trying to sharpen hook points

[BassSteve]

I have never done this, mostly because even good quality hooks are fairly inexpensive so I just buy new, but I wanted to try and sharpen some of my existing points. What would be the most hassle free way to do this? can using fine sandpaper for metal work? or using some type of metal file etc? I do not have a bench grinder but it's probably over kill for small hook points for the fishing I do. 

[Armtx77]

5 minutes ago, BassSteve said:

I have never done this, mostly because even good quality hooks are fairly inexpensive so I just buy new, but I wanted to try and sharpen some of my existing points. What would be the most hassle free way to do this? can using fine sandpaper for metal work? or using some type of metal file etc? I do not have a bench grinder but it's probably over kill for small hook points for the fishing I do. 

You are over thinking it. Buy one of the under 10 dollar hook sharpeners and don't lose it. 

[BassSteve]

1 minute ago, Armtx77 said:

You are over thinking it. Buy one of the under 10 dollar hook sharpeners and don't lose it. 

wow your right about that, goes to show you I have never sharpened or tried to sharpen them, didn't even know they made a dang sharpening tool for the hook points....feel dumb now

[scaleface]

The best hook sharpener I have used is the diamond file  thats on a lot of Leatherman multi tools . Push the point on the file with light stokes . I sharpen hooks quite a bit . If they slide across my thumb nail they get touched up .

[Paul Roberts]

It's so easy and fast to do. I couldn't imagine not having a file with me, or paying for perfectly good hooks that need a few seconds attention.

 

Any fine flat file will do. I've even used those cheap Chinese files you can get in the bins at a hardware store. My favorite, for bass sized hooks and up, is the Luhr Jensen Hook File. For really small hooks I use one of the diamond files.

 

One good firm low-angle swipe will usually put a nail-sticking point on. I start on one side. If that doesn't do it, I make a second swipe on the other side. If the hook is really dull, I'll make a third swipe on top. I replace hooks only when the point is too short to sharpen.

 

Hope this helps.

[BassSteve]

You see, I am probably wrong, but I always imagined when you sharpen something like a hook point you would need to do it at proper angles/have proper geometry, but I need to remember this is not a knife blade lol ?

[scaleface]

10 minutes ago, BassSteve said:

You see, I am probably wrong, but I always imagined when you sharpen something like a hook point you would need to do it at proper angles/have proper geometry, but I need to remember this is not a knife blade lol ?

 Well you do have to use the proper angles .  

[BassSteve]

7 minutes ago, scaleface said:

 Well you do have to use the proper angles .  

Yeah just not sure what they are and how accurate my free hand would be. Probably not extremely vital to get it perfect. After all, most consumer grade hooks if not all, are machine sharpened right? I may be wrong about that too

[Alex from GA]

I'm with scaleface on the Leatherman diamond file.  I'm on my third Leatherman because of a worn out file.  

[JustJames]

 

[Jig Man]

I have been using an Eze Lap sharpener for many years they are less than $10.

[Paul Roberts]

23 hours ago, BassSteve said:

You see, I am probably wrong, but I always imagined when you sharpen something like a hook point you would need to do it at proper angles/have proper geometry, but I need to remember this is not a knife blade lol ?

23 hours ago, BassSteve said:

Yeah just not sure what they are and how accurate my free hand would be. Probably not extremely vital to get it perfect. After all, most consumer grade hooks if not all, are machine sharpened right? I may be wrong about that too

Hi, Steve. No, this is not a knife blade. As scaleface said, angle does matter , but the big difference is that a knife blade has a long edge all to cut at the right angles. It takes some precision. A hook is a single point, so it's a cake-walk. The angle is low {EDIT: Glenn in his vid says ~10deg}, you don't want to cut the point off, or round it! Stay low nearly parallel with the base of the point and shave off a tiny bit of metal. Like you are trying to lengthen the point I suppose. Try a few, you'll see. It's so easy. One stroke can often do it. It merely has to stick into your thumbnail, not... filet them!  But, hey, if you figure that one out, let us know!

 

[WRB]

18 hours ago, Bass_Fishing_Socal said:

 

^^^this^^^

Tom

[J Francho]

19 hours ago, BassSteve said:

After all, most consumer grade hooks if not all, are machine sharpened right?

They are mostly chemically sharpened.

[WRB]

Every now and then you get a dull hook out of the bag or box from the mfr.

I don't believe hooks are inspected other then lot sampling by any mfr.

I buy Gamakatsu jig hooks in 100 qty and it's common to find a couple with dull points that missed the final sharpening process. 

As Glenn noted just check them.

Tom

[BassSteve]

14 minutes ago, J Francho said:

They are mostly chemically sharpened.

I knew of this process, but I thought only the higher end hooks were sharpened that way and the lower quality were by machine. I might be living in the past times though, with todays technology I can completely see them being sharpened standard like that. you learn something everyday

[DitchPanda]

I also use my leatherman file. I don't sharpen trebles or worm style hooks just replace them. I sharpen my single hook baits...spinnerbaits,chatterbaits,buzzbaits and jigs of all types

[Steveo-1969]

I've used several different brands of diamond file and they work great. The current one I use is the Bass Pro Shops Diamond Edge Hook File (with the blue handle), it costs less than $7. I sharpen hooks a lot and usually replace the file every year.