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Handloader Super Member
Joined: Aug 22, 2005 Posts: 1032 Location: Phoenix, Arizona
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:43 am Post subject: What do you use to Sharpen Knives? |
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I've enjoyed the thread on knives and leads to the subject question.
What have you found to give the best results for sharpen hunting knives? What angle do you try to maintain for a basic hunting knife? When in the field, what type of sharpener do you use? What is the biggest challenge for you in sharpening your knives?
For me, the Lansky system is a good starting point. I can choose the angle I prefer and use the various diamond stones to get a near "perfect" sharpening. From there, I take the blade to a 14" hard arkansas stone, followed by a leather strop and linen. Properly honed, this produces a fine edge, eliminates the feathered edge and retains the edge longer. Of course, I always use a good grade of honing oil.
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Bushmaster Super Member
Joined: Jun 12, 2005 Posts: 11391 Location: Ava, Missouri
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:43 am Post subject: Re: What do you use to Sharpen Knives? |
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Honing oil, arkansas and wachita stones and about 15 Degrees...When in the field I carry or have in camp a small arkansas stone that can be carried in my pocket...
_________________ I have one nerve left and yer standin' on it...
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LIBERTY A well armed sheep contesting the outcome of the vote... |
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k3yston3 Rookie Member
Joined: Mar 21, 2007 Posts: 7
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 9:24 am Post subject: Re: What do you use to Sharpen Knives? |
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I've been using the Lansky system with 5 stones for years and it puts a rather nice edge on the blade, quickly and consistently.
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Morax Super Member
Joined: Dec 18, 2006 Posts: 618 Location: Pittsburgh Pa
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 12:06 pm Post subject: Re: What do you use to Sharpen Knives? |
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99% of the time i use the lansky 3 stone setup at the 25 degree, it gives a good edge, holds for a long time with very little fold over, touchups in the field or whathave you i use either the old steel from shrade i think made it, or i do a strop from my pants belt, and thats all it usually needs.. BUT this is also one of the reasons why i carry a few extras on me in the woods.. pulled the crosslock out one day and the back of the blade was sharper than the edge was! pulled the old timer out and it did the job nice as you please!!
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bergy Rookie Member
Joined: Apr 10, 2006 Posts: 10 Location: Becker, MN
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 2:24 pm Post subject: Re: What do you use to Sharpen Knives? |
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I've been using the basic Lansky 3 stone sharpening system that I got for a Christmas gift years ago. Use the 25 degree angle and it's simple to put a good sharp edge on the blade pretty quick.
_________________ If you're not the lead dog, the view never changes! |
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Dimitri Super Member
Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:52 pm Post subject: Re: What do you use to Sharpen Knives? |
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I just use a normal Arkansas (or "india" grey) honing stone and some cutting oil (miniral oil) generally, never got used to thouse fancy knife sharpening set ups.
And if its really bad the blade then it gets to meet the bench grinder.
Dimitri
_________________ A thousand hills, but no birds in flight, ten thousand paths, with no people's tracks. A lonely boat, a straw-hatted old man, fishing alone in the cold river snow. |
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Pitt55 Member
Joined: Aug 30, 2006 Posts: 104 Location: Prince George, B.C.
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:00 pm Post subject: Re: What do you use to Sharpen Knives? |
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I use the crock sticks in the wood block. The one I have gives 2 angles 20 & 25 deg. I also like stones with honing oil. I tried the Lansky system but had trouble getting a shaving edge. I got my first knife with a guthook for christmas, any tips on shapening the hook?
Don
_________________ I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken! |
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Dimitri Super Member
Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: What do you use to Sharpen Knives? |
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Use the corner of the stone, thats what I do, a triangular stone helps as well as there is more clearance.
Dimitri
_________________ A thousand hills, but no birds in flight, ten thousand paths, with no people's tracks. A lonely boat, a straw-hatted old man, fishing alone in the cold river snow. |
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freedyf Member
Joined: Dec 27, 2005 Posts: 37 Location: Idaho Falls, Idaho
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 6:57 pm Post subject: Re: What do you use to Sharpen Knives? |
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Ise use an Arkansas stone, and bring a diamond steel with me into the field. I Have a good Buck skinner knife, sharpened to a point. I can dress an elk or several deer without sharpening. I like a sharp knife, Don't know how good I am at sharpening, but all my buddies bring their knives to me for sharpening. Haven't figured out if it's because I'm good or easy.
