Sharpening Help!

[matt0852]

Well guys, I just bought a new sharpening stone. It says for best results use honing oil. But I used it dry so far. Anyway No matter what I do I can't get the edge sharp. It always seems dull. What do you guys think?

[jonet143]

practice matt, practice! get a cheap beater and learn the angles and teach your muscles to hold the angle the same on every stroke. use a felt tip pen on the edge and you can see where you are honing. there are sharpening sets(lansky, etc.) that take the guess work out of the equasion.

[gmusic]

Using a stone is a skill few master.........................Like Johnnie says...........practice! Trial and observation, don't repeat what doesn't work.

[orvet]

practice matt, practice!
get a cheap beater and learn the angles and teach your muscles to hold the angle the same on every stroke. use a felt tip pen on the edge and you can see where you are honing.

Great advice, but after that:
Practice, Practice, Practice!................well you get the idea, that is the only way you will learn to sharpen with a stone.

hang in there,
Dale

[gmusic]

I think that is why most who attempt using a stone fail. It takes a bunch of practice and these days were all geared toward instant.

Once you "get it" it's like riding a bike, you can do it with your eyes closed.

Try using kerosene or lighter fluid, it's not as messy and you do need the lubrication! It keeps the particles from clogging the stone also!
I use water stones, two different grits. Many oil stones offer the same one on each side.

This would make a good tutorial topic. Everyone has a stone tossed in the back of a drawer somewhere they became frustrated with.

[carvin don]

Yup...Practice, practice, practice ... I agree with all the folks above. Find a method you are comfortable with and keep at it. Like "gmusic" said, once you get the hang of it, you're home free.

[Blade Runner]

I agree with above also. There is also the matter of what you are trying to sharpen. You have to have good steel

[Ricky-D]

Yes, maintaining a good consistent angle (blade to stone) is most important. That's what those sharpening systems do.

The best edge is concave but this is something that is not normally achievable by you or me and is the weakest of all edges.

Next best edge is a chisel edge which is straight and true. We always are trying to attain this edge and this is what the sharpening systems help us do.

The least favorable edge is a clip edge which is a very strong edge but difficult to get really sharp. The kind of edge you may find on an axe would be an example of this edge.

[matt0852]

the problem I have is keeping a consistent angle. Also I should probably get some lube to do this since i was using an oil stone dry.

[gmusic]

Try using kerosene or lighter fluid, it's not as messy and you do need the lubrication! It keeps the particles from clogging the stone also!

[matt0852]

Try using kerosene or lighter fluid, it's not as messy and you do need the lubrication! It keeps the particles from clogging the stone also!

Thanks for the advice gmusic! I'll be sure to try it out sometime.

[jonet143]

i use simple green. lubes and cleans. mineral oil works well also.

[matt0852]

i use simple green. lubes and cleans. mineral oil works well also.

I'm in luck! I have about 1 gallon of mineral oil in a can just sitting there. Thanks.

[jonet143]

i use simple green. lubes and cleans. mineral oil works well also.

I'm in luck! I have about 1 gallon of mineral oil in a can just sitting there. Thanks.

hey matt, by the time you use that gallon of min. oil up, i bet you'll be able to "split a hair"!

[matt0852]

i use simple green. lubes and cleans. mineral oil works well also.

I'm in luck! I have about 1 gallon of mineral oil in a can just sitting there. Thanks.

hey matt, by the time you use that gallon of min. oil up, i bet you'll be able to "split a hair"!

HAHAHA let's hope so. Like everyone said, it just takes practice.

[philco]

Matt,
One thing you might try that may help you hold a more consistent angle; Take about five or ten strokes (no more than that) going the same direction, then switch and take an equal number of strokes on the opposite side. That way you aren't re-establishing your blade angle to the stone as often as you do when you alternate direction every stroke. You just don't want to take too many on one side before switching to the opposite side. If you count your strokes and do the same number in each direction, you'll keep the edge in the center of the blade. Try it and see if it helps.
Phil

[matt0852]

Matt,
One thing you might try that may help you hold a more consistent angle; Take about five or ten strokes (no more than that) going the same direction, then switch and take an equal number of strokes on the opposite side. That way you aren't re-establishing your blade angle to the stone as often as you do when you alternate direction every stroke. You just don't want to take too many on one side before switching to the opposite side. If you count your strokes and do the same number in each direction, you'll keep the edge in the center of the blade. Try it and see if it helps.
Phil

Thanks Phil. i'll have to try that because I alternate which makes it harder.

[keithlong]

Hey Matt,
I will have to agree with everyone else. Practice and have patients, I use diamond stones to sharpen with and I use them dry. My grand dad was patient enough to show me how to master the art of hand sharpening a pocket knife. I free hand sharpen all of mine. I whittle a lot and after I get mine as sharp as I want it, I keep a nice leather strop on hand to keep it sharp. You can get a piece of a good ole leather belt and glue it to a piece of wood or buy a scrap piece of saddle leather and make one. I bought a piece of scrap leather for $4 and made 3 strops out of it. I kept one and gave the others away.

[matt0852]

Hey Matt,
I will have to agree with everyone else. Practice and have patients, I use diamond stones to sharpen with and I use them dry. My grand dad was patient enough to show me how to master the art of hand sharpening a pocket knife. I free hand sharpen all of mine. I whittle a lot and after I get mine as sharp as I want it, I keep a nice leather strop on hand to keep it sharp. You can get a piece of a good ole leather belt and glue it to a piece of wood or buy a scrap piece of saddle leather and make one. I bought a piece of scrap leather for $4 and made 3 strops out of it. I kept one and gave the others away.

Thanks Keith. Another lucky day. i just so happen to have an old leather belt around. Thanks.

[carvin don]

Matt,

Keith is right on the money 'bout the strop. Stropping can help maintain that edge for quite awhile, you may also want to put a little bit of compound, like aluminum oxide on your strop. Work it into the leather with the back of your knife, then strop. This will help remove those tiny burrs and polish yer edge up real nice.

[pmike5869]

One thing not mentioned here yet that I feel is very important is an eye loupe. I will swipe my blade several times on the side I can see the angle (for me it's the left side of the blade) and then I will look at the edge under the magnification of a 14 pwr loupe. This gives me the knowledge that I am definitely following the proper angle as you can see the new cuts being made with the stone. Also, if you have the proper angle you will have pretty close to the same width of cut on both sides. I sharpen dry but the problem of filling up the grit with removed material is solved; when I finish I wash the stone with hand liquid soap which completely cleans the stone and readies it for the next session. When I can cut hair on my arm and it jumps off the surface I know I'm ready to strop.

[jrlw1969]

It took me awhile to learn how to sharpen,it does take alot of practice,dont give up. I use arkansas stone to finish and then strop with leather.I have seen those waterstones on ebay,most look to be very fine.Anyone know what would be a good grit to finish with?should get hair splitting with those fine stones.