[Mikee Loxxer]

I understand this is sort of a “how many licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop” kind of question but I’ll ask anyway.

I am preparing to sharpen my Benchmade 556 Mini-Griptillian and want an idea of how many strokes to use at given grit levels. The knife has not seen hard use so I don’t anticipate using anything more aggressive than 600 grit. I will be using a Lansky style sharpening system.

In a previous thread Valkman indicated that he used 30 strokes at each grit level. My understanding is that one stroke is a complete pass on both sides of the edge.

If I use four grit levels at 30 strokes each that would mean I would have to turn the knife over 120 times. Do this sound right? It seems like this could be a tedious process. I am new to the knife world and don’t have feel for how much work it takes to truly sharpen a knife.

[Certaindeaf]

Har.

It depends on how much its been bent/abused. I'd say a couple three strokes.

[Bartholomew Roberts]

When I am sharpening a knife for the first time, I like to raise a burr on one side of the edge, then the other side of the edge. I'll then give it a few strokes to even up and start alternating sides for about 10 or so strokes until the edge is nice and even looking at it. Then I will move up to the next finer grit and start with alternating strokes until the scratch pattern on the edge looks consistent, then the next finer grit, etc.

[Certaindeaf]

^
Are you one of them pull strokers?

[22-rimfire]

Sharpen a few stokes on a side and check with your thumb. If you can't feel a burr or some impact from your sharpening, keep stoking. Turn over and repeat again. Then change grits and repeat unless you are satisfied with the edge you have at this point. I have no sharpening formula.

I don't count strokes. I check to see the results the sharpening as it progresses.

[wheelgunslinger]

Yeah, it depends on how dull it is.

Start with a certain number, like the example you've already found. Then move on to getting a feel for how the knife is sharpening as you go.

[bikerdoc]

One of my favorite tests of sharpness as I progress through the grits is to cut register receipts from stores. Cut at a 45 degree angle. After a while you can tell by the sound and feel when you are approaching scary sharp.
To answer your question, no set number, Some times as little as 5 before I check, could go high as 20. I tend to check often.
I keep a 1200 grit diamond EZ Lap in my pocket for daily touch up.

[Zeke/PA]

As others have said, use several strokes on ONE side of the blade at first until a slight burr can be felt on the opposite side.
Then change sides and stroke till the burr is once again felt.
At this point, you may go to a finer grit stone, finishing with a honing motion on both sides of your fine stone till no burr can be felt on either side.
Strop?
A good strop can be made by using a wooden block about 3/4" X 1&1/2" x12" and gluing a section from an old leather belt to one side and a piece of corrugated card board to the other.
With a little practice,a "scary" edge on your knife(knives) will be commonplace and easily maintained.

[Mikee Loxxer]

Thanks for all the advice! Yes I do have a strop (or two) that I will be using at the very end.

[hso]

I use three alternating sides and then sharpen a single side until I get a wire edge along the opposite. I then sharpen on the opposite side, checking every could of passes, until I feel that wire edge on the opposite side. I switch grits then.

If you're knife is in good condition you may only need to steel the edge to straighten any irregularities. If you still think it needs sharpening, start at the finest grit you have to try to get that edge before going to coarser grit and moving more material than you need.

[Valkman]

My "30 strokes per side" was on a Wicked Edge sharpener. Sharpening freehand is a whole different animal but the concept is the same - get a burr on one side and move to the other.

[SlamFire1]

I guess I sharpen "free hand". Back when I started sharpening, you started off with a file, if need be, and finished with a stone. I had no idea that things have changed so much that people cannot feel the edge and determine if their knife is sharp.

And that is what I do, sharpen until the knife feels sharp. That can take up to 20 minutes if I have to change the angle of the edge.

[Nematocyst]

This post is a bookmark so I can keep it for reference. I've had similar questions.

[kBob]

The original question reminded me of a Firearms Safety class for boy scouts. One kid asked how many times to run a patch through a barrel when cleaning. Be fore the instructor could answer another boy aske the questioner "How many times do you wipe your butt after going?"

Seemed like the right question as an answer here as well.

-kBob

[wheelgunslinger]

That's a good way to remember it, kBob. :-)