sharpening knives

[country gent]

Ive been playing around here with some slightly unorthodox methods to really put an edge on a knife.

The first tried was 3 blocks of hard maple 1" X 3" X 6" sanded flat to each other working between the 6 sides. I then coated one with fine lapping compound ( 400 grit) one with yellow diamond, and one with red rouge. The 400 grit sharpened quick and nice with a slight pattern from the grit. But very sharp edge. The yellow diamond refined the finish even finer and no knicks or roughness felt when drug along edge of finger nail. The red rouge was the last tried it produced a true mirror edge that was extremely sharp. Never felt it cut arm hair when tried.

Last was a piece of aluminum with typing paper glued to it 4 layers thick with rubber cement used the last 2 abrasives on it and again a truly smooth sharp edge with no burrs

I have used a red copper block ground flat with compounds for years to finish an edge.

The above were how we polished tooling in the shop when it was required. Rosewood was the preferred wood there but any close grained hard wood does good. The wood holds the compound well and a little water or light oil rejuvenates it. Yesterday I did 8 kitchen knives with out retreating them.all came out razor sharp. Rven a couple exacto blades got done

[lightman]

Thats interesting! I'm not very good at sharpening knives.

[jlm223]

I appreciate your methods, I purchased a Ken Onion knife sharpener it has worked out well for me.

[Zingger]

Thank you for sharing that Country Gent- I enjoy time working on a knife with stones-even though I do have one of the Worksharps.

[RU shooter]

Very good idea ! I've always just used stones of various grits and done knives by hand as I've watched and learned how my pap and dad did from a very young age . Never got the ambition to try those new powered sharpeners

[John Wayne]

I'm sending you our knives.:kidding:

[farmerjim]

I use various grits of stones down to a razor hone and strap from my straight razor shaving days.
Your method sounds quite good.

[country gent]

I too learned to sharpen an edge from my grandfather and father. Even my freshly sharpened lathe tools, end mills and drills get a few passes of a stone before use. It isnt that hard to get a sharp edge, what is hard is getting that sharp edge that holds up to use.

Ive got a new block of rouge here thats really showing some promise both polishing and honing.I got it from foredom its a blue rouge stick for precious metals. Seems to stay sharp longer and more even than the red or green.

[OS OK]

Outstanding idea about the wood to hold the various grit compounds.

Like others, I've used several stones of various grits depending on what the blade needs & then going to a razor strap to hone the fine edge & remove burrs. I even glued a piece of leather to a block of wood like you describe so I could better control the angle as I get those pesky micro-burrs off the edge.
I'll definitely try this as I like my pocket knife just like a razor.

[WebMonkey]

i used to freehand but since i switched to hollow ground, i only use fixtures.
cheap to expensive, i like the hollow ground.

sounds like you've got the 'skill' i never mastered.

:)

[beemer]

I like good sharpening stones, I don't know how many I have but it is a couple shoe boxes full. For knives I use a medium and fine India stone and finish with an Arkansas and strop. Always did it the way my Dad taught me.

I knew an old machinist that sometimes used hardwood blocks and leather, he had a large assortment of grits and polishing compounds. He could get it done.

I spent all my life woodworking and was usually called on to sharpen anything that cut. The only downside is that most people don't know how and don't care if they can get someone to sharpen their knife. I didn't know how many friends I had till hunting season rolled around and they realized their knife was dull.

Dave

[Thundarstick]

I am a big fan of DMT diamond plates and folding paddle sharpeners then ending with diamond paste on a strop. I have some knives made from some very hard steel!

[wbbh]

I like your ideas.

Since I suck at using freehand sharpening on stones. I use a Spyderco Sharpmaker that only requires me to hold the blade vertical and works very well for me. A leather strop charged with fine grit polishes fine edges and I have been known to strop an edge on a square of cardboard. There is a lot of grit in most cardboard.

For our kitchen knives Spyderco started making a new sharpener with oval shaped stones that are much longer, perfect fo longer blades.

[David2011]

I am a big fan of DMT diamond plates and folding paddle sharpeners then ending with diamond paste on a strop. I have some knives made from some very hard steel!

