Sharpening

[Guest grays]

After reading some of the threads on here I was just curious what everyone does to keep there blades sharp and like new. Im sure there are some blade enthusiast who could give me some tips. I took a knife to the knifeworks up in sevierville and they do sharpen for $1 but the dude rolled my edge...

[MacGyver]

I love my Spyderco Tri-Angle sharpener for everyday maintenance use. It puts a wicked edge on a knife pretty quickly, and is great for easy, less than 30 second maintenance.

The Boy Scout in me also loves the process of sharpening on a couple of old Arkansas stones. I don't find myself doing it much anymore since the sticks are so efficient, but if I pull them out to sharpen a plane or something, I'll definitely sharpen my knives at the same time as well.

[TNcitizen22]

+1 on the Tri-Angle Sharpener, it is one of the best investments I have ever made.

[Guest jackdm3]

While not in the market just yet for one, I looked it up and found they go for $85 at a lot of places, but I found one for $51 at TheBladeShop.

Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker Set 204MF

[willis68]

I have some very expensive knives, with that being said this is my sharpening system and the only one I will ever use from now on. I sharpened a quite expensive Microtech knife with it and it is sharper than when it was new and still looks that way. It leaves Zero marks or scratches on the blade and puts a high mirror polish on the edge after the sharpening it is WELL worth the price tag if you want to keep your knives extremely sharp and looking like they still have the factory edge

Apex 4 kit

Edited October 13, 2010 by willis68

[MacGyver]

Those Edge Pro kits are super nice!

[Moped]

Use an old Leroy sharpener system and a old Schrade Honing Steel once I get the blade sharpened. I know a lot of the guys over at another site I go to all the time use Japanese Water Stones and fine grit sandpaper.

[Guest Broomhead]

I use a butcher's style steel and a diamond pocket sized one that both work really well.

[mav]

I have some very expensive knives, with that being said this is my sharpening system and the only one I will ever use from now on. I sharpened a quite expensive Microtech knife with it and it is sharper than when it was new and still looks that way. It leaves Zero marks or scratches on the blade and puts a high mirror polish on the edge after the sharpening it is WELL worth the price tag if you want to keep your knives extremely sharp and looking like they still have the factory edge

Apex 4 kit

Thanks for the link. Been looking for something like that. I will have to pick one of those up. It won't be this month however. Got my credit card bill today, and it appears that I bought $1400 worth of ammo last month. I love shooting and knives, but sometimes I wish I would have never gotten into it. Being the tightwad I am, it makes me cringe when I have to sign those checks.

[willis68]

Thanks for the link. Been looking for something like that. I will have to pick one of those up. It won't be this month however. Got my credit card bill today, and it appears that I bought $1400 worth of ammo last month. I love shooting and knives, but sometimes I wish I would have never gotten into it. Being the tightwad I am, it makes me cringe when I have to sign those checks.

Believe me when I tell you that I feel your pain!! when you get one make sure that you order it form that link, there are fakes out there that have been showing up the one that I posted is the real deal

[Guest guardlobo]

I've been using a small fine Arkansas stone since I was a kid. I've gone through several stones, but can get an edge sharper than from the factory on every knife I've tried to this point (cheap Chinese steel never does well though). When I'm making or modifying knives I use a grinder, sander and buffer to get good results. Sometimes I play with a leather strap to get a razor sharp edge and periodically I find a knife that needs some nicks removed and may use a medium stone. I seem to reserve coarse stone for axes.

[Guest flyfishtn]

+1 on the Spyderco system Makes quick work of sharpening a knife.

[Guest rabidrhino]

Used many methods including lansky, crock sticks, the sharpmaker and sandpaper with a mouse pad.

If you put a premium on your time and still want sharp knives, use paper wheels from razor sharp and a bench grinder. Hands down my favorite.

[tnhawk]

I've used Lansky for the last year. It's done a good job.

[Guest tenman]

I learned more about sharpening knives with a sharpmaker than any other tool or stone on the market; it is one of the better sharpeners on the market. Have also used a Lansky with decent results and have heard many good reports on the Edge Pro.

In our shop I have a machine that uses 1 x 30 belts run at low speed (700-800 fps); runs slow enough that heat is not an issue. I have several belts that can be used depending on the grind, condition of the blade, type of steel, etc. If the blade isn't too dull the leather belt with Chromium Oxide is usually enough. I use it on all of my own knives and to sharpen the knives of our customers.

