All About Pocket Knives

We all have our own way of doing things. I would like to hear from members on how they go about getting a knife sharp. What do you use, Arkansas stone, diamond, or something else?
Do you use a guide to help you?

You see what I'm getting at. "There are all kinds of ways to skin a cat." or so I've heard.
Tell us how you get that blade razor sharp and keep it that way. Maybe we can all learn a new trick or two.

OK, since everyone else seems to be bashful, I'll go first.

I use a Smith's tri-hone. If I'm working on a blade that someone has mistreated or totally neglected, I will start with the course grade stone. If it is a knife that has a reasonalbly decent edge remaining on it, I will start with the medium grade stone.
I start with a clean stone, and apply two or three drops of light oil to the stone. I use 3 in 1 brand oil.
I do not use any kind of a edge guide to hold the blade at a constant angle. I just use the old fashioned technique of holding the blade at about a 20 degree angle to the stone and pull the blade across the stone as though I was cutting a thin slice off the top of the stone, pulling from the tang end to the tip end of the blade in a constant and steady motion.
I then turn the blade to hold the opposite side of the edge to the stone and repeat the same motion, alternating form one side of the blade edge to the other with each stroke.
After several strokes across the medium stone, I'll test the edge and if it feels sufficiently sharp, I will move up to the fine stone.
I repeat the same process as above using the fine stone until the knife blade is sharp enough to shave the hair off your arm, leg or the housecat! (just joking folks )

I will use a set of crock sticks to touch up a blade between full blown sharpening sessions.

I think it is important to note that you need to clean your stones after using them. I wipe them down with a cloth or paper towel when I'm done. Every two or three times I use my stones to sharpen a blade, I will wash them with dish washing liquid and warm water, using a nylon bristle brush to clean the metal filings that tend to fill up the pores of the stones.

Now, who has a better, or at least different method they use? Tell us how YOU sharpen a knife.

hey phil, i think you covered the hand sharpening. one trick i picked up was using simple green instead of oil or water on my stones(that sounds wierd!) it cleans and lubes. i hand hone with ark. stones and use a lansky system on knives i work on for others. crock sticks keep em tuned between sharpenings.

What, sir, may I ask is "Simple Green"? I never heard of it and I'd like to know what it is and what benefit it may have over using oil.

just a bio-degradable household cleaner. won't stain like oil. leaves the stone "minty fresh" and clean. well it does smell good.

Sharpen? ... Sharp tools are for sissies, push harder.

Hey,
Well Phil, you covered it well. I use Diamond stones and freeehand sharpen mine as well. With diamond stones you can use a drop of water ever now and then. I usually clean mine with soap and water. I might add that good diamond stones are pricey, however I have had mine for almost 20 years now and they are still doing the job. Mine are the DMT brand.

keithlong wrote:I use Diamond stones and freeehand sharpen mine

Keithlong,

Can you compare the diamond stones you use with Arkansas stones? I've never owned or even used a set of diamond stones and I wonder if they are worth the extra cost.
What do you say?

philco wrote:

keithlong wrote:I use Diamond stones and freeehand sharpen mine

Keithlong,

Can you compare the diamond stones you use with Arkansas stones? I've never owned or even used a set of diamond stones and I wonder if they are worth the extra cost.
What do you say?

I have used both oil stones, ceramaic sticks and diamond plates and I like the diamond plates a bit better because they sharpen faster especially on a real dull or nicked blade.

But nothing can replace an old fashioned Arkansas stone. The feel and smell of the oil and the gentle whoosh sound of the blade on the natural stone. Very nostalgic.

But nothing can replace an old fashioned Arkansas stone. The feel and smell of the oil and the gentle whoosh sound of the blade on the natural stone. Very nostalgic.[/quote]


Man I hear you! I love it and the wife says it drives her crazy to hear me sharpen a knife. If I want the room to myself, that's all it takes.

philco wrote:But nothing can replace an old fashioned Arkansas stone. The feel and smell of the oil and the gentle whoosh sound of the blade on the natural stone. Very nostalgic.