I like the DMT diamond plates too. I use them on chisels, plane irons and knives with the best results I’ve ever had in a lifetime of trying to sharpen blades. I use the Trend honing fluid with the diamond plates. It seemed pricey but it works so well!

[megasupermagnum]

I too use the DMT diamond stones. I've got the small sharpening kit of various grits that comes with an angle guide, as well as a larger 8"x3" reversible course and fine stone. I've tried all kinds of things from whetstones all the way to mechanical contraptions like the worksharp. The DMT diamond stones are the only thing I ever really liked. Whetstones work well, but are not very fast. Mechanical sharpeners work fast, but wear down blades. Diamond stones are whetstones on steroids. There is lots of misinformation on sharpening out there. Lots of tools that don't work well, or cause excessive wear. Lots of professionals like butchers, fisherman, chefs etc. that take things to a whole new level.

I hate screwing around with simple tasks. There is no screwing around with the DMT stones. They sharpen stuff extremely well, no muss, no fuss. Use water, or don't, no oil or special fluid needed. Use your blade until they are not sharp, and do it again. Leave the steel hone rods, and stropping to the guys who do it everyday, or have nothing better to do. DMT is made in USA.

[Mal Paso]

I always liked the idea of a wet wheel so I bought a 110 RPM 10" wet grinder with an 8" strop wheel and enough Tormek tools to sharpen most anything. Tormek even includes bandaids which I found amusing. My primary folding knife dresses a lot of cardboard boxes so I keep 4 of them in rotation. I broke out a fresh blade a couple days ago, what a pleasure, just toughing a cable tie parted it. Have no idea how it compares to other tools but I never burn an edge.

[country gent]

I have used the old sharpening wheels that you peddled or cranked even thought about making one ( it wouldnt be that hard repurposing a crank from a bicycle) but finding that 3" limestone wheel or purchasing one would be prohibitive. Couple family members had them and they do work well with a stream of water on them

[dale2242]

I learned to sharpen knives on whet stones from an old butcher friend of mine.
It takes some technique but not that hard.
They make the Work Sharp tools not too far from me.
I don`t care for them....

[Thundarstick]

I always liked the idea of a wet wheel so I bought a 110 RPM 10" wet grinder with an 8" strop wheel and enough Tormek tools to sharpen most anything. Tormek even includes bandaids which I found amusing. My primary folding knife dresses a lot of cardboard boxes so I keep 4 of them in rotation. I broke out a fresh blade a couple days ago, what a pleasure, just toughing a cable tie parted it. Have no idea how it compares to other tools but I never burn an edge.

Compares? Like a Chevy to a Cadillac. Both will get you there, just one does it in luxurious style!

[country gent]

I have used the tormex for lathe chisels and planer blades. it does a wonder full job on them I also really like the strop wheel compound. The low rpm grinders also allow for a bigger selection of wheels and types of wheels

[M-Tecs]

If we are talking sharpening systems the one standout is the https://wickededgeusa.com/

More expensive than most and not the fastest, however, nothing comes close to providing the ultimate sharp edge. Through the years I have either owned or tried most of the other systems.

[myg30]

My Ex wife worked in histology lab where she made slides for pathology. The micro tomb cut adjustable thicknesses of human tissue, biopsy specimens at an average of 4 microns thick.
The knife blades were sharpened on a thick piece of glass with rouge or compound.
I got the idea from this and saved a chunk of granite counter top to use with compounds to sharpen blades and hone cutters, chisels.
I will try the hardwood and maybe make different sizes for ease of use.

Mike

[Wayne Smith]

600 grit and finer sandpaper glued to a glass plate - I use one from a copier. 3M 777 spray glue does it. We used to call this Scary Sharp and used it for plane blades and such flat blade sharpening. Simple, cheap, and available. Next time you toss a printer save the glass platen and use it.

[Freeandcold]

Whetstones, 1000 finished with 8000 is what I use on kitchen knives. Leaves a razor sharp polished edge but, you do have to deal with soaking the stones and a bit of water.

I’m going to try a belt sander with a very fine grit followed by a leather stropping belt... just for fun. (Going to play with some old knives).

