I have a pretty dull Gerber Mini Paraframe knife with a 2.25" blade. Its surgical stainless steel. I've been trying to sharpen it with a diamond rod, but I can't get it very sharp. Any suggestions?
@hunter35474 You can do what I show in the video but start at a coarser grit and work up to the fine stuff if it is really dull.400,600,800,1000,should get a decent edge.You may be having problems with the factory edge being too thick and the diamond rod isn't actually hitting the edge. If so, you need to thin it out for better cutting performance. draw on the edge with a sharpie and make sure all of it gets removed by the sharpener. That is a easy way to make sure you hit the edge.
Thank you for the video, I'm impressed with the sharpness. I'm beginning to learn how to sharpen knifes.., and most of the videos I watched sharpen the knife by drawing the blade towards you, but you seems to have great results too by drawing in away from you. What's you take on this?
I read an article on sharpening a convex knife grinds linked on Wikipedia. I could swear I read when you sharpen a convex edge from dull, you have to repolish the entire knife because in order to sharpen because you have to run the entire blade over the sand paper to get to the edge properly. The article stressed how important stropping was to do this as little as possable. I didn't see that in this video. Is the article wrong or did I read it wrong. A reply would be much appreciated :D
Over time, if the knife was held at too steep an angle it will change the geometry so it is important to keep to the same angle as the edge but I don't feel it is necessary to go over the whole side of the knife. Hitting the edge correctly will keep the original shape well enough without all the extra work of going all the way up to the spine.
How do you load your strop? Do you use heat, mineral oil or just paint it on? I am using the white Bark River compound and it seems to be stubborn in this regard. Sorry if you already answered this, but I'm too lazy to read through 7 pages of comments :p Thanks again for taking time to post your helpful vids.
By the way, How do you field sharpen a convex knife, any tips? I´m planning to make a smaller two sided leather strope to be carried in my backpack for this purpose since the small two sided diamond sharpener that I carry makes that nasty V-edge and ruins the convex. Though it works perfect for field sharpening my Spyderco knives. Or do you consider eg. ceramic rod would work as well? Field sharpening is a very important for me when skinning moose on the field
I also hunt moose so I know what you mean about needing to sharpen in the field. I have carried small strips of sandpaper with me but last year I accidentally left them at camp. What I ended up using was a honing steel borrowed from one of the guys I hunt with. The steel is fine enough that it doesn't mess up the convex edge and worked well for a quick touch up. I did a proper sharpening when I got back to camp. This year I think I'll keep a steel in my pack with some sandpaper
@NechakoRiver As a matter of fact my field diamond sharpener has also honing steel on one side which I have been using succesfully for touch up to get the knives shaving sharp even my Buck Vantage Pro S30V steel, but haven´t yet tried it to convex edge. I guess I´ll add some sandpaper in my pack for Fallkniven F1. I have all kinds of sharpener sets like Lansky Pro,Schrade dura edge and advant edge, but simple diamondsharpener with honing steel seems to do the trick best and fastest for me.
I find the same thing with those sharpener guides, handheld is the way to go. My Spyderco sharpmaker only gets used as just the plain ceramic rods now. The guide part just gets in the way.
And for convex knives in the field, a little sandpaper rested on my knee works just fine. :)
Hi! Thanks for the great vid! I have also the Fallkniven F1 and had been sharpening it to V-grind. Then I bought green,black and white stropping compound and used it together with leather and wet sandpapers 320 to 1000grit and got that perfect shaving sharp convex edge back which is also more durable with Fallkniven VG-10 steel. What´s the point of buying a convex edged knife if not sharpening it to convex, right?
Glad to hear you switched to the proper convex sharpening style. I know a few people that put a V edge on their convex knives but as you said, I don't see the point of doing that to a convex blade.
When I use a stone, I draw the knife edge first across the stone rather than the drawing away motion I use in this video.
In my experience, any steel can get sharp but the higher quality ones will hold an edge much longer. Any good quality knife will be able to get shaving sharp.
I've started sharpening my hunting knives they are very dull. I have the dmt aligned kit but still can't get razor sharp. I've been using 1200 grit paper but was using too much pressure so great comment there. This looks simple but I'm realizing it's a bit of art sharpening knives.
Sorry if i'm repeating Tramsootru but, what are the differences with the "compounds" of the stone, like, what do they do differently and what is their purpose? - Please Reply, I just don't want the possibility of screwing a knife up...
The coloured compounds are like grits in sandpaper. Black is a slightly coarser faster compound and green is finer. There are other colours of compound but green and black are the most common ones used on knives.
