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Comment by Jan Carter on January 1, 2016 at 11:08

Some things are just too good to not share.  On sale on EBay at this time

Comment by Stephen L. Corley on December 31, 2015 at 14:08

https://youtu.be/Duwt8oMZRaA 

Try this method. It works. I was having problems getting knives sharp off Arkansas stones. After finding this video, my knives were scary sharp. When I purchased my Sharpton stones I used the same method and got the same good results. I have learned to adjust technique depending on the blade shape. 

A lot of free hand sharpening is muscle memory, holding your knife at the same angle from start to finish. 

Comment by J.J. Smith III on December 31, 2015 at 13:13

John,

I use the diasharp cards.  Size of a credit card, so I can have a set that doesn't take up much room.  Like Howard said, though, it takes practice.

Comment by Howard P Reynolds on December 31, 2015 at 12:37

John,

The hardest thing is maintaining a sharpening angle free hand, especially when you switch hands for the sharpening stroke on the other side of the blade, or you turn the knife over in the same hand to sharpen the other side.  I prefer free-hand sharpening because there is less equipment involved (like using one of those "systems" such as a Lansky).  So, I purchased a dial angle finder that I lean against the blade to get the angle I want.  The stroke is still free hand, and there is still the chance of error, but since you can check the angle at the beginning of each stroke there is less chance of error.  Plus, the ole hand/eye coordination kicks in and your hands/wrists begin to have "memory" of how the knife should look at a particular angle.  Takes a while.

I might get a Work Sharp, though.  Sharpening knives for family and friends takes a long time free-hand on bench stones due to the nicks and gouges I see by the time they give the knives to me to sharpen.  I would still finish the blades free-hand because I have some nice stones that put a keen edge on blades.  

So yeah, a "power" sharpener like the Work Sharp would be acceptable.  The problem I see with it is getting used to what grit to use.  It will take some practice on throw-away knives because even a moderate grit will take a lot of steel off in a hurry.  Plus, getting some of the grit off the new belts is advisable to help prevent ruining a good blade by taking off too much steel before the belt is broken in.

Comment by john garcia on December 31, 2015 at 3:04

Stephen, thank you for the reply, even tonite i tried for about three hours freehand and no luck! I do a little better with carbon steel and a sheepsfoot blade than i do with stainless and curved blades. Carbon meaning 1095,boker c75 and case cv my stainless 440a and 420hc. I have a boker congress with d2 i wont even try that one.

Comment by Stephen L. Corley on December 31, 2015 at 1:43

I have a WorkSharp. They do work and should work on a knife of any size. Don't give up on free hand sharpening. Have you watched youtube videos on knife sharpening? If so, which ones?

Comment by john garcia on December 31, 2015 at 0:09

Hello all, was just wondering if anyone has used a work sharp to get a small pocket knife sharp enough to whittle? A knife like a stockman or a congress. I am just having a very tough time getting my knives sharp. Tried it all dmt dimond stones, sand paper, arkensa stones,ceramic. I just dont have the talant but dont want to ruin my good knives with an electric machine. Thanks for any ideas.

Comment by Jan Carter on February 26, 2015 at 18:30

LOL, The Russians didn't eat peas off their knives did they?

Comment by Ron Cooper on February 21, 2015 at 14:41

Jan,

That's a really great link that you posted - the one from Gun Digest. A wealth of useful information. Thanks for posting it. I'm sure that I will reference it many times in the future.

And, you're right...There are some great pictures, too!

Comment by Jan Carter on February 21, 2015 at 14:13

Found this article form Gun Digest, thought it was pretty good with some great photos 

http://www.gundigest.com/wp-content/uploads/USN-Sharpen-a-Knife-and...

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