I suck at Knife Sharpening - Videos, classes, suggestions?

[270quest]

I will swallow my pride and admit I suck at sharpening knives - I have two high quality fixed blade knives (Cabelas/buck elk hunter, and a Benchmade Hunter) I have the worksharp mini belt sharpener and no matter how I follow the instructions - my knives never get that really good edge on it. I usually have to take them to a buddy's dad who uses an old table top lansky and he can get them shaving sharp.

Any good suggestions, videos, or even knife sharpening classes? I have to get to the point where I can sharpen my own knives and not rely on someone else.

 

[Joseph2186]

Whats the angle your using for the edge? It took me awhile to figure it out on my 2x72 you have to watch for the bur to develop on the edge the whole way down. You will also be able to feel it then you work you way up in grits I stop at 1000. You do this careful to not snap the burr off. Then slowly strop it back and forth keeping the same angle. It takes a while start with a junk knife you dont care about. Also dont overheat the edge itll take out the hardness. Good luck

 

[feanor]

I prefer something that holds the blade and allows you to use a stone on a fixed angle. This will also teach you how the burr forms and make you a better sharpener. If you work your way through grit progressions, you can have shaving sharp blades.

 

[Billogna]

Google any of the Murray Carter sharpening videos.

 

[MoeFaux]

I don't love that belt sharpener from Work Sharp. Others can use it with good results, but I found it difficult to use. My personal advice would be to get rid of it and grab their Precision Adjust system instead. I've found it to be a fantastic balance between price and performance. Get the Elite (or the Pro if you're feeling real spendy).

Once you've got a system like that to maintain the consistency of your sharpening angle, you have to learn which knives like which angles - which is easy enough to do with a sharpie and a bit of trial and error - and how long to work each grit before moving on. Even while you're learning those intricacies, though, you'll have blades that are plenty sharp enough to satisfy your average joe.

I can get to barely shaving sharp on that system, but haven't figured out "hair-popping" sharp yet.

 

[Joseph2186]

I have this sharpener and its fantastic a little pricey but should last a very long time and does everything from a pocket knife to a chef knife.
https://tsprof.us/products/new-tspr...=Performance_Max_Feeds&utm_term=&utm_content={ad_id}&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAnKi8BhB0EiwA58DA4Sd3ga48I89KjsOhxTL-QzPIZJuaIoyVAsjv6QPACjsCaQUWIud9fRoCoj8QAvD_BwE

 

[MoeFaux]

I have this sharpener and its fantastic a little pricey but should last a very long time and does everything from a pocket knife to a chef knife.
https://tsprof.us/products/new-tspr...=Performance_Max_Feeds&utm_term=&utm_content={ad_id}&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAnKi8BhB0EiwA58DA4Sd3ga48I89KjsOhxTL-QzPIZJuaIoyVAsjv6QPACjsCaQUWIud9fRoCoj8QAvD_BwE

If I were willing to spend that much, I'd get a Wicked Edge system. They're well known and trusted among knife nerds and professionals. I've used their flagship system and I'd have a hard time believing that there's anything better on the market.

 

[WyoHuntr]

Find a system that helps you hold an angle. Like a stone system with a blade clamp and guide rods attached to stone holders. A cheap DMT set, a Hapstone system (with digital level to verify angles), a cheap Amazon knockoff of an expensive system, etc. If you suck at holding an angle on a stone, then get something that sets and holds your angle.... *and write down how you did it for repeatability*! Buy cheap gas station knives and practice hogging down edges. A lot of factory knives don't have consistent edge angles, so learn to set your own. Dont get caught up in too high of grits. Breaking down animals with a microhoned edge doesn't work very well in my experience. I stick 1000 grit, or below depending on the knife. Sorry, I don't have specific YouTubers.

 

[BRTreedogs]

https://www.lansky.com/deluxe-5-stone-system.html

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Whet stones are the way to go if you really want to sharpen knives. I have a couple hones I use to keep mine sharp in between the whetstone.

 

[Jpsmith1]

You need a sharpie.

Honestly, a sharpie will revolutionize how you see bevels because you can actually see how you’re working it.