A strop and compound is the final step to refine the edge on a knife. They will take that just shaving sharp edge and make it send hairs flying. The finer you go, the finer the finish on your knife. Green is a good choice and will put a nice mirror finish on the blade.
KnivesShipFree sells a good combo pack that has the coarser black compound with the finer green. Lee Valley also sells the green one under the name of honing compound.
I have never been great at sharpening a knife. I've tried every kind of stone, water, dry - you name it and I've have always used the proper angle. Your little note "just let the weight of the blade do the work..." and that made all the difference.
holy crap dude...can this method be used on a henckels chef's knife or on a damascus steel japanese knife? I'm a cook in a kitchen and it takes much longer to get our knives that sharp
Yep, it can be used on any knife. Our Henckels are done this way.
You may need to thin out the shoulder on the edge to get it really sharp. I had to do this on mine. Start with a coarser sandpaper and work up to the fine stuff. Remember to not use too steep of an angle as it won't cut as well when you are done. It may take some time and practice, but once you get it the results are worth it. :)
normally on my 300/1000 stone I start with an angle that is equivalent to resting the spine on the edge of two coin... what do you mean by "shoulder on the edge"...i'm not sure what part of the knife that describes...
I'm going to try the sandpaper idea on a boning knife I have that I don't really use. I'll let you know how it goes
I mean the part where the edge transitions to the side of the blade. If you look at V shaped edge the shoulder is at the two sides of the V.
A true convex knife has no shoulder and the edge is just one smooth contour from the spine. When sharpening a V ground knife this way, if the edge and shoulder are too thick it won't cut well. You may need to thin it out and then it will cut well.
If you google "convex sharpening" you will find an article by Reid Hyken that may be of help.
I found the article by Reid Hyken. Good stuff. I think you were right about thining out the shoulder...I created a convex edge on my boning knife but now it looks all weird because the edge is convex but its really sharp.
I change the sandpaper when I notice it stops cutting well and it is taking too long. I still keep a few used sheets around because even though it may not work for sharpening a really dull knife it is still good for a quick touch up on one that isn't too bad.
@NechakoRiver Nice video man. I was wondering.. Are sheets of sandpaper just as effective as Japanese Water stones? I've recently bought a few knives and I'm looking to get a razor sharp edge on them, enough to shave the hair off my arm. What grit sandpapers are most effective? And where can I buy a strop? Thanks.
Sandpaper is just as effective but the reason I use it is because with a convex ground knife you need a soft surface to maintain the shape.
What git you use depends on how dull the knife is. If it is pretty dull start out with something coarser and work up to the fine stuff like 2000.
Look at KnivesShipFree for very nice Bark River strops or Lee Valley for a cheaper one. You can also improvise with a leather belt laid flat on a table or the cardboard found on the back of a notepad.
Thanks for the tips. I got the 2000 grit paper at Orileys Auto parts and mothers polish to use on an old belt. I will buy better stuff I just wanted to try what you did. Made a huge difference in my blades. Thanks again.
Good job, I always like to hear from people that have had this work for them.
Don't worry too much about not having a real strop because an old belt works just as well. :)
One thing to get for If you have some really dull knives is a few sheets of coarser sandpaper to speed up the sharpening process. Let me know if you ever have any questions.
The reason that happened was because of the rounded edge on the desk was getting in the way of my fingers. I normally use a table that has a square edge so I don't have that happen. I made the video as a rough demo for beginners and my normal setup is a bit different.
I have heard that many times but I use my knives to gut moose, clean fish, cut firewood and open boxes without noticing much dulling. A little bit of paper doesn't worry me. :)
I own an mk3 Navy seal standard issue dive knife. This was a gift from my brother over three years ago and in those three years i constantly threw the blade and cut things like smalls trees down with it. No the edge is so dull it cannot cut paper at all! I have tried using a small whetstone and oil before. But after over 200 strokes to each side of the edge and several different techniques I have found no help. So will Your scenario help my situation? If so were can I buy the materials?
Yep, you can sharpen any knife this way. For a really dull knife I would start with a coarse grit sandpaper and work up to the finer stuff. 320, 400, 600, 1000, 1500 and 2000. Any autobody store will have fine sandpaper.
Remember to not use much pressure and don't use too steep an angle. You want to thin out the edge and put a good cutting profile on it. Too steep and it will stay dull.
Good luck and let me know if you need more help. :)
Both are made by Bark River, the larger one is a Fox River and the small one is the Blackwater Boot knife.
For more info, you can check out the Bark River forum on KnifeForums. KnivesShipFree has lots of Bark River knives in stock so they are another good place to check out too.
I don't know about that, if it had a burr I would have problems with edge retention and sharpness. The edge has held up very well on that knife with no indication that it has a wire edge or burr.
