Knife Sharpening

[bmiley1963]

Is there a place anyone can recommend on the west side of Indy that can put a razor's edge on my knives? I have tried for years to sharpen my knives the way my dad used to. He could shave hair off his arm with his pocket knife. I have never been able to get them that sharp. So I am looking for someone I can count on. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[chezuki]

This guy.

 

[pitbulld45]

Have you tried wet/dry automotive sand paper after a stone? That's how I do it and if it's good metal it will sharpen to a razors edge.

 

[ddavidson]

This guy.

X1 on he's on the westside, or at least used to be. It's been a while since I had some knives done.

 

[Drail]

Buy a good bench stone and some cheap knives from Walmart. Practice on them. Every man needs to know how to sharpen a knife. Make your Dad proud. It's not that hard. It's simply a matter of finding the right angle and keeping it as you hone. Honing guides are available. There are tons of good how to articles on the Web. You can do this.

 

[whitind]

I use spiderco sharpmaker

 

[maver1ck]

Buy a good bench stone and some cheap knives from Walmart. Practice on them. Every man needs to know how to sharpen a knife. Make your Dad proud. It's not that hard. It's simply a matter of finding the right angle and keeping it as you hone. Honing guides are available. There are tons of good how to articles on the Web. You can do this.

I really need to start learning how to do this. I like your suggestion. What stones do you recommend one buy to start learning?

 

[Drail]

A 2 in. X 6 in. (minimum) bench stone to start, either natural Arkansas/Ouchita (medium grit) or a man made diamond stone (diamond stones cost more but never wear down and become non flat). Use oil on the natural stones and water on the diamond stones. Place a piece of non slip mat (Lowe's, Menards, Home Depot) under the stone so it won't move while you use both hands to hold the blade. Use light pressure and hold the blade at about a 20 degree angle. The whole trick is to maintain the same angle on every stroke. Eventually you will raise a burr on one side and then remove it with one last stroke on the opposite side. There are numerous articles on the internet and Youtube.

 

[KittySlayer]

A 2 in. X 6 in. (minimum) bench stone to start, either natural Arkansas/Ouchita (medium grit) or a man made diamond stone (diamond stones cost more but never wear down and become non flat)...

Any places to buy a good stone. I've looked here before but always get overwhelmed by the number of choices.

www.knifecenter.com

 

[TJ Kackowski]

I really need to start learning how to do this. I like your suggestion. What stones do you recommend one buy to start learning?

My personal favorite is the Razor Edge System ... Razor Edge Systems - Knife Sharpening Systems ... buy a starter kit with stones and guides, watch the videos, and you're home free ... this is an easy system to use. I only use the 8" stones with this system.

Even easier is a motorized belt system like Work Sharp ... Work Sharp Tools ... also very easy to use and FAST. I don't like it as much as the Razor Edge System, but when you're sharpening a bunch of kitchen knives for your in-laws, the Work Sharp can't be beat.

Best of all both these systems are dry systems.

 

[maver1ck]

Thanks guys for the stone info and the link. Has anyone tried using the lansky system to sharpen knives?

 

[nakinate]

This guy.

Best advice on here. He fixed some dings in the blade of my esee 6. My knife is better than it was new. to nova512

 

[alc1985]

I have had a Lansky system for almost twenty years. It took me a long time to learn how to get good results but now I'm glad I have it.
Some on this and others forums praise the Sharp maker so it must also work.

 

[Dave A]

The GATCO system works like the Lansky except the GATCO stones are longer and wider. I have been using the Lansky system for years and it works well for getting a sharp edge.

 

[Drail]

I have used a Lansky for many years and the only downside is that if you try to use it on a blade much longer than say, 4 in. (like a pocketknife), you will need to move the guide down the blade as you go. It is pretty much foolproof though. For long kitchen knives I use an 8 in. Norton India bench stone. Just get a bench stone and some cheap knives and play with it.

 

[maver1ck]

THanks guys. I will check out the Lansky and also get some stones and start playing around. Time to go to Walmart and get some $10 knives.

 

[rhino]

For any system, tool, or freehand sharpening, it's going to help anyone to understand what you're trying to do when you sharpen a knife. I've a significant number of knives whose bevels were cosmetically beautiful with a nice mirror shine that did not form a sharp cutting edge because they did not "meet" at the bottom.

Ed Juranich's "Razor Edge" book/guide is worth it just to understand the ideas. The basic concepts are applicable to any tool or jig.

 

[Dean C.]

For any system, tool, or freehand sharpening, it's going to help anyone to understand what you're trying to do when you sharpen a knife. I've a significant number of knives whose bevels were cosmetically beautiful with a nice mirror shine that did not form a sharp cutting edge because they did not "meet" at the bottom.

Ed Juranich's "Razor Edge" book/guide is worth it just to understand the ideas. The basic concepts are applicable to any tool or jig.

I think I figured out what causes that, when you use the strops (stropping is the only way to get the mirrored bevels) you have to back the degree of stropping off by a couple degrees per side. If you do not do this the leather which is soft will form to the apex of the edge and actually roll it. Just saying.....

 

[rhino]

I think I figured out what causes that, when you use the strops (stropping is the only way to get the mirrored bevels) you have to back the degree of stropping off by a couple degrees per side. If you do not do this the leather which is soft will form to the apex of the edge and actually roll it. Just saying.....

That's one thing!

Another is when someone doesn't understand that the bevels have to actually meet to make an edge. They will have two shiny surfaces, then then a relatively thick strip of untouched metal where the edge would form if the bevels met.

 

[grunt soldier]

I never change angles for stropping. The key imo to stropping a blade is to use no pressure. If you apply more than the knifes weight in pressure you will dull the knife.