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Comment by Jack Haskins, Jr. on February 16, 2014 at 8:38

Here are a couple of pictures of an edge I profiled last night using the lift handle free hand method.  The important things (to me) is the consistency of the bevel width all the way around the belly.  Also the flatness of the bevel.  The more consistent the angle the flatter the bevel will be.  No one can keep the angle as consistent free hand as you can get with an EP or other "system".  Nothing wrong with a convex edge though. :)

Comment by Jack Haskins, Jr. on February 16, 2014 at 8:32

In the previous post I didn't mention KEEPING THE WRIST LOCKED TO KEEP THE ANGLE THE SAME.  The angle is changed by twisting the knife handle raising or lowering the spine until you have the angle you want.

Comment by Jack Haskins, Jr. on February 16, 2014 at 8:30

Here is a video I made a couple of weeks ago demonstrating how to stroke a knfe edge along the stone while maintaining a consistent edge angle.  Of course the consistency is based on the amount of control the sharpener has. More practice results in more consistency.  To sharpen the other side of the edge I would hold the knife in my right hand.  I had to change my method because for many years I only held the knife in my right hand because I was right handed.  I would also stroke from tip to heel when going up the stone, flip the blade and stroke heel to tip when coming back down.  Since everything was reversed I couldn't SEE the angle the same for each side.  I always wondered why on one side of the edge the bevel was much wider near the tip while on the other side of the edge the bevel was different.  So, when trying to perfect (as much as possible) my sharpening I decided to change whatever I needed or wanted to to get better.  Instead of changing old habits which may have been good or bad I listened to someone else who had more experience than I did and based on pictures of his edges was a MUCH more skilled sharpener.  Anyway, here is a short video of the free hand stroke I now use.  It's not the only method and I'll post another video of another method in a minute.  But this is my favorite of the two.

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Comment by Jack Haskins, Jr. on February 15, 2014 at 18:56

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?62348-Sharpening-free...

Above

is

a

thread I posted on the Spyderco forum.  It shows two stroke methods.  I prefer the "lift handle" method but both are great.  My major point in all this is that having a specified stroke plan is the key.  Not just stroking until you feel comfortable.  What if you have become comfortable with a bad habit but don't know it's a bad habit or why it is bad or not as good as something else.  I suggest start with a basic stroke then adapt that method to the different type blades you have or whatever you prefer.  Just start with a known working very basic method.  Hope this helps.

Comment by Steve Scheuerman (Manx) on February 15, 2014 at 17:56

Benjamin...try looking into a sharpening system like the Edge Pro. Makes keeping your angles alot easier. I had incredible results right out of the box.

Comment by Benjamin Black on February 15, 2014 at 17:44

I had trouble following and picturing your instructions Jack, but it does make me nervous to try sharpening.  I don't want to ruin my blades.  Is there a good youtube video that might help those of us who need some help visualizing this process?

Comment by Jack Haskins, Jr. on February 15, 2014 at 15:40

If you didn't want to read my comments check out this if you want to discuss how to improve from someone who does know how to sharpen. I talked to him on the phone for a while and he cleared up several things for me. It's so much easier to discuss this stuff on the phone or in person than on a forum. Not knocking forums, I love them. You know what I mean though.

THE FIRST SHARPENING". The author's forum name is knifenut2013. If your are even the slightest bit interested in what I've written I suggest you start reading this thread. Get coffee, it's a long one because of all the other people's (including me) comments. Also, check out this guy's youtube videos.

Comment by Jack Haskins, Jr. on February 15, 2014 at 15:37

Part 3 and last of my initial comment.

I've been sharpening my pocket knives since I was 10 or 12 when Dad showed me how. Here is his entire sharpening lesson. Stroke the blade up and back (one handed flipping the blade) until you get a burr on one side. Then put the burr side on the stone and do one or two very light strokes to remove the burr. Now your knife is sharp. THAT WAS IT. And truthfully, that's all that is really needed if you need a pocket knife that will open your mail, open a box, etc. So for 20-30 years this is what I did. I was stroking and flipping the blade across stones not really understanding or "getting it". Three or four years ago I started trying to increase my ability. Still, until about 6 months ago I still hadn't seen or heard any SPECIFIC steps on how to maintain a consistent angle. Then I came across a forum thread on bladeforums.com titled "THE FIRST SHARPENING". The author's forum name is knifenut2013. If your are even the slightest bit interested in what I've written I suggest you start reading this thread. Get coffee, it's a long one because of all the other people's (including me) comments. Also, check out this guy's youtube videos.

I'm going to finish with this statement. Since I developed a very specific series of steps to perform I am probably 10 times as accurate when sharpening a knife free hand. It's not like you won't need to practice, you will. Use some cheap knives so you don't need to worry about sharpening and practicing your knife blades away. :) Especially your favorite knives you may have paid a gob of money for.