I use the sandpaper until I feel it isn't working as well as it used to. Even after it is well worn I still use it for times when I don't need a coarse grit so it does last a while.
Yes, you can sharpen any knife this way. I do all our kitchen knives like this and it works well. :)
Do you have any videos on how to sharpen a concave edge? I have a couple of knives that I can't put to a stone because of their shape, and I want to put a better edge on them. Any advice would be appreciated.
To do a quick touch up just follow the video. If the edge is really dull or thick and needs to be thinned out to improve cutting performance you will want to start with coarser sandpaper and work up to the finer grits.
I feel that that if a knife is not able to cut paper cleanly or shave, it is a dull knife. The video is just a demonstration so people can learn how to sharpen a convex knife. If your knife is duller than mine just start with a coarser grit sandpaper and use the same technique.
this video drives me crazy! The knife you called dull STARTED sharper than I can get ANY knife! I Don't understand at all. I am a capable guy and AM holding the same angle!!
im kinda new to sharpening knifes. So what does a strop do? Can i just use a leather belt, i also read that you can use cardboard and newspaper. And is their a special kind of brand sandpaper or can i just use sandpaper that i use for wood? What should be donnas first stropping or sand paper first?
A strop is used to polish and refine the edge. A belt can be used but you need to lay it flat on a table. Cardboard will also give the same basic result. You need finer sandpaper than regular hardware store stuff. A store that sells auto body supplies will have fine grade sandpaper. If your knife is really dull, start with something around 800 grit or a bit coarser and work your way up to finer grades. Just copy what I do in the video and remember to not use too much pressure.
The metal polish and glass would probably hone the edge just fine but for a convex blade you need a soft surface like leather to maintain the convex shape.
I have a friend who makes knifes his name is Chuck Garlitz a cousin of big daddy Don Garltz. Well Chuck and i have made a few knifes together and i remember him calling a very fine sanding belt a micro-lam and man o man could you put an edge on a knife with it. it was also used to first pass polish a knife then buffed to a brilliant shine. thanks for a very informative video i learned some stuff
an easy tip for some if you dont have a leather strop you can do what i do and that is use a piece of corrugated cardboard. for the first stropping then i go to solid paste board then to paper. and it works i guarantee it. oh by the way a good instructional video. also is 10,000 grit sand paper also called trilam or am i mistaken ?
i dont like to get my blades too sharp because it seems like the edge it more likely to get damaged by hard use .... it could just be me thought...... not tryin to start a youtube war
A very sharp knife can hold an edge. Edge retention has more to do with how thinly the edge is ground than actual edge sharpness. A very thinly ground edge will slice well but is more prone to damage. A well ground and sharpened edge will slice well but will also have no problems holding an edge under hard use. :)
i would rather have a convex edge because razor edges arent that good to me because one of my buddies has a old skinning knife and it cut him when he barely touched it
Start again with some coarser sandpaper to speed up the process and work up to the fine stuff to bring back the edge. Make sure to not use any pressure or start to flip the knife over before you lift it off the sandpaper or strop.
Yep, I sharpen all my knives this way. A flat ground blade is a good one to convex as smoothing out the final bevel on the edge will improve how it cuts.
I got all the grits of sandpaper today at pepboys and went through all the stages starting at 320, then 400, 600, 1000, 1500, and 2000. Got it sharp enough to take my hair off my arm and slice paper. I think it could be sharper but it seems like convex grinds probably won't get as sharp as scandi grinds but people say they are a stronger edge that lasts longer so we will see. Thanks again for all your help.
Glad to hear that you were able to get an edge on it. The final hair splitting sharpness (you can get them sharp enough to actually split a hair) will come with practice and a very light touch on the strop.
Enjoy your knife and if you want to read more about Bark River knives come join in at the Bark River forum on KnifeForums. :)
Where do you purchase the sandpaper above 1000? Is there anywhere online in particular that you use? I am assuming a home depot will only carry up to 320 or so.
My bark river didn't come sharp and when i tried using the strop and bark river compound I think I dulled it even more and now I can't even cut paper with it at all. I might have rolled the edge or put too much pressure on it. I can't figure out how I can get it to bite again nor am I sure on the angle. I read the instructions that came with the mini strop and compound but should i be using sandpaper first if it is really dull and what grit do i need?
Don't worry, it is pretty common to not get it right the first few times. The technique does take some practice but you will get it eventually.
If you Google convex sharpening you will find an article by Reid Hyken that will answer some of your questions. Read through it and see if it helps.
One thing I used to do when I was learning was start to flip the blade over before it was clear of the strop. Doing that will round off the edge and make the knife even duller.
