Hair whittling sharp

Lately I've been practicing on stropping my knives. Today I showed a coworker how sharp I was able to sharpen my EDC endura. The knife has been through hell and back, no point, carried daily for 5+ years. I cut some thin paper receipts and shaved the little hair I have on my arms. When I got home I stropped it again and stole a piece if hair from the wife's head. It was sharp enough to whittle hair!

Remember a dull knife is a dangerous knife.

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l1...pshukgqbxd.jpg

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l1...psugvnjbk8.jpg

This is a basic skill that I SHoULD have but do not. I need to get smart on this stuff.






EDIT: I can't seem to get a Lansky set to work right.

Have the lansky mainly to re profile the edge. I use the sharpmaker to sharper and then stropp

^^^ I totally agree with you. I need to learn this skill ASAP, cause I have a lot of knives and I don't want to send them out to have it done.

Been trying all my life to get knives truly sharp, with no success. Just sharp enough to cut my fingers.

Great skill to have. Grandpa learned me good on this. I regularly strop my blade. No set schedule, but I'd say at least once every two weeks or so. I constantly have a smooth spot on the back of my left hand where I test it. If it takes the hair and doesn't pull, then I've done my job well. After several decades, it becomes second nature I guess.


(just reread what I wrote and laughed at the unintended innuendo. "Strop my blade" HA)

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Originally Posted by lex137

^^^ I totally agree with you. I need to learn this skill ASAP, cause I have a lot of knives and I don't want to send them out to have it done.

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THIS, because somehow I just feel like it be some sort of primal skill. It really is what separates us from animals, we invented tools we should be able to maintain them.

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Originally Posted by kwando

Have the lansky mainly to re profile the edge. I use the sharpmaker to sharper and then stropp

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My grandfather swore by the sharpmaker, I just couldn't remember the brand or name of it, thanks I added to my wish list. What strop do you use, just a straight razor one?

Love the sharp maker, recently I got a larger wooden setup with 18" ceramic and fine rods that's great for larger knifes. The trick to me is to make the last few passes very very lightly with just a touch more angle to the blade.

i still have a hard time getting my benchmade with d2 steel touched up, but once I'm done, it stays sharp for a while.

I am no expert by any means. This is my only strop and it has good reviews on the knife forums. It comes preloaded and was only $20.

http://www.knivesplus.com/KP-STROP8-STROPBLOCK.html


I've use the sharpmaker in the past with ok results, but my technique was off. I would pull the blade off the stone as a result rounding the tip. It also helps me to have the sharpmaker at waist level with my thumb on top as a reference so i know the blade is straight up.

I would like to try a strop block out.

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Originally Posted by lex137

I would like to try a strop block out.

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Me too I've just been getting into sharpining I run the knife up and down the underside of my belt it's ghetto but does polish up the edge past what my stone can do on its own

OP could you take pics the next time you sharpen?

How long does your edge last?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MHe_8wTHmg

I followed this guys technique AFTER i used my lansky to reprofile the edge.

I did use it to cut open some boxes yesterday, so i probably need to touch it up again.

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Originally Posted by kwando

Have the lansky mainly to re profile the edge. I use the sharpmaker to sharper and then stropp

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Consider getting a coarse grit Lansky coarse stone kit. Knock off the stone, adhere a piece of leather to stone holder in place of the coarse stone. The leather should be thinner, setting up a slightly steeper angle.

I made a strop for my Edge Pro, blank aluminum/leather. 1-1.5 degree steeper angle then the stones is the ticket.

Bought the leather here. http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/200...ip-Makers.aspx