If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
- Deadboxhero
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If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
The most common problem I see is not bringing the bevel all the way down and crossing over, this will hold folks back from getting a sharper edge in my experience.
Another problem is having too many inconsistent bevels on the bevel being sharpened.
(I'm not talking about microbevels/compound bevels, calm down)
It should just be one bevel whether flat or convex, blended seamlessly for maximum effectiveness.
Using a sharpie marker to mark the edge and see what's being hit on the stone is a great training aid.
Burr will be on the opposite side, that let's one know when they crossed over all the way.
If one runs their fingers perpendicular off the edge on the opposite side they can feel the burr, light touch is essential.
Burr should be made as small as possible, it will be removed later.
Burr can be observed at an angle and with bright light, the goal however it to "feel" it for speed and convenience. So don't use a light as a crutch, use it as a learning aid
Burr is removed with light touch, alternating passes, same angle.
There are some nuances and some more advanced discussion but that's for another thread. When just starting out just keep it as simple as possible.
K.I.S.S
Stropping enhances, it does not create.
The edge should already be sharp before moving to the strop for the best effect.
Burr should be removed/reduced on the stone not the strop.
Trying to strop a big, nasty burr only "rakes" the surface of the strop or straightens out the burr without removing it making a weaker, wispy burr edge
Demonstration
.
Another problem is having too many inconsistent bevels on the bevel being sharpened.
(I'm not talking about microbevels/compound bevels, calm down)
It should just be one bevel whether flat or convex, blended seamlessly for maximum effectiveness.
Using a sharpie marker to mark the edge and see what's being hit on the stone is a great training aid.
Burr will be on the opposite side, that let's one know when they crossed over all the way.
If one runs their fingers perpendicular off the edge on the opposite side they can feel the burr, light touch is essential.
Burr should be made as small as possible, it will be removed later.
Burr can be observed at an angle and with bright light, the goal however it to "feel" it for speed and convenience. So don't use a light as a crutch, use it as a learning aid
Burr is removed with light touch, alternating passes, same angle.
There are some nuances and some more advanced discussion but that's for another thread. When just starting out just keep it as simple as possible.
K.I.S.S
Stropping enhances, it does not create.
The edge should already be sharp before moving to the strop for the best effect.
Burr should be removed/reduced on the stone not the strop.
Trying to strop a big, nasty burr only "rakes" the surface of the strop or straightens out the burr without removing it making a weaker, wispy burr edge
Demonstration
.
Last edited by Deadboxhero on Tue Aug 24, 2021 11:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
- curlyhairedboy
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Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
Great guidance.
EDC Rotation: PITS, Damasteel Urban, Shaman, Ikuchi, Amalgam, CruCarta Shaman, Sage 5 LW, Serrated Caribbean Sheepsfoot CQI, XHP Shaman, M4/Micarta Shaman, 15v Shaman
Fixed Blades: Proficient, Magnacut Mule
Special and Sentimental: Southard, Squarehead LW, Ouroboros, Calendar Para 3 LW, 40th Anniversary Native, Ti Native, Calendar Watu, Tanto PM2
Would like to own again: CQI Caribbean Sheepsfoot PE, Watu
Wishlist: Magnacut, Shaman Sprints!
Fixed Blades: Proficient, Magnacut Mule
Special and Sentimental: Southard, Squarehead LW, Ouroboros, Calendar Para 3 LW, 40th Anniversary Native, Ti Native, Calendar Watu, Tanto PM2
Would like to own again: CQI Caribbean Sheepsfoot PE, Watu
Wishlist: Magnacut, Shaman Sprints!
- SpyderNut
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Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
Good stuff. Love the humor too.
:spyder: -Michael
"...as I said before, 'the edge is a wondrous thing', [but] in all of it's qualities, it is still a ghost." - sal
"...as I said before, 'the edge is a wondrous thing', [but] in all of it's qualities, it is still a ghost." - sal
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Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
Excellent thread BBB!!!
Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
Great post Shawn ! You give a lot to this community and its appreciated.
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Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
Good photos.
- Connor
"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"
Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
Yo edge looks like too many trips to the Bass Pro Shop "professional sharpener" on the ol' bench grinder, followed up with a few dozen passes on a Walmart pull-through Dullmaker.
All SE all the time since 2017
~David
~David
Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
Should be sticky-ed
What magnification is the first photo taken at?
I'm still at the "yo edge" level - I feel like I'm not hitting the apex, and raise it a degree or two, and next thing you know my edge has more facets than a Strider nightmare grind
What magnification is the first photo taken at?
I'm still at the "yo edge" level - I feel like I'm not hitting the apex, and raise it a degree or two, and next thing you know my edge has more facets than a Strider nightmare grind
Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
Great explanation. After more than 1 week abroad, trying to sharpen my Meadowlark on the bottom of various cups, I can tell you it's not easy to keep the consistency needed for good results. I'm back home and in fact I'm sharpening / reprofiling my SE Salt 2 and first thing I got was the sharpie. The third portion on the edge, next to the point of the blade, wasn't being hit, and I could only observe that because of the sharpie. Now it's almost done (burr on 80% of the blade).
Edited to add: this should be
Edited to add: this should be
Last edited by tonijedi on Tue Aug 24, 2021 2:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
Awesome thread, thanks for sharing this info!
-Spencer
Rotation:
Gayle Bradley 2 | Mantra 1 | Watu | Chaparral 1 | Dragonfly 2 Salt SE
Rotation:
Gayle Bradley 2 | Mantra 1 | Watu | Chaparral 1 | Dragonfly 2 Salt SE
Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
Thank you. No BS, just common sense.
Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
Nothing but good advice in your post.
I like the emphasis on getting a crisp edge prior to getting out the strop. Some folks would be surprised how easy it is to get a shaving sharp apex off their reprofiling stone.
I like the emphasis on getting a crisp edge prior to getting out the strop. Some folks would be surprised how easy it is to get a shaving sharp apex off their reprofiling stone.
Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
lol
Nice explanations.
Nice explanations.
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Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
Great stuff. Working the burr properly is so important!
Because desolate places allow us to breathe. And most people don't even know they're out of breath.
MNOSD member #0035
MNOSD member #0035
Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
Preach
-Matt a.k.a. Lo_Que, loadedquestions135 I ❤ The P'KAL
"The world of edges has a small doorway in, but opens into a cavern that is both wide and deep." -sal
"The world of edges has a small doorway in, but opens into a cavern that is both wide and deep." -sal
"Ghost hunters scope the edge." -sal
Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
I appreciate it. Excellent advice and guidance.
Do right always. It will give you satisfaction in life.
--Wovoka
--Wovoka
- cabfrank
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Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
So good. Thanks, man!
- kennethsime
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Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
Great thread.
I'm happiest with Micarta and Tool Steel.
Top four in rotation: K390 + GCM PM2, ZCarta Shaman, Crucarta PM2, K390 + GCM Straight Spine Stretch.
Top four in rotation: K390 + GCM PM2, ZCarta Shaman, Crucarta PM2, K390 + GCM Straight Spine Stretch.
Re: If you are NEW to sharpening, or having DIFFICULTY, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS THREAD
FAR too many people use strops to "remove a burr" which may seem like it works and may give you a sharp edge but you'll see a significant difference in edge retention if you cut off the burr with stones and THEN strop. Same goes for "maintaining an edge" with a strop, you're just bending the teeth of the edge back straight which weakens the steel and promotes micro chipping and ruins edge retention. Diamond compounds may help but at some point you have to ask yourself what is a strop with diamond compound doing that a very high grit stone can't do?
All SE all the time since 2017
~David
~David