Freehand knife sharpening

ez bake · May 14, 2011

Getting ready to take the plunge and pick up an 11.5" DMT course, 3 Spyderco 8" stones (med/fine/ultra-fine) and a leather strop block from Cutleryshoppe.com. Been sharpening with with a Lansky and other guides as well as trying out a paper-wheel and other methods for too long now and wanting to try it free-hand with some decent stones.

Looking at these videos:

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNwP-2xBphI

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXnSwPhyosA

Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y68flyZqHw

Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SvWabXMfcs

Tips
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRsfRILLw38

and a few other videos similar to the above technique.

Any free-hand sharpeners out there?

Here's a guy who uses a cheater block for hitting that perfect angle (there are 12 parts, I'm not going to post all 12):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TscN9h-1xQ

Anyone use this technique?

I've also seen more and more folks using sandpaper in various grits with blocks to get a polished edge. I hope to post pics of my mirror edge when this is done.

Jujen Kai · May 19, 2011

I've done freehand all my life. I never was as comfortable with the Lansky rigs (even though I still have one) as I am just running it over a stone or diamond hone. I was taught by my grandfather and now it feels like there's still a connection with him when I work a hone. My blades will shave hair - as the random bare patches on my forearms can attest - and people who know me randomly bring me cutters to edge for them. It's enjoyable for me to sit and work a blade on stone.

Fyrtwuck · May 20, 2011

I use the Lansky. I just can't seem to get the edge right freehand. I have a lot of my knives sharpened at the gun shows.

Spec ops Grunt · May 20, 2011

I use a Spyderco Sharpmaker, but I'm trying to learn freehand.

Ignored Member · May 20, 2011

Probably the best way to practice would be to get one of those cheap $10 gas station knives and practice on it untill you get your angles down and get a good consistent flow with it. If you mess it up, oh well, it's a cheapo that you'll probably never really use anyways. Just remember that the metal on those is crap so it will sharpen a lot faster than a quality blade.

ldp4570 · May 21, 2011

Always freehand except for my spyderco's. Remember one thing, the moment someone tells you to oil or wet the stone walk away. These sharpening stones are not made to be oiled or to be wet, they will soak up the liquids eventually soften the stone to where all your doing is shaving layers of stone instead of sharpening your knife!!!!

patrickcudd · Jun 2, 2011

I started freehand and was pretty good. I then discovered the Lansky and thought I was in Heaven! I then found the Spyderco Sharpmaker, and when combined with the Lansky, figured it could not be beat.

I now use something that is the end-all of shapeners, in my opinion....

A leather wheel on a bench grinder. It is fast and gets blades scary sharp no matter what the steels is. I've used it on some of the cheaper steels, S30V, and INFI and it works better than anything I've seen!

hunter966 · Jun 3, 2011

Has anyone ever tried the filiment out of a high pressure sodium light bulb? It works great and will put an edge on a knife or broadhead quick and fast that is all I use anymore. And best of all if you know an electrician he might just give you a used one for free.

CASTRATE · Jun 3, 2011

hunter966 said:
Has anyone ever tried the filiment out of a high pressure sodium light bulb? It works great and will put an edge on a knife or broadhead quick and fast that is all I use anymore. And best of all if you know an electrician he might just give you a used one for free.

+1. a friend of mine showed me this a few years back, and it worked quite well.

Rugerlab45 · Jun 4, 2011

hunter966 said:
Has anyone ever tried the filiment out of a high pressure sodium light bulb? It works great and will put an edge on a knife or broadhead quick and fast that is all I use anymore. And best of all if you know an electrician he might just give you a used one for free.

Yep. They work. To hone with at least. Made out of high quality ceramics, they're WAY harder than any steel blade that exists. But sharpening isn't the same thing as honing, or maintaining an edge. For Honest-To-God sharpening, bulb guts aren't nearly aggressive enough.

Freehand knife sharpening

ez bake

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Jujen Kai

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Fyrtwuck

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Spec ops Grunt

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Ignored Member

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ldp4570

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patrickcudd

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hunter966

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CASTRATE

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Rugerlab45

Marksman

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