Suppressors knife sharpening

[Mr_Brass]

If this is in the wrong section mods please move.

I wanted to hear what some of the guys here do for sharpening and maintaining their blades. Also what kind of blades you use.

I recently picked up another tanto styled pocket knife (cold steel recon 1) And I was so impressed with the sharpness I went on a spree. (found some things that needed cutting and cut them) the blade got a little bit dull so I broke out my stones and went to work, got it back insanely sharp. This is my EDC knife so it gets used a bit. Well as we all know razor blades don't hold an edge for ever. Well I noticed it getting a bit dull again so I broke out my stones again and went to touch up the blade, only this time I can't seem to get the blade razor sharp. I don't suck at sharpening knives but I am by no means the greatest. So I got to thinking about getting a belt sander. I don't have any problems using stones for bowie, clip or spear point style blades. But as my tanto styled blade collection is rapidly growing why not get tools to make sharpening easier and learn something new??

I was looking at getting a grizzly H3140 1" x 30" belt sander and for belts
Leather Honing Belt
400 grit
600 grit
800 grit
1000 grit

Alot of people have been telling me this would be a great business to get into but I'm not really thinking about that right now. I would like to know if anyone is using a setup similar to this and how they like it.

I like the tanto blades to much to give them up just because they are hard to sharpen on stones.

Any input?? Thanks

 

[clmayfield]

Re: knife sharpening

The EdgePro is a great system. If you want to go all out, get the glass blanks for the high grit polishing tapes.

I would avoid belt sanders like the plague. They can get a blade hot and ruin the temper. For a cheapy knife, it probably isn't a big deal. For an expensive one, you are paying for that extra degree of hardness in a good temper job.

 

[Mr_Brass]

Re: knife sharpening

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Carter Mayfield</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The EdgePro is a great system. If you want to go all out, get the glass blanks for the high grit polishing tapes.

I would avoid belt sanders like the plague. They can get a blade hot and ruin the temper. For a cheapy knife, it probably isn't a big deal. For an expensive one, you are paying for that extra degree of hardness in a good temper job. </div></div>

That edge pro does look nice But is quite a bit out of my price range. Not that I want to cheap out But I don't really have 250 bucks for a sharpening kit. I have done a bit of research on the tempering of the blades and the heat belt sanders make. Pretty much the general consensus is take a pass dip your blade and then take a pass on the other side and the finer the grit the less heat. The way I keep my blades I shouldn't ever have to use anything more than an 800 grit. I never let my blades get to bad.

 

[Bacarrat]

Re: knife sharpening

Belt sander should be fine. That is how most factory knives are sharpened nowadays. Another good method is the paper wheel. Everyone that I have read or know that uses it, says they won't go back to any other method of sharpening.

 

[Mr_Brass]

Re: knife sharpening

hmmmm never heard of a paper wheel. But I have always used a stone set sooooo..

 

[MBass300]

Re: knife sharpening

The belt grinder is one way to go, but it's expensive and if you're not really careful, it's easy to screw up a good knife.
It's also difficult to travel with.
I have a couple grinders I use for making knives, but all my sharpening is done on the Lansky Deluxe Sharpening System.
Easy to use, comes in a convenient case, relatively inexpensive, and does a great job keeping all my knives shaving sharp.

 

[Derrick300]

Re: knife sharpening

I use a Spyderco Sharpmaker working good for me for 12 years.

 

[Mr_Brass]

Re: knife sharpening

thanks for the reply's guys. I already have a few people wanting me to get their knives when I am good enough so I'm just going to get the belt sander and go for it. seeing as money is a little tight right now so I can't get the edge pro. also I had seen a thing somewhere saying that the edge pro doesn't do good for tanto blades.

 

[Bacarrat]

Re: knife sharpening

I have a Edgepro and have done a couple of my tantos. Should be simple as Tantos are pretty much straight, no curves. The one I can't figure out how to do is some of the compound curves with the Edgepro.

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: knife sharpening

Treat a knife as a sword, POLISH it with the stones, start AT 1200, work up to 20,000 grit.

You won't find a knife nearly as sharp as my Katana, because it was polished, not sharpened...

It's a skill I don't have time or patience for but I love the results.

IT can cost you about $1200 to get a sword polished, I think it's like $50 an inch or something.

Probably not a good idea if your blade is not differentially tempered tho...

 

[phillik747]

Re: knife sharpening

Look up Murray Carter. He has sharpened knifes with a cinder block and newspaper. It works, not the preferred way but it will get an edge on it. Using butcher paper or news paper will put a nice final edge on a blade. That is how I finish my chisels.
http://www.cartercutlery.com/

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[-=boone=-]

Re: knife sharpening

Japanese wet stones...

 

[Mr_Brass]

Re: knife sharpening

so should i not get a belt sander?

 

[snewhouse]

Re: knife sharpening

I used japanese whetstones..

800 grit for nicks to remove if needed
1200 to start
6000 to finish
best system i have ever used

 

[Scottso]

Re: knife sharpening

Arkansas Stones, or edge pro, tantos are a dream to sharpen, remember, you don't wait for a blade to get so dull it's damgerous. Just very fine stropping once and awhile keeps blade scary sharp and proper way to maintain a blade. Sharpen well, then use ceramic rod when needs touching up, Now Karambits are tricky to sharpen!!lol

 

[marduk185]

Re: knife sharpening

arkansas stone. the reason it was hard to get your edge back was that the edge wore back a bit and you havent kept the angle correct. sharpness is all about correct angle, good temper steel, and good fine grade of wetstone which yes should give a polished finish. never use a sander. heat kills good blades.

 

[Mr_Brass]

Re: knife sharpening

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: marduk185</div><div class="ubbcode-body">arkansas stone. the reason it was hard to get your edge back was that the edge wore back a bit and you havent kept the angle correct. sharpness is all about correct angle, good temper steel, and good fine grade of wetstone which yes should give a polished finish. never use a sander. heat kills good blades. </div></div>

I'm working on that angle thing... just can't seem to get that damn recon 1 sharp again my GI tanto on the other hand... huh its to sharp for what i use it for. Really bites the trees now though.

 

[Oguruma]

Re: knife sharpening

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: usmc80</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I used japanese whetstones..

800 grit for nicks to remove if needed
1200 to start
6000 to finish
best system i have ever used </div></div>

What brand did you use, if you don't mind me asking? I have been meaning to add a set to my collection.

 

[pepperbelly]

Re: knife sharpening

I remember reading about the Scary Sharp system a few years ago. I haven't tried it- I just use a diamond hone for my pocket knives, but it looks interesting.


http://dans-woodshop.blogspot.com/2009/01/sharpening-with-scary-sharp.html

I also use a Lansky system that allows me to keep the proper abgle, but it's slower than just running it over the diamond hone. That usually only takes a couple of passes to put a working edge on the blade. It isn't as sharp as I would want a skinning knife for example, but it puts a slightly rough edge on it for general use.

Jim