What is best way sharpen a knife

[henktermaat]

Cool thread, I have been using a whetstone but am annoyed at the fact that I can never get it exactly the same twice.

 

[Lucion]

Just my opinion soooooooooooo....
1) Diamond stone REMOVE a lot of metal
2) I keep a cheap draw sharpener in my kit to put working edges back on my blades
3) Keep an eye on the edge and touching it up occasionally works better than having to reprofile or start from scratch.
Lastly, IMO, hair popping edges are the least useful as they tend to be the most fragile. Do they have a place? Yes, but my working edged blades seen to do the trick 99% of the time and I could dull a 2x4 with MY sharpening skills

Bob

I agree. A working edge is more than sufficient. Better to sharpen frequently than letting it get too far out of control. I use a little DMT diamond impregnated. Once you use it a few times it smooths out for a nice edge. Doesn't matter what the blade is made from if you use it regularly it will need sharpened regularly.

 

[Jack Ryan]

Just get a pair of Lansky $25 dollar crock sticks or a couple whet stones and learn to do it right. My God, some things you just got to grow up and learn. You can't buy something and stick it in your brain instead of learning it. People a hudred years ago who couldn't scratch their name in the dirt could learn to sharpen a frigging knife. Indians only sharpened their knives on one side and they could skin a buffalo with it.

I walked out in the woods today with a 16 year old kid and picked up whetstones off the ground that were mined a hundred years ago and taught him to sharpen an axe with it in 15-20 minutes.

It's not rocket science, stop trying to make it in to something it's not and just do it.

 

[buckhunterbb]

I use a leather belt to hone edge after using stone. Helps to polish edge.

 

[tyler34]

Just get a pair of Lansky $25 dollar crock sticks or a couple whet stones and learn to do it right. My God, some things you just got to grow up and learn. You can't buy something and stick it in your brain instead of learning it. People a hudred years ago who couldn't scratch their name in the dirt could learn to sharpen a frigging knife. Indians only sharpened their knives on one side and they could skin a buffalo with it.

I walked out in the woods today with a 16 year old kid and picked up whetstones off the ground that were mined a hundred years ago and taught him to sharpen an axe with it in 15-20 minutes.

It's not rocket science, stop trying to make it in to something it's not and just do it.

what?! you didn't teach him how to put a microbevel on his edge

 

[2ADMNLOVER]

We outta have a bring your own lunch OC knife sharpening 101 class !

 

[Benjamin]

I have a Rada wheel sharpener. It has 2 disks and you just pull the blade through the middle. Very easy!

 

[Jack Ryan]

I've sharpend a hatchet, three tomahawks, and a machete on this piece of rock I dragged out of the forest two days ago.

It is the cat's ass, I'll tell you what. I almost can't wait to do lawnmower blades on it.

 

[Rookie]

How big is the drawer that you keep that in?

 

[Jack Ryan]

I thought it looked pretty good right there on that little wall. It's been laying outside on the ground a long time with out hurting it any... it'll probably still be good long after I'm "in a drawer".

 

[m_deaner]

I like the lansky system. You get an exact, repeatable sharpening angle, and it's easy to save sharpening time by putting a microbevel on your edge.

I used Arkansas stones for years, and learned how to get a great edge on my knives. But the sharpening process took too long and eventually every one of my knives ended up with a convexed edge. No offense, but I just can't get into convex edges. And I don't have time to fool with bench stones.

I have the diamond lansky system but have found that it removes too much material for normal sharpening, and the grit doesn't go down fine enough to get a good edge. I only use it for reprofiling.

My "everyday" sharpener is the basic lansky system with the additional ceramic ultra-fine stone. I think this set is a great deal at around $35-$40.

I sometimes strop on a belt loaded with green sharpening rouge, but have found that my knives don't hold an edge as long when sharpened to this level. I usually sharpen down to the lansky ceramic ultra-fine and am done with it. I then try not to let my knives get too dull so I can just use the ultra-fine for quick touch-ups.

 

[Bruenor]

I know this is an older thread, but I'm interested in learning how to sharpen knives. I'd like to be able to sharpen everything from my SAK to my SOG Seal Pup. I'm not really interested in any of the kits or systems, simply because I'd like to be able to throw a whetstone in my backpack and sharpen my knives in the middle of the woods. Does anyone have some recommendations for a set-up that would work well for this?

Also, my other thought was to scrounge around my kitchen drawer for some old kitchen knives to practice on. While the steel isn't the same quality as my Seal Pup, I would think that I could learn the basics of sharpening knives on those, instead of practicing on my good blades. Any thoughts on this?

 

[redneckmedic]

Maybe in march we can have a special guest speaker for our next medic class?

 

[Bruenor]

Maybe in march we can have a special guest speaker for our next medic class?

Sounds good. I'll bring donuts again.

I found this product on Amazon. Lansky Quick Fix Pocket Sharpener If it works as advertised, this would be something easy that I could throw into a backpack.

There's also this one that I found. Smith's PP1 "Pocket Pal" Multi-Function Sharpener Does anyone have experience with either of these?

 

[tyler34]

Maybe in march we can have a special guest speaker for our next medic class?

I'll get with cubby and coordinate

 

[Zephri]

These are what I use to sharpen my knives. <-link

I use Nuvite Nushine 2 grade A for stropping compound.

 

[Eddie]

Practice on junk

Also, my other thought was to scrounge around my kitchen drawer for some old kitchen knives to practice on. While the steel isn't the same quality as my Seal Pup, I would think that I could learn the basics of sharpening knives on those, instead of practicing on my good blades. Any thoughts on this?

This is a good way to learn. I first learned how to sharpen using just a stone. (That was before all the fancy stuff you can get now.) Take a cheap, dull knife, sit down and patiently go to work on it. You will want to start with a coarse stone for a dull knife. When you can take one of those junk knives stamped "Made in Pakistan" and get the blade sharp enough to dry shave your arm hair, then you are ready.

 

[zcam630]

Maybe in march we can have a special guest speaker for our next medic class?

I need to get in on these classes. Where do I sign up for the notifications?

 

[danielocean03]

I have the Lanksy system as well as the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker 204, I prefer the Spyderco, works brilliantly.

 

[drbarnes]

i use ceramic blades in a V.. not sure if its the best but it works very well for me.