O.T. Sharpening knives, LOL!

[Don_M2]

I found this amusing. I'm 59 y/o and my grandfather taught me how to sharpen knives when I was about 10 - MUCH to my dad's dismay. I ended up getting really good at it, by hand, no angle guide, varying stones and a leather belt...hair splitting sharp.

Fast forward to 2 years ago. I discovered powered sharpening with a 1×30 belt sander and a leather stropping wheel on a bench grinder. SCARY AS HECK sharp, in a fraction of the time. My turn around went from a few days, to a few minutes, literally.

Last Wednesday, I took care of two knives for a coworker. One an honest to goodness K-Bar. He thought they were past the point if saving...I proved him wrong with two shaving sharp blades.

The owner of the gunshop got wind of what I'd done and wracked his brain all weekend. He texted me yesterday and said he wants to add a knife sharpening service to our store and WAS I INTERESTED IN BEING IN CHARGE!

He will buy all equipment needed, set up a work area (to my specs), and wants me to train another employee on MY methods. He wants me to have complete control and if it works out, it will be the only thing I will do - run the sharpening and the other employee.

If my grandfather was still around, he'd be on the floor, laughing his head off. My dad (who warned people NOT to let me sharpen their knives, because they were TOO SHARP), would be rolling his eyes so hard, they'd fall out of his head.

Personally, I believe it could be fun, and it's definitely amusing.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I’m probably one of the few that sharpens in a large circular motion on both sides using a stone. Amazingly your brain can control how much time is spent on each side.

 

[Welsh Warrior]

Started using silicon carbide stones as a kid. Used a huge water wheel sharpener during my railroad apprenticeship in the 70's. Graduated to using Japanese water stones years ago. Some natural ,some synthetic. Majority are Naniwa brand from 400-12K grit. Nothing better IMO.

 

[K22]

Several years ago I invested in on of those kits that had an angle guide and a few different grits of stones. One of the best investments I ever made.

While I admire those who can sharpen free hand, for me, the kit removes the guess work and produces a uniform and correct angle edge.

 

[farmerjohn]

He will buy all equipment needed, set up a work area (to my specs), and wants me to train another employee on MY methods....

Sounds like you could enjoy your job and make money in the process. Don't know how old you are but you might want hold off a little bit on how well you train your "helper", and see if it turns into a real two man job. Good knife sharpeners are hard to find, good luck... John

 

[ShtrRdy]

how do you use a belt sander to accurately sharpen a knife?

I'm one of those people who CAN'T maintain a constant angle when sharpening on a stone.

 

[dryhumor]

sharpening is an under appreciated skill. I use a variety of things. Ceramic, diamond steel, Arkansas stone, water stones.

I do all my wood chisels and carving chisels by hand. Either on diamond impregnated flat steel or stones. My kitchen and skinning knives get stone sharpened and final dress with ceramic.

Years ago, I’d drink cold beverages and sharpen everything in the house. I learned that wearing leather mittens was very good protective gear when operating with cold beverages. They had enough cuts and nicks to prove their value.

 

[Steve Donlon]

It seems for me that different steels take different stones. I love the the K-Bar1095 Cro-Van steel to sharpen. You can sharpen it with a rock. while the harder steels need a diamond and more precise handling.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I made about 16 inch long boards and put old stirrup leathers on them for strops for my round leather knives, I put aluminum oxide on one and rouge on the 2nd one.

 

[Steve Donlon]

I made about 16 inch long boards and put old stirrup leathers on them for strops for my round leather knives, I put aluminum oxide on one and rouge on the 2nd one.

I bet there were like razor blades

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I bet there were like razor blades

You definitely learn to keep your non knife hand behind the blade when cutting on the table. lol.

 

[Steve Donlon]

You definitely learn to keep your non knife hand behind the blade when cutting on the table. lol.

I have come to the point of just using steels that I can sharpen fast and put a razor edge on them with little effort, like AEB-L or 52100 and the Cro-Van old steels. I don't mind having to sharpen more often.

 

[Kittitas George]

I was taught by a real, old time machinist and instrument maker. Maintaining the desired angle, for chopping trees or slicing meat, is the skill required. Either free hand or with a jig. Soft stones cut faster, hard stones polish. I worked part time in a small sorting goods store, I sharpened many knives on our "Case" knives sharpening stone display. Just draw the knife towards you, shaving off a thin piece of the stone with each stroke, not to much down pressure. Mark the cutting edge of the knife with a felt pen, it may help. PRACTICE!!!!

 

[vonb]

Dad taught me as a kid with a "whet" stone. I've tried all the various gadgets and always go back to the stone. Arkansas stones do a great job with an edge. It also depends on the steel. Some Chinese steel is unable to hold an edge. If they won't shave dry hair, they're not sharp.

 

[Don_M2]

how do you use a belt sander to accurately sharpen a knife?

I'm one of those people who CAN'T maintain a constant angle when sharpening on a stone.

It's actually VERY EASY! I use an inexpensive Harbor Freight 1×30 belt sander, but I buy quality belts (Cubitron / Trizact). Get the HF sander and remove the "work table," it only gets in the way. The platten (the vertical piece of steel that backs the abrasive belt) is the only thing you need, and it is firmly attached to the machine. AMAZON sells a slip-on, adjustable angle-guide for a few dollars. I have one and modified it slightly with a slip of thin sheet metal (will share a picture). You can adjust the angle from 10* to about 60,* I tend to sharpen knives between 17* and 22.* Anything lower tends to be SUPER SLICY but doesn't hold up to heavy use. Much higher, and the blade doesn't 'slice' very well, although the edge is more durable.

The added sheet metal adds to the length of the guide and prevent knives that are short from the cutting edge to the spine from tipping and messing up the angle.

 

[Don_M2]

I made about 16 inch long boards and put old stirrup leathers on them for strops for my round leather knives, I put aluminum oxide on one and rouge on the 2nd one.

I recently discovered that "over-stopping" is a real thing. Only a few passes are needed, you're just trying to remove any remnants of the burr caused by the abrasive. Too much stropping or using too much pressure can redull the edge.

 

[Don_M2]

I was taught by a real, old time machinist and instrument maker. Maintaining the desired angle, for chopping trees or slicing meat, is the skill required. Either free hand or with a jig. Soft stones cut faster, hard stones polish. I worked part time in a small sorting goods store, I sharpened many knives on our "Case" knives sharpening stone display. Just draw the knife towards you, shaving off a thin piece of the stone with each stroke, not to much down pressure. Mark the cutting edge of the knife with a felt pen, it may help. PRACTICE!!!!

Don't forget... practice, practice, then practice some more! Just as important is PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT YOU'RE DOING, especially with powered equipment 0.01 of a second of inattention can destroy a knife, or worse cause something that takes many stitches to fix.

 

[Don_M2]

I’m probably one of the few that sharpens in a large circular motion on both sides using a stone. Amazingly your brain can control how much time is spent on each side.

There's not just one right way.

 

[Coonman300]

Several years ago I invested in on of those kits that had an angle guide and a few different grits of stones. One of the best investments I ever made.

While I admire those who can sharpen free hand, for me, the kit removes the guess work and produces a uniform and correct angle edge.

Lansky….I’ve been using the same thing for about 40 years.

 

[CharlieNC]

Do you think there will be enough business to employ two people full time?