Man I hear you! I love it and the wife says it drives her crazy to hear me sharpen a knife. If I want the room to myself, that's all it takes. [/quote]

All it takes for me to get the wife out of the room is ask for a kiss.

Sorry guys,those old India,Arkansas etc.oilstones are just wastin' away in a bin in my garage.I now use Shapton ceramic Glass Stones and pro waterstones.Real clean cutting,good feedback(feel)and usually lessens the need for stropping with the finer grits,especially when you are sharpening woodcutting tools.
Greg

dudleythetogi wrote:Sorry guys,those old India,Arkansas etc.oilstones are just wastin' away in a bin in my garage.I now use Shapton ceramic Glass Stones and pro waterstones.Real clean cutting,good feedback(feel)and usually lessens the need for stropping with the finer grits,especially when you are sharpening woodcutting tools.
Greg

How much do the ceramic plates cost more or less?

gcrinnon

I've seen your photo and I understand your wife!


dudleytheogi

What is that camp knife in those pictures? How bout posting a pic or two of it on my Boy Scout knife thread, I'd like a better look.
I too would like to know more about those ceramic plates. I'm curious.

The 500 is about $35,1000 little over $40,the 3000 I just picked up for a little over $50.
They are mostly used for Japanese sword polish and hold up real well.Some of the earlier synthetic stones i used were the King stones,a little less expencive but dont work as well on the swords.

Philco,that knife is a real beater but looks old,can just make out"MADE IN USA" on the main blade..

will gather them up an take a few shots for you though.

philco wrote:gcrinnon

I've seen your photo and I understand your wife!


dudleytheogi

What is that camp knife in those pictures? How bout posting a pic or two of it on my Boy Scout knife thread, I'd like a better look.
I too would like to know more about those ceramic plates. I'm curious.

LOL Philco...and that is my real pictue too. I'm a Bulldog for sure.

I use a Spyderco Sharpmaker model 204. My Dad has had one for about 20 years (a model 203, I think) so I was familiar with its ability to put a nice edge on a knife.

It's kind of a "Knife Sharpening for Dummies" tool.....for which I am well qualified. You have to clean the stones quite often, but it will get a knife shaving-sharp pretty quick. It will sharpen most knives with the recommended 20 strokes per side per stone, but I have had to really work on a couple of knives to get them sharp (many more than the recommended 20 strokes per stone), but these were extremely dull knives to start with.

It also puts a nice edge on my wife's Henckels, which, while not earning me any real affection, I think makes her despise me less.

Unk

It also puts a nice edge on my wife's Henckels, which, while not earning me any real affection, I think makes her despise me less.

Unk[/quote]

Unk,
Do you really think it's a good idea for a woman who 'despises' you to be packing a SHARP knife. You might want to rethink that one!


(Have you forgotten Lorena Bobbit?)

That's a good point, Philco! I hadn't thought of that!

Of course, that begs the question - Would you want someone coming after you - in a Lorena Bobbit sort of way - with a dull knife or a sharp knife?

After 25 years, she still tolerates me pretty well. She even patched up my thumb two nights ago when I cut it pretty good (playing with a pocket knife, what else?) Which is further evidence the Spyderco makes a pretty sharp edge. Ouch.

Unk

Here's one from my wife's "private" collection. Needless to say, I NEVER forget her birthday, our anniversary, Christmas, or Valentines Day!!!

[quote="Unk"]

Of course, that begs the question - Would you want someone coming after you - in a Lorena Bobbit sort of way - with a dull knife or a sharp knife?

To answer this question, let me say this;
The knife shown in the previous post is properly sharpened by holding the blade at exactly
90 degrees to the sharpening stone and applying strong pressure as you pull the blade across the stone!

That sounds like the perfect technique for that particular knife!!

Unk