@NechakoRiver lol I was doing that. Thanks for the referral. I was just worried that I permanently damaged the blade. As long as an edge can be put back on I will keep trying.
You have to remove a lot of steel to actually destroy a blade so no worries. The strop can be pretty slow to restore an edge so some 2000 grit would help speed things up without removing too much metal if you get things wrong.
Can you use a Japanese water-stone to sharpen convex blades or are they reserved for Scandinavian grinds? Also, where can I buy the compound and stropping board?
@NechakoRiver Thanks a lot... I really appreciate the help. I just got myself a bark river but it didn't come really sharp and I am nervous about messing it up. Thanks for your video and knowledge.
@NechakoRiver Yeah just one more. If you take your knife out in the bush, are there any portable methods for sharpening a convex blade? Do you just take in a small hand-held strop or can you use one of those diamond/ceramic dual sided Fallkniven dc4 sharpeners?
Yep, you can do this on any knife. No need to use a stone ever again.
If the knife is dull you will need to use some sandpaper to speed up the process. The strop is great to maintain the edge by giving it a quick touch up before it gets too dull.
You could do that no problem. I would keep the belt flat on a table so it doesn't sag down and put too rounded an edge on the knife.
When I'm away hunting I use a piece of scrap cardboard as a strop. You will be surprised at what you can use to strop a knife. Even stropping it on the leg of your pants can help to polish up the edge.
dam this looks easy, but I haven't manage get a shaving sharp knives yet. to maintain the convex edge, you have to do this sweeping up and down motion? So a beveled edge the motion is straight along the sharping stone?
You draw the edge away so it doesn't cut the sandpaper and keeps a nice curve in the paper to keep the smooth convex edge. You can also try starting at the heel of the blade rather than the tip. Some people prefer this way but it can be harder to get the tip sharp.
If you Google convex sharpening you will find a page by Reid Hyken that might be helpful.
@NechakoRiver thank you! the thing that I didn't know before was the tool used to sharpen convex edge has the flexible backing (mousepad etc). I thought it's the same as the normal sharpening stone. It helped much.
Not if you want to maintain the convex edge. The Lansky system will put a beveled edge on the blade and while it is fine for a regular beveled knife it will not be correct for a convex blade. You need the soft surface of the mouse pad and sandpaper to keep the smooth curve of the convex edge.
If you wish to change the edge to a beveled one then go right ahead and don't worry about it.
I don't mean to offend but this method will only create a very thin, weak edge which will easily fold over. Wouldn't it be better to not strop it and leave a stronger cutting edge that will hold?
I have a pretty dull Gerber Mini Paraframe knife with a 2.25" blade. Its surgical stainless steel. I've been trying to sharpen it with a diamond rod, but I can't get it very sharp. Any suggestions?
hunter35474 3 days ago
@hunter35474 You can do what I show in the video but start at a coarser grit and work up to the fine stuff if it is really dull.400,600,800,1000,should get a decent edge.You may be having problems with the factory edge being too thick and the diamond rod isn't actually hitting the edge. If so, you need to thin it out for better cutting performance. draw on the edge with a sharpie and make sure all of it gets removed by the sharpener. That is a easy way to make sure you hit the edge.
NechakoRiver 2 days ago
I have a 440 stainless blades about 3 1/2 some tips please
NATNWC 2 months ago
@NATNWC
If you want a convex edge, do exactly like I do in the video but maybe start with about 600 grit paper and work up to the finer grits.
I have put convex edges on a few 440 steel knives and had great results.
NechakoRiver 2 months ago
the blade is staynless steel or carbon steel???
jackrusselleko 3 months ago
@jackrusselleko
The larger knife is A2 carbon steel and the small one is 12C27 stainless.
NechakoRiver 3 months ago
@NechakoRiver ok thanks
jackrusselleko 3 months ago
could you use 600 grit paper?
MrHehehe24 3 months ago
@MrHehehe24
That will work no problem. I would finish up with something finer if you want a smoother, less toothy edge.
For a dull knife, it is normal to start at around 400 grit and work up to the finer grits. It speeds up the process and gives you a very good edge.
NechakoRiver 3 months ago
The paper test isn't quite the best way to test, for the paper has many imperfections. But shaving is the best, in my opinion.
Skythemime 3 months ago
@Skythemime
True, paper isn't the most consistent but it lets you know if there are any small dents or dull spots because it will catch on them.
Shaving is great for that final tuning and seeing the difference with how hairs pop as the knife gets sharper.
NechakoRiver 3 months ago 3
Thanks for this. i've watched so many vids that tell me how to sharpen, but none really show how to prove if it's dull.