[country gent]

Just an update on this. Yesterday I brought my only 2 ceramic kitchen knives in with me. Got the paper lap out and started on the diamond side then ri the blue riuge and finally bare paper. Both came out shaving sharp plus. They were pretty dull to start with. But came right up. Probably about 30-45 mins total.

[Lloyd Smale]

work sharp. nothing quicker or easier.

[justindad]

I’m not skilled or experienced enough to sharpen a knife on a flat block with no guide. I have used the 17 degree slot on my Lansky kit to replace a scalpel (literally). It’s relaxing work, even if I am cheating.
*
The guide rods on the Lansky kit aren’t perfect. I lay the stone down on a table with the guide rod also laying on the table when I tighten the lock screw. I still get some error associated with straightness, perpendicularity &/or stiffness of the rods. So now I place a 0.001” feeler gage between the stone & table when locking the second stone in place. The third stone gets a 0.002” feeler gage, and each successive stone goes up one thou, effectively increasing the sharpening angle. It’s a bandaid for not getting better rods, but works for me.
*
The locking screw can also loosen during use. I should really get an allen type set-screw from McMaster-Carr.

[Wayne Smith]

I have been shopping at a company called Lee Valley/Veritas for years. (BTW - in over 30 years they have never sent me an e-mail!) Lee Valley does woodworking stuff, and I received in the mail yesterday "Sharpening by Hand, a Woodworker's Resource guide" and it is full of information as well as products to sharpen blades by hand.

[DougGuy]

work sharp. nothing quicker or easier.

+1 on the work sharp! I use only the brown belt, whatever grit that is, this very closely approximates the edge you get when you send a Cutco knife back for their lifetime service.

[Ural Driver]

Did the whetstone thing for years, and then discovered the Spyderco Sharpmaker, and never looked back. But I may give a look at the OP's method, just because it sounds so interesting.

https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/Spyderco-Triangle-Sharpmaker-P294.aspx

[Wally]

For kitchen knives I find you use a combo Silicon Carbide (SiC) stone to first sharpen and then hone with a Soft or Hard Arkansas whetstone. I never let them get dull and refresh the edge using the whetstone, so I very seldom ever have to use the SiC. I also use a steel after using a knife. I shapen knives for my family using the stones mentioned....it is quick and easy. The electric belt tools are great if one has a lot of very dull knines to sharpend; but for most the SiC and an Arkansas whetsone is all you need.

[JoeJames]

Lansky ceramic rods set at prescribed angle in the wood box they came in. I bought my first set of hard and soft arkansas stones in 1974 at the AG Russell knife company in Rogers, Arkansas. But one day I checked knife sharpening videos at the Russell website, and AG himself was using ceramic rods. So I tried the rods and wham! they worked perfectly. Mentioned it to one of my cousins, and he said "Well duh, I've been using ceramic rods for ages. where you been?" I am always the last one to figure things out.

https://agrussell.com/knifesharpening/how-to-hone-sharpen-knives-with-the-V-sharpener

[alamogunr]

I bought the Ken Onion Work Sharp since I have had little luck developing skill using other methods. As Lloyd said, its easy and works, at least, to my satisfaction. I find that worn, medium grit belts are great for just touching up.

[gwpercle]

I've been using something very radical ... 14" long DMT DS4F Butcher's Diamond Sharpening Steel .
I don't know how the diamonds are impregnated into the steel but this rascal sharpens like all git-out .
Made in the USA too ...so I'm happy with it !
Gary

[NEKVT]

No method easier to sharpening a knife than using a Rada. A simple $7 tool that anyone can get results with. Great for broadheads too.

[Chill Wills]

There is nothing so unsatisfying as working a fine edge onto mediocre Chinese stainless blade steel. Back to dull in no time.

[Mal Paso]

I need help getting the angles right. I got the 10" Grizzly Wet Grinder mostly for thicker edges like chisels but it's great for knives too. I have about $400 in machine and tools. I got the grinder on sale for $150 but they were sold out of tools. I gave up waiting and bought Tormek tools. Wet grinding there's no chance of heating the edge. WEN has a 10" wet grinder now for $110 and tools as low as $35.

Just one more way to do it.