With any system, maintaining the angle is key.. if one stroke is 15° and the next is 25°, all you're doing is rounding the edge off.

Color the bevel edge with a sharpie and you can see by the ink removal how you're maintaining angle.

Once you have a consistent angle, you feel for the burr opposite the side you're working. Achieve a burr, flip and burr the other side and the edge is apexed.

It is SHARP now. It will shave hair. Might be a hair rough because the edge is quite crude but it's sharp.

Now, and only now do you move to a finer grit and refine and smooth out those bevels making an ever finer edge.

Happy to talk further. I'm a sharpening geek and I love it.

 

[Jpsmith1]

I use a KME sharpening system and they really produce some good YouTube stuff covering the sharpie method and the importance of the burr edge.

 

[hereinaz]

Learn to sharpen on one side until you create the wire edge the whole length of the blade. Flip and sharpen the other side. You will remove the wire edge and then create a new one.

Switch to a finer grit and repeat.

You can repeat this until you get to the finest grit.

Strop backwards on a piece of leather with an abrasive compound to remove the wire edge.

Your blade is guaranteed to be razor sharp. It can’t be any other way, unless you screw up the angle and drag the edge to dull it.

That assume you can hold the knife at a consistent angle. If you aren’t getting a wire edge, then you aren’t actually removing material on the edge and you have a problem with the angle. You’ll never get a sharp edge.

 

[hereinaz]

I use a KME sharpening system and they really produce some good YouTube stuff covering the sharpie method and the importance of the burr edge.

It’s all about the burr/wire edge. It’s a necessary by product of sharpening an edge, because that is small pieces of steel that bend over the edge instead of break off.

And, yes, leaving the micro wire edge and not working to a polished edge means you left little tiny saw teeth/serrations that slice through skin and flesh.

Knives first “dull” when the fine edge of the blade actually gets bent over sideways, especially on bone. Using a “knife steel” like a chef/butcher will “stand” the edge back up and it’s cutting again. The steel doesn’t actually “sharpen” like an abrasive stone.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

Benchmade has lifesharp. Thats what I use.

 

[Pony Soldier]

I run mine through a worksharp but finish on a fine whetstone. The issue is the angle, consistancy and patience. In the field, I touch them up with a diamond steel.

 

[couchnapper]

what is your favorite sharpener?

 

[Nevwild]

Maybe this video will help you as much as it helped me.

 

[Davyalabama]

I'm currently running a sharpworx system. I bought some sharpal diamond sharpening stones from bestsharpeningstones.com and am currently in the process of using older, nonuser, knives to break them in some. I tried this because: 1)it was relatively cheap compared to TSprof, KME and other good ones; 2) I could use almost any size sharpening stone, I think I prefer the larger stones with more surface area to work with on one stroke; 3) I didn't have to buy that companies proprietary stones; 4) I could use a clamp or a magnetic holder (currently only using the magnet, it works so far); 4) it is more of a guide than a system. Now, I do have a pretty good strop, at least it is for my broadheads, so it works on a knife too.

The sharpie trick really helps.

I've tried the old soapstones (the kind old folks used), Arkansas stones, I have an old rock my uncle used to use to sharpen his knives (I should have paid attention more when I was younger, yes, it's just a hunk of rock about 10-12 lbs. worth, the spyderco system, a cheap knockoff tsprof of Am$%^& (sent that back), tried an angle guide for my belt sander (messed up several tips with this thing, ugghhhh), etc. The sharpworx has already brought back to life several old kitchen knives that were relegated to the attic.

 

[PathFinder]

There's a million knife nerds on YouTube. I recently went through the same thing and learned a lot there. Starting freehand may have been a mistake; getting halfway decent took a ton of time and effort, along with way too much blade off a brand new Spyderco
I'd suggest a fixed system. Xarilk sells a knock off of the Tsprof system for around $100. Watch the Neeves knives video on how to use it. Pay really close attention on how to raise a burr, recognize one, and remove the burr. The advice above to practice on a cheap, simple knife is really good. Once you can repeatedly put a great edge on that, start on your good knives.

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