Freedyf
_________________ Hold'em, squeezem - make the first shot count, you may not get seconds. |
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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Morax Super Member
Joined: Dec 18, 2006 Posts: 618 Location: Pittsburgh Pa
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 10:10 am Post subject: Re: What do you use to Sharpen Knives? |
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wow a real purist there huh..... you say you do it by feel for the degree, how long did it take for you to master the feel for it, and also about how long does it take for you to do one? i have that western hatchet that o do by hand, using a small (I am guessing) arkansaw stone and oil, and to get it to shave takes me about 5 minutes, but first hone it took a good couple hours...
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SavageRuger Member
Joined: Jan 09, 2007 Posts: 26 Location: S.E. PA
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: What do you use to Sharpen Knives? |
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Vince,
Without worrying about the angle; do you find you get a really sharp cutting edge? I only ask this because I have used stones but for some reason cannot get the same results as my local sharpening shop. For a $1.50 they give me a blade that can easily slice paper and I have a hell of a time trying to duplicate the same with a stone.
_________________ "I see," said the man as he pissed into the wind. "It's all coming back to me now." |
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GroovyJack Member
Joined: May 21, 2005 Posts: 621 Location: Bama
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 5:22 pm Post subject: Re: What do you use to Sharpen Knives? |
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I have used ceramic sticks for more years than I can think of .. Fast and easy ..
_________________ My Goal In Life Is To Be As Good Of A Person As My Dog Already Thinks I Am |
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PaulS Super Member
Joined: Feb 18, 2006 Posts: 4330 Location: South-Eastern Washington - the State
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 6:18 pm Post subject: Re: What do you use to Sharpen Knives? |
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The best way for someone who has not spent a lifetime sharpening knives is with a good system like the Lansky that keeps the angle constant. You can set an angle from 5 to 25 degrees but you have to remember that the smaller the angle, the more sensitive it is to damage. A good angle for skinning is near 20 degrees. This angle will hold up well with rough use and is sharp enough to cut easily. A stone is the only thing that ever touches my knives. You can get a perfect edge with any kind of stone that you want to use but you have to have various grades to take a blade from "store bought" to a good edge. I like the man made stones because the are harder and wear slower than the natural stones. The only time a grinder should touch a knife blade is when it is a motorized whetstone. Grinders kill the temper of a knife blade in less time than it takes to shut it off and walk away. I do have one exception to the stone rule; I use a ceramic rod to freshen my kitchen knives before and after each use. I do not use a ceramic rod on my hunting or skining knives. When they get used they get stoned - after each use they are sharpened, oiled and put away.
_________________ Paul
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Morax Super Member
Joined: Dec 18, 2006 Posts: 618 Location: Pittsburgh Pa
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 6:38 pm Post subject: Re: What do you use to Sharpen Knives? |
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PaulS wrote: |
The best way for someone who has not spent a lifetime sharpening knives is with a good system like the Lansky that keeps the angle constant. You can set an angle from 5 to 25 degrees but you have to remember that the smaller the angle, the more sensitive it is to damage. A good angle for skinning is near 20 degrees. This angle will hold up well with rough use and is sharp enough to cut easily. A stone is the only thing that ever touches my knives. You can get a perfect edge with any kind of stone that you want to use but you have to have various grades to take a blade from "store bought" to a good edge. I like the man made stones because the are harder and wear slower than the natural stones. The only time a grinder should touch a knife blade is when it is a motorized whetstone. Grinders kill the temper of a knife blade in less time than it takes to shut it off and walk away. I do have one exception to the stone rule; I use a ceramic rod to freshen my kitchen knives before and after each use. I do not use a ceramic rod on my hunting or skining knives. When they get used they get stoned - after each use they are sharpened, oiled and put away. |
saying a grinder kills the temper is a big generalization there paul. wet grinders are designed for blades, if you know what you are doing a grinder can be used for lots of things on blade work without damaging the blades at all. oh and btw lansky goes from 30 degrees down to 17 degrees
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