Where'd you learn...

[ADS]

Where did everyone learn to sharpen? Did you teach yourself with the aid of a book? How about a website? Did someone show you how to sharpen?



I own a sharpmaker and the extent of my sharpening knowledge comes from the video and instruction book that came with it. However, I would not consider myself anywhere near an excellent sharpener and therefore was wondering where the experts learned.



-Alan

[Eremitike]

Hi ADS

I thought I had learned how to sharpen a knife in the Boy Scouts. In fact, those rudimentary skills I learned were all I had to go on to produce moderately sharp blades for most of my adult life. Then I attended a knife sharpening class taught by Wayne Goddard at the old California Custom Knife Show (now the Blade Show West) several years ago. That's when I learned how to REALLY sharpen a knife and get a razor's edge. The difference between a "moderately" sharp knife and a "really" sharp knife is amazing, isn't it? I didn't know what I was missing all those years.

BTW I really like the Sharpmaker too and use it quite a bit. In fact, I just bought my second one.

Eremitike

[chux]

I wish I had learned to sharpen. Most of what I know is from trial and error. I can get most knives up to shaving sharpness with stones now and continue to practice. Don't consider it good yet. If I need something properly sharp I use the Tri-angle sharpmaker.

"Better gear than good sense a traveller cannot carry."

[The Deacon]

Years and years of practice, freehand with stones, mostly resharpening X-Acto blades for model building to save a few pennies. Bought a 204 Sharpmaker about a month ago, but still feel I can do a better job on most knives the old fashion way.

Paul

[vampyrewolf]

age 5, when I noticed a difference in proformance and my grandfather taught me in about 30min(then let me loose). 15yrs later I still sharpen freehand.

I started with my edges being done for camp duty. 800grit and 40deg. Worked well enough for then.
Now? Though I've moved from shaving sharp being a standard, I thin edges down to 20-30deg and polish them. Freehand is the only way to go. 15yrs of experience has me shaving off 800 grit alumina oxide, and the 500 is close.

Going back to my old ways... small fixed, slipjoints and high carbon.

Have a 204, but thats just for serrations.

<img src="http://www.members.shaw.ca/pjharyett/sp ... pyder5.gif">
Mei Fides, Mei Victus
Coffee Before Conciousness
Vampyrewolf@yahoo.com

[Alan2112]

I read instuctions on it, then I self taught myself on a Smith's Tri-stone. The first knife I sharpened, and did a good job on was our Buck 110. Before that I practiced on some cheap knock off models I purchased for guinney pigs. RKBA!