Sharpening. Let's hear it.

[matt0852]

What do you guys recommend for sharpening? also would a hollow grind be bad for a pocket knife. i am pretty new at this and don't know how to sharpen with a stone.

[philco]

Hey Matt,
I use a set of Arkansas stones to sharpen my knives, but I'm a crusty old codger living in the past.
There are some great newer shapening systems out there that, I'm told, make sharpening a knife to a razors edge a breeze to do. Lansky is one of the big names in sharpening systems. Spyderco also makes a good one I am told. Many folks prefer the diamond grit hones over the old oil stones I'm accustomed to.
The biggest key to all of it IMO is to maintain a consistent angle as you draw your blade across the surface of whatever you're using as a hone. The sharpening systems I mentioned are designed to help you do just that. A good set of ceramic crock sticks is also very helpful for putting on the final edge or touching up a blade after a bit of use.
One word of warning.....if you get good at sharpening knives all your buddies will want you to sharpen theirs too.
I don't carry a knife with a hollow ground blade, but they are designed to sharpen up easily. The only issue I might take with a hollow ground blade is that the blade tends to be a bit thin and you have to be a tad more cautious how you use it.
Phil

[matt0852]

Hey Matt,
I use a set of Arkansas stones to sharpen my knives, but I'm a crusty old codger living in the past.
There are some great newer shapening systems out there that, I'm told, make sharpening a knife to a razors edge a breeze to do. Lansky is one of the big names in sharpening systems. Spyderco also makes a good one I am told. Many folks prefer the diamond grit hones over the old oil stones I'm accustomed to.
The biggest key to all of it IMO is to maintain a consistent angle as you draw your blade across the surface of whatever you're using as a hone. The sharpening systems I mentioned are designed to help you do just that. A good set of ceramic crock sticks is also very helpful for putting on the final edge or touching up a blade after a bit of use.
One word of warning.....if you get good at sharpening knives all your buddies will want you to sharpen theirs too.
I don't carry a knife with a hollow ground blade, but they are designed to sharpen up easily. The only issue I might take with a hollow ground blade is that the blade tends to be a bit thin and you have to be a tad more cautious how you use it.
Phil

Thanks for the input Phil. I have a water stone but I don't think the quality is too good. Also i can't keep a consistent angle. I'll have to check out those Lanksky and Spyderco systems. hahaha I bet they will want me to sharpen them but not for a while. Thanks

Matt

[pmike5869]

The biggest controversy I've personally run into is; dry or wet. I can say after 50 yrs of sharpening, I like to use dry stones. I have a coarse and a fine one that I prefer and ALWAYS use them dry. My uncle had a meat factory/business and I asked him how he sharpenned his knives at the factory. He said he had a professional company take care of it and they used a dry system. Here's the rub; dry stones build up much faster. Wet stones can go much longer before cleaning. I solve the problem by using liquid dish soap to clean my stones every time I finish using them. Just rub the soap all over the stone and the build up will wash off with water. They will cut much faster that way. Anyone else have a view on wet/dry???

mike

[Darksev]

sharpening is more technique than technology. I used a lansky-ish setup for a while, and before that some older stones, but I'm using a spyderco sharpmaker now, and after a few months of work on it, I'm finally getting into "the groove" and producing consistant, strong, VERY sharp edges. Any sharpening method is gonna take some practice and use to get right

[matt0852]

Thanks for the input guys. I've used wet stones and I have to say I don't really like them. I'll have to look for some dry stones. I also agree with Darksev. I hear that quite often about technique is more important than the actual tools you use. I guess I just have to practice.

Matt

[hot tempered steel]

Matt when you get to the point that your walking around with one arm that has hair on it and the other one doesn't, your almost there!

[matt0852]

Matt when you get to the point that your walking around with one arm that has hair on it and the other one doesn't, your almost there!

HAHAHA. I know what you mean. I hollow grind my chisels and plane iron and stuff and that is exactly what happens to me because I NEED to know if it is sharp enough. But my knife sharpening skills aren't as great.

[pmike5869]

We all seem to use the same words but what do they mean to us as individuals? Sharp; to me means the blade, when presented to a finger nail at a 45 deg angle, will catch. Very sharp; will cut hair on my arm. Scary sharp; the hairs on my arm as they are being cut will pop and do a flip. My highest standard is; sharp enough to shave your face with it. I've heard that the ultimate test is to float a single layer of kleenex on some water and cut it. Any ideas out there? And how do you get there?????