Edited October 19, 2010 by tenman

[Guest Old.Hickory.Shooter]

I'll probably catch some flak for this but I use a simple Chef's Choice edge select 120. Got it from Bed Bath and Beyond for $140 and it is the best and quickest sharpener I've had. In 90 seconds I can have a near razor edge on any blade I run through it. I'm not the biggest knife enthusiest, but I was turned to this sharpener by my cousin who supports his 6 kids, wife and two dogs building custom edge weapons...his opinion is one I trust very much.

[Guest carbonarcher]

I know that they are expensive, but you can get Shapton ceramic water stones, that will put an edge on you your knife, that you would not believe! I also use a wood paddle strop! I have found that it takes less metal off of the edge, and you can hone it just right, using the correct compound. I would not use a steel. I am not trying to offend anyone, yet alot of novices and professionals don't know how to use them correctly! you will do better with a piece of cardboard then a steel! Remember if it can dull it, you can sharpen it also with the same material. Cardboard had a good amount of clay in it that will help to sharpen the strongest of steel. ie 154cm, 340 scand. and the stainless steel 440.

The best thing to do is go online, take a junk knife and practice your angles! Too many people have sharpe heels and dull tips, this is due to not keeping the angle correct in your sharpening process.

Japanese water stones are great! I use those and ceramic stones, remember, the higher the number the finer the stone and less metal comes off the knife.

Pm if you have any other questions!

[Guest carbonarcher]

old Hickery-

No nothing wrong with them, they will sharpen your knife just like you said. I would be carefull with those things, before you know it you will not have a knife left. They do a great job at sharpening your knife, they also take off an aweful amount of metal from your knife.

[Guest carbonarcher]

Tenmen,

I would just be carefull with the belt sander, when the knife gets too hot you will remove the temper from the knife and then it will never hold an edge.

The best way to do it is by hand. Yes it is labor intensive, yet very rewarding!

[Guest carbonarcher]

Teman,

Have you ever used Japanese water stones, or high qualitiy ceramic stones?

I am sure by reading your post, you know what your are doing! I am sure that you have seen some horrible things that people have done to the edge of a knife.

You know, Chef knives that have been turned in to bread knives? LOL

[gregintenn]

Arkansas stone. For a swivel knife, hobby knife, or other knife that meeds to be super sharp, I use a leather strop glued onto a wooden paddle and coated with jeweler's rouge.

[Guest carbonarcher]

Gregintenn,

Yes, those strops are awesome! I have a collection of them my self. I use different grit powders of grit on them. Man oh man, they will put a mirrior shine any an edge!

[Dolomite_supafly]

I use a soft Japanese water stone for all my sharpneing needs. I have several in various grits. The most often used on is a double sided stone that has 800 on one side and 4000 on the other. It does take time and practice to be able to do it by hand without any aids but once you get it keeping a nice edge is easy. Also once the edge is there touch ups are easy. I can take a dull knife and get it very sharp in less than 10 minutes and put a working edge on a knife in about half that.

The 800 side allows em to put a "working edge" on the blade. It is almost like microscopic serrations and helps the knife cut through fibrous materials better than a very sharp edge. This is the kind of edge I normally put on most people's pocket knives because they get used for everyday tasks. The 4000 side allows me to put a very, very sharp edge on the knife and for everyday use it is too sharp. This edge works well in the kitchen but not so well out in the world. It is possible to have a knife so sharp and polished that it will not cut as easily as a working edge. I have tried to cut rope with a knife that was very sharp and polished. It would partially cut the rope then basically ride in theat groove. A working edge cuts rope quicker and easier.

I have tried ceramic stones but now I use them to flatten my soft stones. The soft stones will have a depression form in the middle of the stone over time. The ceramics work well for prodicing a working edge but tend to be too aggressive for a very fine edge.

I see you are in Sevierville, maybe we can get together sometime and I'll show you how I sharpen knives. Everyone has their favorite way of doing things no matter what it is . My way may not be as easy or as quick as others but it still produces a very sharp knife.

Dolomite

[NashvilleStage]

+1 on the Lansky sharpening system. Not exactly fast, but I like how the stone-to-blade angle is rigidly fixed & repeatable from one sharpening to the next. Been using mine for over a decade.

[Guest grays]

thx for all the info guys. I went ahead and ordered the spyderco sharpmaker with my tenacious yesterday .