I've be sat here wondering if it's just me being silly or if the knives really are dull. Now i can tell the difference
Psyrexkc 4 months ago
@Psyrexkc
Thanks for the comment.
I find that cutting paper and shaving make pretty good test subjects and help give you a feel for how the edge changes during the sharpening process.
NechakoRiver 4 months ago
But, will it blend?
UltimateHeretic360 4 months ago
Thank you for the video, I'm impressed with the sharpness. I'm beginning to learn how to sharpen knifes.., and most of the videos I watched sharpen the knife by drawing the blade towards you, but you seems to have great results too by drawing in away from you. What's you take on this?
youtubbag 5 months ago
@youtubbag
Thanks, I'm glad you found the video helpful.
I draw the knife this way so it doesn't cut the sandpaper or strop. With a stone or steel you don't have that problem and can go the other way.
NechakoRiver 5 months ago
@NechakoRiver
I see... thanks for the reply dude. Cheers ;)
youtubbag 5 months ago
@NechakoRiver
I see... thanks for the reply dude, cheers ;)
youtubbag 5 months ago
I read an article on sharpening a convex knife grinds linked on Wikipedia. I could swear I read when you sharpen a convex edge from dull, you have to repolish the entire knife because in order to sharpen because you have to run the entire blade over the sand paper to get to the edge properly. The article stressed how important stropping was to do this as little as possable. I didn't see that in this video. Is the article wrong or did I read it wrong. A reply would be much appreciated :D
mojothemigo 5 months ago
@mojothemigo
Over time, if the knife was held at too steep an angle it will change the geometry so it is important to keep to the same angle as the edge but I don't feel it is necessary to go over the whole side of the knife. Hitting the edge correctly will keep the original shape well enough without all the extra work of going all the way up to the spine.
NechakoRiver 5 months ago
@NechakoRiver Thanks for the quick reply, good to know.
mojothemigo 5 months ago
@mojothemigo
No problem!
NechakoRiver 5 months ago
How do you load your strop? Do you use heat, mineral oil or just paint it on? I am using the white Bark River compound and it seems to be stubborn in this regard. Sorry if you already answered this, but I'm too lazy to read through 7 pages of comments :p Thanks again for taking time to post your helpful vids.
donrau 6 months ago
@donrau
Did you see my video about it?
I colour it on like a big crayon with no heat or oil. It is very easy to try to put on too much compound but you only need a very light coating.
NechakoRiver 6 months ago
By the way, How do you field sharpen a convex knife, any tips? I´m planning to make a smaller two sided leather strope to be carried in my backpack for this purpose since the small two sided diamond sharpener that I carry makes that nasty V-edge and ruins the convex. Though it works perfect for field sharpening my Spyderco knives. Or do you consider eg. ceramic rod would work as well? Field sharpening is a very important for me when skinning moose on the field
XtremeLaplander 6 months ago
@XtremeLaplander
I also hunt moose so I know what you mean about needing to sharpen in the field. I have carried small strips of sandpaper with me but last year I accidentally left them at camp. What I ended up using was a honing steel borrowed from one of the guys I hunt with. The steel is fine enough that it doesn't mess up the convex edge and worked well for a quick touch up. I did a proper sharpening when I got back to camp. This year I think I'll keep a steel in my pack with some sandpaper
NechakoRiver 6 months ago
@NechakoRiver As a matter of fact my field diamond sharpener has also honing steel on one side which I have been using succesfully for touch up to get the knives shaving sharp even my Buck Vantage Pro S30V steel, but haven´t yet tried it to convex edge. I guess I´ll add some sandpaper in my pack for Fallkniven F1. I have all kinds of sharpener sets like Lansky Pro,Schrade dura edge and advant edge, but simple diamondsharpener with honing steel seems to do the trick best and fastest for me.
XtremeLaplander 6 months ago
@XtremeLaplander
I find the same thing with those sharpener guides, handheld is the way to go. My Spyderco sharpmaker only gets used as just the plain ceramic rods now. The guide part just gets in the way.
And for convex knives in the field, a little sandpaper rested on my knee works just fine. :)
NechakoRiver 6 months ago
Hi! Thanks for the great vid! I have also the Fallkniven F1 and had been sharpening it to V-grind. Then I bought green,black and white stropping compound and used it together with leather and wet sandpapers 320 to 1000grit and got that perfect shaving sharp convex edge back which is also more durable with Fallkniven VG-10 steel. What´s the point of buying a convex edged knife if not sharpening it to convex, right?
XtremeLaplander 6 months ago
@XtremeLaplander
Glad to hear you switched to the proper convex sharpening style. I know a few people that put a V edge on their convex knives but as you said, I don't see the point of doing that to a convex blade.
