All About Pocket Knives

The blue side is 6000 & white side is 1000.I take it out of the wooden stand, but leave the rubber ring on to reduce slipping, & set it on the divider between two sink basins. I wet the stone periodically while I'm using it then clean up with water. It's simple, clean & suits my needs.

Me again. The blue side is 1000 & white is 6000. I must have trouble with large numbers, or colors, or maybe both.

That is a nifty set up, geocash.
I do something similar at the sink. These wetstones happen to be 1200 and a orange 8000.
I use the 8000 on knives occasionally but I use it primarily on my chisels and plane irons to polish the back cutting edge and the bevel.

It is interesting to see where other folks sharpen. Mainly I sharpen the kitchen knives right next to the knife blocks. My pocket knives often get sharpened when I sit on a bench in the back of the back yard.

This is my stuff in my shop. That's my 4th Smith's tri-hone in about 30 years.
Also have a Lansky set but don't use it much.
I made this workbench and it's a pretty good height. I got an extra tri-hone to keep in the house so I won't have to go out to the shop all the time.
Technically, this is my 5th tri-hone.
Just set up on the kitchen counter and grab a paper towel.
Counter is a bit short. Shoulders and back start to ache after a while. Got this a while back to sharpen all the dang kitchen knives. Too many to use a stone.
I set on the counter, plug it in and sharpen away.

I've been using this Work Sharp apparatus for quite awhile with satisfactory results. I wanted something that might give me a more refined edge and this contraption just arrived today. I know this thread is about sharpening areas and not sharpening equipment but I'm itching to post a pic of my new Wicked Edge. Haven't tried it out yet but I'm anxious to get started on some cheap knives. The yellow cube is an angle gauge.

Rick - if you have experience with the Lansky system ... I'm curious after you've used the Wickid system, if the Lansky is in the ballpark, or if the Wickid yields dramatically better results ... thx

Lansky1 wrote:Rick - if you have experience with the Lansky system ... I'm curious after you've used the Wickid system, if the Lansky is in the ballpark, or if the Wickid yields dramatically better results ... thx

I'll let you know, John. I used a Lansky for almost 20 years myself. I think I bought mine in 1989 and used it until around 2006. Very good system when used properly.

I absolutely expect to encounter the "learning curve blues" but as soon as I get past all that I'll send you a PM with my thoughts and maybe some pics.

Railsplitter wrote:

Lansky1 wrote:Rick - if you have experience with the Lansky system ... I'm curious after you've used the Wickid system, if the Lansky is in the ballpark, or if the Wickid yields dramatically better results ... thx

I'll let you know, John. I used a Lansky for almost 20 years myself. I think I bought mine in 1989 and used it until around 2006. Very good system when used properly.

I absolutely expect to encounter the "learning curve blues" but as soon as I get past all that I'll send you a PM with my thoughts and maybe some pics.

Please don't keep your findings hidden from the rest of us by a PM. Please share your thoughts and pics with all!

Steve Warden wrote: Please don't keep your findings hidden from the rest of us by a PM. Please share your thoughts and pics with all!

Good idea, Steve. Will do.

custom kazachok/tsprof

Does anyone out there use or have used a Idahone V Ceramic sharpener, would be very interested in your thoughts.

Here is mine. Simple yet very effective and works for my needs. Small Stone so need to have head screwed on as to not shave off some finger skin/ meat in the process of sharpening as stone is held in hand when used. Blade is moved not the stone.

Jerry

zp4ja wrote:Here is mine. Simple yet very effective and works for my needs. Small Stone so need to have head screwed on as to not shave off some finger skin/ meat in the process of sharpening as stone is held in hand when used. Jerry

Wow, I sure would like to see you use a larger stone, buddy. You would find it quite luxurious.
A couple of different grits and you would be stylin'.

FRJ wrote:

zp4ja wrote:Here is mine. Simple yet very effective and works for my needs. Small Stone so need to have head screwed on as to not shave off some finger skin/ meat in the process of sharpening as stone is held in hand when used. Jerry

Wow, I sure would like to see you use a larger stone, buddy. You would find it quite luxurious.
A couple of different grits and you would be stylin'.

Hey Joe,
I do have some larger varying grit stones I have honestly never used on my pocket knives. Have those for garden tools if needed.
Call me old fashioned but that little stone kept my Dad's knives scary sharp for years on end. Only stone he owned to my knowledge. Saw him slip to the bone/ "stiches trip" at least once and not in the sharpening process. I never let my knives get really dull so that stone works real well for my needs. I have a old diamond dust stick around here somewhere that was his also.
Jerry

Have flat surface, will sharpen (or polish, or oil...). If I don't feel like getting out the Tri-hone I just grab a small Case Arkansas stone and some mineral oil. Today I parked it in front of the little TV in the utility room to watch a nailbiter of a ballgame (sorry, Nats, no cheap W this time ) and tighten up the edge on my 43.

This is my sharpening area.

The stone rests in my left hand and the knife in my right.

I’m a minimalist.

Charlie

RobesonsRme.com wrote:This is my sharpening area.

The stone rests in my left hand and the knife in my right.

I’m a minimalist.

Charlie

When freehand sharpening I also prefer that. I never felt very comfortable sharpening on a flat surface and using both hands on the blade.

RobesonsRme.com wrote:This is my sharpening area.

The stone rests in my left hand and the knife in my right.

I’m a minimalist.

Charlie

Looks like my Grampy"s sharpening area.
Wish I had been wise enough at the time (I was 9) to watch and learn.

Sharpening pocket knives is what baseball is made for. I use the Lansky clamp sitting in my easy chair watching bball and sipping coffee. That's multi-tasking.