knife sharpening. the journey.

[scaleface]

The Cutlery World sticks are so easy a caveman could do it . A few light touch-up  strokes on the fine rod at the steeper angle remove's the burr and strengthens the edge .

[Woody B]

Two things needed to sharpen any blade (beyond the necessary tools)

 

1. Keeping a consistent angle.

2. Patience

[Crankin4Bass]

On 9/25/2022 at 9:10 AM, Darth-Baiter said:

I used to suck at it.  I would relegate myself to the fact that every once in awhile I would need to visit that odd man sharpening knives out of the back of his van, at Farmer's Markets.  

 

I'd buy the occasional stone, try it, and then put it away, and look for my friend with the van.  

 

eventually, I figured it out.  angle, and pressure.  I usually use nothing more than the Spyderco Sharpmaker for maintenance.  but when things go terribly wrong, I can pull out a few stones and get them back.  my kitchen knives are nuts.  I use a Chinese Cleaver 90% of the time and it could do surgery.  inexpensive softer steels are easy for me to hone.  my pocketknife with more performance steel, slower but the concept is the same.  my pocket knife is crazy sharp.  

 

you any good?

I bought one of those Spyderco Sharpmakers, but it didn't seem to do much the few times I tried it.  I love their knives and had high hopes for the Sharpmaker. Do you have any tips?

[king fisher]

    I am the worlds worst knife sharpener.  It was very embarrassing making my living as a big game guide in Alaska, and not being able to sharpen a knife.  I would start capping and butchering a moose, with one of doze sharp knifes, and by the time I was done, their would be dull knives and whatever latest knife sharpener I bought from the guy at the last years sportsman's show littered all over the tundra by the kill.  I would go in to a sportsman's show with a bag full of knives, and keep coming back to the booth with a guy hawking a new knife sharpening tool, until they were all sharp.  Then I would buy what ever sharpener he was selling and would leave with high hopes.  Hunters would feel sorry for me, and leave me their knives and sharpeners as tips.  I have owned them all.  In order to save weight in my pack  I started buying light Victornox paring knives, which I would give away at the end of the season.  I even did all the hide work on a large brown bear once with a scalpel and a whole pack of disposable blades

      As luck would have it.  After my guiding days were through, I discovered a knife sharpener that works great for me.  When I told my friends I discovered a sharpener that I could get a knife razor sharp with, the first reaction was shock, then uncontrol able laughter, and finally they purchase the sharpener.  If I can get a knife sharp with this tool, than I'm am sure anyone with a pulse can do it too.  Only problem is you have to be where there is power.  It would be nice if they made one that ran on batteries.  Maybe they do, It's been a few years since I bought mine.     

[GTN-NY]

14 minutes ago, king fisher said:

 

     Maybe they do, It's been a few years since I bought mine.     

They do have a few newer model but no battery operated 

[Darth-Baiter]

Hunting. I use an Accusharp.  Fool proof.  Safe. 

[GTN-NY]

47 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

Hunting. I use an Accusharp.  Fool proof.  Safe. 

Really!?! It’s that good for only $11? It can’t be - I’ve spent hundreds and I’m still not happy ? 

[Darth-Baiter]

12 minutes ago, GTN-NY said:

Really!?! It’s that good for only $11? It can’t be - I’ve spent hundreds and I’m still not happy ? 

Haha.  Bloody hands.  Tired.  Low light conditions.  It’s the best sharpener.  It does pretty well.  It takes off a lot of material so you don’t want to use it exclusively. But it gets you back on the task at hand fast!

[Woody B]

My brother in law bought one of those electric work sharp things.  Then he pretty much ruined every knife he touched.  Be careful, anything electric can and will take too much material.

[GTN-NY]

2 hours ago, Woody B said:

My brother in law bought one of those electric work sharp things.  Then he pretty much ruined every knife he touched.  Be careful, anything electric can and will take too much material.

thats what happened on the first knife I tried. 
Last week I watched a YouTube video (I know guys do need instructions) on using it and they said to run at half speed so you don’t remove to much metal. 
I’m having a little better luck with it now

[JackstrawIII]

I used to be a knifemaker and built a fairly well known brand of custom knives, so I have a decent idea what I’m talking about. Couple thoughts:

 

1. Most people over-sharpen their knives, doing way too much grinding with aggressive stones, wheels, etc. I never recommend using a powered sharpening system, especially on a high end knife. 
 

2. You guys that use flat stones, my hats off to you. Very hard to do that well. I never have. 
 

3. Now that I’m out of the business, I use a Wicked Sharp for my personal knives. It’s a pricy investment, but works amazingly well.