NechakoRiver 6 months ago
Hey, so if i'm using a sharpening stone, does the same technique apply? and does the knife material determine how sharp a knife can get?
3vi1Saint 6 months ago
@3vi1Saint
When I use a stone, I draw the knife edge first across the stone rather than the drawing away motion I use in this video.
In my experience, any steel can get sharp but the higher quality ones will hold an edge much longer. Any good quality knife will be able to get shaving sharp.
NechakoRiver 6 months ago
@3vi1Saint If the steel is too soft it won't take a very sharp edge.
75SilentWarrior 6 months ago
It was already sharp to begin with
310shadow310 7 months ago
@310shadow310
It was what I consider a dull knife. If it isn't shaving sharp, then it isn't sharp enough. :)
NechakoRiver 7 months ago 2
@NechakoRiver I see
310shadow310 7 months ago
Why am I sat at 1am watching someone sharpening a knife?
Spadie1 7 months ago 33
@Spadie1 Because it's just that awesome.
MerlinsJester 7 months ago
Great vid.
I've started sharpening my hunting knives they are very dull. I have the dmt aligned kit but still can't get razor sharp. I've been using 1200 grit paper but was using too much pressure so great comment there. This looks simple but I'm realizing it's a bit of art sharpening knives.
Cheers
Allevj30 7 months ago
@Allevj30
Thanks for the comment.
Keep trying and you will get it. There is a bit of an art to it but nothing that can't be figured out. :)
NechakoRiver 7 months ago
Sorry if i'm repeating Tramsootru but, what are the differences with the "compounds" of the stone, like, what do they do differently and what is their purpose? - Please Reply, I just don't want the possibility of screwing a knife up...
Quinnjamin10 7 months ago
@Quinnjamin10
The coloured compounds are like grits in sandpaper. Black is a slightly coarser faster compound and green is finer. There are other colours of compound but green and black are the most common ones used on knives.
A strop and compound is the final step to refine the edge on a knife. They will take that just shaving sharp edge and make it send hairs flying. The finer you go, the finer the finish on your knife. Green is a good choice and will put a nice mirror finish on the blade.
NechakoRiver 7 months ago
hey i m new to this knife topic so i just want to know what exactly is a convex edge??
dude89415 8 months ago in playlist Survival Vids
@dude89415
A convex blade knife has a grind that is one smooth curve from the spine to the edge. There is no short final bevel at the edge.
NechakoRiver 8 months ago
@NechakoRiver Ohk thanks alot
dude89415 8 months ago
@dude89415
No problem.
NechakoRiver 8 months ago
You mention in your video, your strop is loaded with "green compound." Where can I take a look at these different compounds?
I'd like to start sharpening my own knives and am a total newb to it.. ;)
Tramsootru 8 months ago
@Tramsootru
KnivesShipFree sells a good combo pack that has the coarser black compound with the finer green. Lee Valley also sells the green one under the name of honing compound.
NechakoRiver 8 months ago
I have never been great at sharpening a knife. I've tried every kind of stone, water, dry - you name it and I've have always used the proper angle. Your little note "just let the weight of the blade do the work..." and that made all the difference.
backyardsounds 8 months ago
@backyardsounds
Thanks for the feedback, I always like to hear from people that have had this video help them.
NechakoRiver 8 months ago
i can convex the edge of anything with it?
firebeaver39 8 months ago
@firebeaver39
Yep, this will work on any knife.
NechakoRiver 8 months ago
holy crap dude...can this method be used on a henckels chef's knife or on a damascus steel japanese knife? I'm a cook in a kitchen and it takes much longer to get our knives that sharp
truefreedom 8 months ago
@truefreedom
Yep, it can be used on any knife. Our Henckels are done this way.
You may need to thin out the shoulder on the edge to get it really sharp. I had to do this on mine. Start with a coarser sandpaper and work up to the fine stuff. Remember to not use too steep of an angle as it won't cut as well when you are done. It may take some time and practice, but once you get it the results are worth it. :)
NechakoRiver 8 months ago
@NechakoRiver
normally on my 300/1000 stone I start with an angle that is equivalent to resting the spine on the edge of two coin... what do you mean by "shoulder on the edge"...i'm not sure what part of the knife that describes...
I'm going to try the sandpaper idea on a boning knife I have that I don't really use. I'll let you know how it goes
truefreedom 8 months ago
@truefreedom
I mean the part where the edge transitions to the side of the blade. If you look at V shaped edge the shoulder is at the two sides of the V.
A true convex knife has no shoulder and the edge is just one smooth contour from the spine. When sharpening a V ground knife this way, if the edge and shoulder are too thick it won't cut well. You may need to thin it out and then it will cut well.
