, or cut some rope, then I could have used a brick, or just a simple whet stone which I have and have had for years. I wanted something that would give me better results with a short learning curve for the knives I had and cherished. I now could sharpen one with the bottom of a cup if I wanted or needed to in an emergency. I use and have had great results with the paper wheel system. They are just one of several systems available on the market. I would love to have the skill to freehand on a waterstone like HH and Magnaminous and others on this forum, but my skill is not there just yet. One day maybe!

Blessings,

Omar

I want to state that I am not suggesting that people learn to sharpen on an old piece of brick. My recommendation would be essentially in line with HeavyHanded: learn to sharpen on a Norton Economy Stone ($5) or a Norton Combo India Stone ($20). My point in this thread is that it can be done (sharpening with minimal, reclaimed materials) and thus the high-end stuff really isn't necessary. But I don't suggest learning to sharpen on a reclaimed brick. Learn to sharpen on a Norton stone. There.

 

[ConBon]

I did something similar with a cleaver I picked up at the fleamarket. My buddies and I were walking home on a hot Sunday, and I found a piece of cement brick (the kind that looks like a sponge) before we went into a diner for some water. I drank about half of it, and used the rest to help flatten the stone piece on another brick in about 5 minutes. While we were walking home I worked on convexing the edge and it came out hair popping on the tophalf, but the bottom half needed a touch up with my favorite finishing stone, a rectangular job that looks like surgical black, about 3/8" x 3/8" x 5".

Connor