[matt0852]

I also heard that a good test for sharpness is to take a single hair and like drop it into the blade and if it cut it in half then you're in good! I saw a video where a guy did that to see how sharp his straight razor was.

Matt

[jonet143]

i saw that one too, yosemite sam, right?

[matt0852]

i saw that one too, yosemite sam, right?

hahaha. Now that you mention I do remember that! back when cartoons were good. But this was an actual guy sharpening his razor.

[jonet143]

do you really think a single hair has enough mass to cleave itself falling on a razor?

[matt0852]

do you really think a single hair has enough mass to cleave itself falling on a razor?

I think if it were sharp enough then why not. Just like when you shave. It is a similar idea.

[pmike5869]

Sorry, I just don't think so. I'd only believe it if I saw it.

[matt0852]

Sorry, I just don't think so. I'd only believe it if I saw it.

Maybe I'll try it one day. Once I get better that is.

[Hukk]

Here's a tough test - I use it now and then when I run out of hair on one arm. Pretend you are a hippie - yeah my hair is 1/2 inch long and silver ( but it's all there). Go down to your local convenience store and buy some cigarette rolling papers. If you hold that paper out and cut it, you have one h*ll of an edge. Come to think of it, I'm out of papers, my neighbor down the street stops by to practice. Then he goes to McDonald's for breakfast with a bunch of his friends to show off! It does involve technique to do cut the papers.

[matt0852]

Here's a tough test - I use it now and then when I run out of hair on one arm. Pretend you are a hippie - yeah my hair is 1/2 inch long and silver ( but it's all there). Go down to your local convenience store and buy some cigarette rolling papers. If you hold that paper out and cut it, you have one h*ll of an edge. Come to think of it, I'm out of papers, my neighbor down the street stops by to practice. Then he goes to McDonald's for breakfast with a bunch of his friends to show off! It does involve technique to do cut the papers.

I also heard newspaper. I guess because it's so thin and flimsy. Probably thicker stuff too like cardboard because if it sails right through then you're set.

[pmike5869]

What about toilet paper. I also read somewhere that cutting those packing peanuts made of foam are hard to cut real thin. Of course the whole sharp issue is just part of the challenge. What about edge holding ability? Any takers out there for a true test to end all? Cardboard, hemp rope. I once cut 4 in thru the end of a 55 gallon drum and still could shave hair on my arm with a knife I made out of a file.

[matt0852]

What about toilet paper. I also read somewhere that cutting those packing peanuts made of foam are hard to cut real thin. Of course the whole sharp issue is just part of the challenge. What about edge holding ability? Any takers out there for a true test to end all? Cardboard, hemp rope. I once cut 4 in thru the end of a 55 gallon drum and still could shave hair on my arm with a knife I made out of a file.

Sounds like it was an excellent knife. I have a question for you guys. The past couple days I was thinking about making my 1st fixed blade knife. How should I create the edge for the 1st time in the blank?

[Ringmaster]

Edge retention is more a matter of blade composition and heat treatment, than it is of sharpening skill. A person could sharpen aluminum to be razor sharp, but it wouldn't hold an edge, and conversely - steel can me made so hard it would stay sharp for years, but you probably couldn't get it sharp in the first place.

FWIW, Bill Moran "rolled" the edge onto his blades. That is, he pulled the blade across the stone, vice pushing it. (Like stropping). And they were sharp ! I tried it, but didn't have the patience to perfect it.

My ex told me for years, that I was a "pretty dull" guy,
JR

[justold52]

I found this and just wanted to add it in here.

I think this will help others.

It helped me....

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1232451/c ... ing_stone/

[Ringmaster]

Ken,

That also works for crock sticks, I use 'em all the time, in the kitchen.

[needbucks]

I found this and just wanted to add it in here.

I think this will help others.

It helped me....

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/1232451/c ... ing_stone/

I tried to look at that site here at work and it got blocked due to it's "Pornographic" content. Just what kind of stones are they talkin' bout there?

[chavez]

I have couple of DMT diamond whetstones (course and fine) that I have gotten to like. I get them a little damp before use. They don't require much pressure to remove steel. They don't "bowl" like a regular stone either. The little "dots" also help me gauge where to start. If I need to keep the angle consistent, I may put a coin or two on top to lay the blade against and start though I have gotten used to it enough now that I can semi-freehand. If it looks like the edge isn't coming out like I think it should, I will go back and use the coins.