If you have any questions please ask. But don't forget to check out the thread on BF.com.

Good luck. It's so much more fun when you actually have a plan and when you see much faster improvement in your results. One more thing. CHECK OUT KNIFENUT2013's thread. Oh, I already said that.

Jack

Comment by Jack Haskins, Jr. on February 15, 2014 at 15:36

My previous continued.

6. Now, let's go to the next part. This time when your knife is in the starting position start pushing (stroking) the edge away from you along the stone. After the edge has moved about 1/4" or so start lifting your hand EXACTLY AS YOU DID BEFORE. What is the most important thing??? KEEP YOUR WRIST LOCKED SO YOU DON'T TWIST THE KNIFE HANDLE. As you are stroking keep the knife blade at a 90 degree angle (perpendicular) with the stone. Repeat: KEEP THE BLADE PERPINDICULAR WITH THE STONE. When your blade reaches the far end of the stone your hand should be high enough for the tip to be touching the stone with your hand up high. When the tip touches the stone stop but don't remove the edge from the stone. Then start bring the blade back down the stone while LOWERING your hand slowly. When the knife gets back to the beginning of the stone the handle should be down so the straight part of the edge is on the stone. You are now at the starting point again and you have not picked the blade up off the stone AT ALL.

RESULT:
You have just performed one stroke (up and back) and if you haven't twisted your wrist and if you lifted your hand straight up and if you kept the blade at a 90 degree angle with the stone YOU HAVE KEPT THE ANGLE THE SAME FROM ONE END OF THE EDGE TO THE OTHER (heel to tip).

NOW DO IT AGAIN. Do it again several times. Get the feel of going up and down the stone while maintaining a consistent angle. Depending on the length of the blade you may be able to start the stroke at the heel and go all the way to the tip at the top end of the stone in one motion. With longer blades I cover a portion of the edge up and back then do a next section then another until I reach the tip. Do this part however is comfortable for you.

NOW, FLIP THE BLADE OVER, HOLD THE HANDLE WITH YOUR OTHER HAND AND DO THE EXACT SAME THING WITH THE HANDLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STONE. If you are not used to using your other hand when sharpening I know how you feel. But, when always stroking away from you, you can see how far the spine is off the stone. The distance between stone and spine needs to be the same to put the same angle on both sides of the edge. I forced myself to learn to stroke the knife with my other hand. If you don't want to do this it's fine as long as to sharpen the other side of the edge you have a way to maintain a consistent angle. Personally, I think it's better in the long run to learn to use your other hand so the entire process is the same except for using a different hand. My left hand got used to it pretty quickly and I think your will too. That is unless you already use both hands.

You may need to read these directions a few times or read them as you learn the stroke so I suggest you print them.

Comment by Jack Haskins, Jr. on February 15, 2014 at 15:35

Peter, David and anyone else interested in how to maintain a consistent angle when sharpening here is one method.  It works.  Your technique may need to change but if you think you need improvement here is one way.  I learned this about 6 months ago. It works.  I have a very specific plan when I start for every single movement I make during one stroke.  Then I repeat.  Please take your time if you read this and try it.

1. Get a knife with a blade length 3" or less that has some belly (curve). NOT a wharncliff blade.

2. Put your stone in front of you.

3. Lay your knife blade ON IT'S SIDE on your stone at a 90 degree angle with the stone. Make sure the tip of the blade is ON THE STONE, not extended past that side of the stone.

4. Now, using your wrist spin the knife handle so the spine lifts off the stone so the spine is off the stone about the distance of two quarters stacked on top of each other. This is just an estimate. The actual angle you get now is not important. What you are going to do is learn how to maintain the same angle throughout one complete stroke from the heel of the edge (at the handle) all the way to the tip of the blade.

5. Now that you have the blade sitting on the stone (NOT MOVING) I want you to do one thing only. KEEP YOUR WRIST LOCKED and LIFT THE KNIFE HANDLE UP VERY SLOWLY while watching the contact point of the blade edge with the stone. As you slowly lift your hand you can watch the contact point move along the edge, around the belly and all the way to the tip. When the tip JUST TOUCHES THE EDGE stop lifting your hand. Now you are not moving again and you should be looking at your knife blade with the tip touching the stone at the same angle it was when you started lifting your hand IF YOU KEPT YOUR WRIST LOCKED. Any twisting of the knife handle changes the edge angle you are trying to keep the same and consistent. DO NOT TWIST THE KNIFE HANDLE AS YOU LIFT YOUR HAND.

Now, do this lifting your hand until the tip reaches the stone and then lower your hand until the straight part of the edge is on the stone again. Or, if the edge has no straight area or is too long just lower your hand until the edge is touching the other side of the stone. Keep lifting and lowering your hand over and over until you have that motion down and it feels comfortable. This is how to maintain a consistent edge angle throughout one stroke.

I need another comment. I created this in Word and it is too long for one comment on this forum.

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