If you google "convex sharpening" you will find an article by Reid Hyken that may be of help.
NechakoRiver 8 months ago
@NechakoRiver
I found the article by Reid Hyken. Good stuff. I think you were right about thining out the shoulder...I created a convex edge on my boning knife but now it looks all weird because the edge is convex but its really sharp.
How often do you replace your sandpaper?
truefreedom 8 months ago
@truefreedom
Glad to hear it worked for you. :)
I change the sandpaper when I notice it stops cutting well and it is taking too long. I still keep a few used sheets around because even though it may not work for sharpening a really dull knife it is still good for a quick touch up on one that isn't too bad.
NechakoRiver 8 months ago
@NechakoRiver Nice video man. I was wondering.. Are sheets of sandpaper just as effective as Japanese Water stones? I've recently bought a few knives and I'm looking to get a razor sharp edge on them, enough to shave the hair off my arm. What grit sandpapers are most effective? And where can I buy a strop? Thanks.
NYPDCadet 8 months ago
@NYPDCadet
Sandpaper is just as effective but the reason I use it is because with a convex ground knife you need a soft surface to maintain the shape.
What git you use depends on how dull the knife is. If it is pretty dull start out with something coarser and work up to the fine stuff like 2000.
Look at KnivesShipFree for very nice Bark River strops or Lee Valley for a cheaper one. You can also improvise with a leather belt laid flat on a table or the cardboard found on the back of a notepad.
NechakoRiver 8 months ago
Thanks for the tips. I got the 2000 grit paper at Orileys Auto parts and mothers polish to use on an old belt. I will buy better stuff I just wanted to try what you did. Made a huge difference in my blades. Thanks again.
kcliff907 9 months ago
@kcliff907
Good job, I always like to hear from people that have had this work for them.
Don't worry too much about not having a real strop because an old belt works just as well. :)
One thing to get for If you have some really dull knives is a few sheets of coarser sandpaper to speed up the sharpening process. Let me know if you ever have any questions.
NechakoRiver 9 months ago
thats great...but, what steel was it?
w2aiq 9 months ago
@w2aiq
The one I sharpened is A2 and the other one is 12C27.
NechakoRiver 9 months ago
That is not dull thats still pretty sharp before the sharpening
Master8laster 9 months ago
@Master8laster
That is just what I consider to be a a dull knife. If it can't shave, it isn't sharp. :)
NechakoRiver 9 months ago 10
@NechakoRiver you the man homie. lol
if my knives could cut butter after i sharpen them i consider myself a samurai
Master8laster 9 months ago
what happens if you miss a part of the blade while sharpening the knife
joeclapper 9 months ago
@joeclapper
I'm guessing you noticed that in the video. :)
The reason that happened was because of the rounded edge on the desk was getting in the way of my fingers. I normally use a table that has a square edge so I don't have that happen. I made the video as a rough demo for beginners and my normal setup is a bit different.
NechakoRiver 9 months ago
Do you live close to an airport?
1339LARS 9 months ago
@1339LARS
Nope, why do you ask?
NechakoRiver 9 months ago
@NechakoRiver Because of the background noice!!
1339LARS 9 months ago
@1339LARS
That is just from the old camera I used. I made this video a few years ago, and just like most older P&S cameras, mine didn't do video very well.
NechakoRiver 9 months ago
how much does a strop cost?
TRIVIUMrocker123 9 months ago
@TRIVIUMrocker123
IIRC, they are about $30 to $40 dollars.
KnivesShipFree has some nice ones that are made by Bark River. Mine came from Lee Valley.
NechakoRiver 9 months ago
@TRIVIUMrocker123 you can use the edge of cardboard, which is cheap.
kingmigget 9 months ago
@kingmigget do you mind explaining?
TRIVIUMrocker123 9 months ago
@TRIVIUMrocker123
Cardboard can work as an improvised strop. Use it the same way I use the leather strop in the video.
The cardboard on the back of a notepad works well but I find it takes a bit longer than using a leather strop and compound.
You can also put sharpening compound on the cardboard to speed up the process.
NechakoRiver 9 months ago
0:42 you need to re-sharpen! paper dulls it on contact.
Bowslayer95 9 months ago
@Bowslayer95
I have heard that many times but I use my knives to gut moose, clean fish, cut firewood and open boxes without noticing much dulling. A little bit of paper doesn't worry me. :)
NechakoRiver 9 months ago
@NechakoRiver I happen to have an Ozark trail camping knife and it does good on whitetails, Rabbit etc.
Bowslayer95 9 months ago
That was very useful, thanks!
I'll be buying a Fallkniven F1 or S1 soon, so it's good to know they won't be a pain to sharpen.
