Sidearms & Scatterguns knife sharpening on the cheap...

[jayd4wg]

frugality kicked in last nite...went looking for a replacement to my 3 stone kit since my son dropped the kit and the stones shattered. balking at the price, i was a bit disgruntled and started doing a little research.

read about using some wet dry paper and a mouse pad... Anyone else ever try this? my knives have NEVER been sharper. I did a sheet of 600, then 800 and polished the edge with 1200 grit. hairs pop right off my arm and chin.

I often use the unglazed edge of a ceramic bowl or plate to hone with whenever i don't have anything else handy, but this abrasive paper method will have me never dropping big bucks on a set of arkansas or diamond stones again.

 

[Freerunner]

Re: knife sharpening on the cheap...

I'm going to try this. I have used the ceramic method myself.

 

[Tripwire]

Re: knife sharpening on the cheap...

Yeah, $26 is scarey BIG bucks.....

Just bought the same kit, minus the serated edge stone, at walmart, for $19....ironically to replace the kit my own kid ruined.

Dunno how he managed it but I've had that kit for YEARS, and sharpened countless knives with it, and he managed somehow here recently to wear the diamonds off the rough stone.

 

[jayd4wg]

Re: knife sharpening on the cheap...

Trip, that's close to the same set my son destroyed save for the diamond "stone", all the stones shattered when the box hit the floor. to boot, i was never a big fan of how my edges held up after using the Smith. I have a set of Smith Crock Sticks and they put a FINE edge on quickly when just honing, matter of fact, my knives usually get a quick wipe on them a few times a week. they are quick and convenient but when it came to repairing a chunked up edge from some heavy cutting or a bad choice (don't ask), the abrasive paper worked fast and clean. wetting the paper with water seemed to speed the "cut" on the knife steel...low pressure and let the paper do the work.

 

[gunjunkie45]

Re: knife sharpening on the cheap...

I'll stick with my Edge Pro.

 

[Big Cal]

Re: knife sharpening on the cheap...

I've used Wet and dry and a cork sanding block in a pinch and gotten really good results you can get it even better with a bit of soap and water on the paper cos it polishes better then finished with a leather strop or belt also works well with a large blade cos you can use a full sheet which mages sharpening a big blade but I still love my stones and will never get rid of them they have been in my family for 3 generations so their sentimental as

 

[rdinak]

Re: knife sharpening on the cheap...

Roll down your truck window and use the edge of the glass to touch up your blade.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: knife sharpening on the cheap...

Wicked expensive

.....but it's what I use for all my fine working blades.

http://www.amazon.com/6-Fine-Arkansas-Bench-Stone/dp/B0016HY2BY/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_img_b

I have heard of guys using emory cloth on a flat surface, but I would think that a mouse pad would remove your ability to precisely control the angle. It may work great for a quick touch up, but I would think over time it would change the geometry of the edge.

 

[turbo54]

Re: knife sharpening on the cheap...

Are we talking a soft cushy mouse pad, or one of the stiff plastic ones?

 

[DCR]

Re: knife sharpening on the cheap...

It's not called 'Scary Sharp' for no reason. Never used it on knives though. Just chisels.

I use Spyderco Triangle Sharp Maker myself. It's quick and works. $40-50.

 

[jayd4wg]

Re: knife sharpening on the cheap...

one of the hard plastic covered foam pads. they give a little bit, but the object is to let the paper do it's work.

I'm a firm believer that a GOOD edge should not be a flat polished surface, but rather a radius'd edge allowing for more thickness all the way to the very end of the edge. don't care if it's "right" or not, it's what i've always done (even with the smith tool) and will continue to do. I've always rounded the edge.