Sharpening Skills...

[Mavrick12]

I use a sharpener I picked up at Wal Mart. Its just called Smith's or something like that. I also bought a sharpening stone (arkansas) from Wal mart too. The way I do it is use the smiths, then stone, then back to smiths.

The problem is that is puts a saw like edge on the blade. Am I doing something wrong? Its sharp, But not like I want it...

Thanks for the advice.

 

[SeanSw]

That's normal, you just need to move the next finer step. Your Arkansas stone may be too coarse for a final edge. Without buying a new stone you can try stropping the edge against a leather belt, or even some cardboard. If you have a sharpening steel you could use that too.

 

[Mavrick12]

Will the next step make the edge all shiny and like new?

Thats how I like it to look, but now its all scratchy and when I feel the edge it feels sharper on some points than others...

 

[sm]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=8341

 

[kimberfan]

well what i do is:

if the edge is just a bit dull i use a 600 grit diamond sharpener

if its really dull i use a smith diamond sharpener that has 300 grit on one side and 700 on the other.

i start with the 300 side

after about 6-7 passes i check the edge

then if its semi-sharp i switch to the 700 side and after 10 passes i check it again.

my dad uses arkansas stones to sharpen his stuff

me i dont like them much.

 

[22-rimfire]

You need to pay attention to the angle that you sharpen the edge at, Try to be consistant and if you are doing it by hand, try for about 15 to 20 degrees. You just eye ball one-half of a 45 degree angle and go a bit more acute and sharpen away. I like the DMT diamond stones for the hard steels that are commonly used now.

Try not to scratch the sides of the blade. But it doesn't hurt anything.

I go through essentially the same process as Kimberfan with most blades. You the coarser side for machetes.

 

[CWL]

If you want a mirror polish on your blade edge, you'll need the opaque Arkansas stone.

In terms of grit, you're going to be needing something greater than 2000 grit.

 

[GunTech]

If you want a simple solution, get a strop paddle from classicshaving.com, along with some diamond abrasive. 9 micron will put a pretty keen cutting edge, and if you follow with 1 micron paste, you may find it too sharp for slicing/cutting.

 

[sadlsor]

What do you mean by "too sharp for slicing / cutting?"

Do you mean the knife won't hold its edge? Thanks.

 

[TimboKhan]

9 micron will put a pretty keen cutting edge, and if you follow with 1 micron paste, you may find it too sharp for slicing/cutting.

I am going to second sadlsor's request for an expansion on that statement. I have a feeling there is a legitimate point there, but as it's worded, it seems like a bit of a silly thing to say...

 

[MutinousDoug]

My current method is to use three sandpaper grits: 400, 600 and 1000 on a leather strop. A mouse pad would work as well (just not as long as my strop).
Setting the edge with the 400 is tedious and better done with a stone, but finishing with the 600 and 1K takes no time at all and will push cut the hair off my arm or face once the profile is set with a coarse stone. All the rest is technique (or a 2000 grit paper, if you wish, available at NAPA or other auto supply).