Tigerchan2 10 months ago
@Tigerchan2
No problem, thanks for the feedback. :)
Enjoy your new knife!
NechakoRiver 10 months ago
I own an mk3 Navy seal standard issue dive knife. This was a gift from my brother over three years ago and in those three years i constantly threw the blade and cut things like smalls trees down with it. No the edge is so dull it cannot cut paper at all! I have tried using a small whetstone and oil before. But after over 200 strokes to each side of the edge and several different techniques I have found no help. So will Your scenario help my situation? If so were can I buy the materials?
wakkagonemad 10 months ago
@wakkagonemad
Yep, you can sharpen any knife this way. For a really dull knife I would start with a coarse grit sandpaper and work up to the finer stuff. 320, 400, 600, 1000, 1500 and 2000. Any autobody store will have fine sandpaper.
Remember to not use much pressure and don't use too steep an angle. You want to thin out the edge and put a good cutting profile on it. Too steep and it will stay dull.
Good luck and let me know if you need more help. :)
NechakoRiver 10 months ago
what was the name of both your knifes? I just bought a fallkniven f1 with a convex grind, so thanks for the video!
revolutionarybaby 10 months ago
@revolutionarybaby
Both are made by Bark River, the larger one is a Fox River and the small one is the Blackwater Boot knife.
For more info, you can check out the Bark River forum on KnifeForums. KnivesShipFree has lots of Bark River knives in stock so they are another good place to check out too.
NechakoRiver 10 months ago
lol my knife is much better
4umalugma 11 months ago
that tearing noise on ur sharp knife is called a burr
wikkem211 11 months ago
@wikkem211
I don't know about that, if it had a burr I would have problems with edge retention and sharpness. The edge has held up very well on that knife with no indication that it has a wire edge or burr.
NechakoRiver 11 months ago
@NechakoRiver The noise it makes while tearing the paper is what tells u about ur edge. Spose I should actually do a video reply
wikkem211 11 months ago
Great Video....need that lesson. Thanks
millsdixon 11 months ago
@millsdixon
Thanks. Glad you liked the video.
NechakoRiver 11 months ago
Hi, Very informative video! thanks.
Few questions:
how many times can I use the same sanding paper?
can I sharpen chef knives with the same technique?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you.
dmanmoka 11 months ago
@dmanmoka
I use the sandpaper until I feel it isn't working as well as it used to. Even after it is well worn I still use it for times when I don't need a coarse grit so it does last a while.
Yes, you can sharpen any knife this way. I do all our kitchen knives like this and it works well. :)
NechakoRiver 11 months ago
@NechakoRiver Thanks for your help ;)
dmanmoka 11 months ago
@dmanmoka
No problem.
NechakoRiver 11 months ago
Do you have any videos on how to sharpen a concave edge? I have a couple of knives that I can't put to a stone because of their shape, and I want to put a better edge on them. Any advice would be appreciated.
JimKuback2009 11 months ago
@JimKuback2009
You can use the same technique on any blade. :)
To do a quick touch up just follow the video. If the edge is really dull or thick and needs to be thinned out to improve cutting performance you will want to start with coarser sandpaper and work up to the finer grits.
NechakoRiver 11 months ago
@NechakoRiver I appreciate the advice. My knives are now ridiculously sharp. Thanks!
JimKuback2009 10 months ago
@JimKuback2009
Good to hear, I'm glad I was able to help! :)
NechakoRiver 10 months ago
i didnt know it took effort to cut paper?
wray0616 1 year ago
@wray0616
The resistance you feel while cutting is a good way to see the small changes in the edge as the knife gets sharper.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
@NechakoRiver gotcha.. i was like "lol what a panzy he thinks it hard to cut paper?"
wray0616 1 year ago
i love how this guy says to show you how dull it is...its only almost shaving sharp
alwaysmrknifeguy 1 year ago
@alwaysmrknifeguy
I feel that that if a knife is not able to cut paper cleanly or shave, it is a dull knife. The video is just a demonstration so people can learn how to sharpen a convex knife. If your knife is duller than mine just start with a coarser grit sandpaper and use the same technique.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
what was the name of these knives? didn't quite catch it.
johnvsbev 1 year ago
@johnvsbev
They are made by Bark River. The larger one is a Fox River and the small one is the Blackwater Boot knife.
If you want to see other Bark River knives, check out KnivesShipFree and the Bark River forum on KnifeForums.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
@NechakoRiver Found them.. Thank You!!!!
johnvsbev 1 year ago
@johnvsbev
Glad to help. They are very good knives and by far my favourite maker.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
Comment removed
johnvsbev 1 year ago
this video drives me crazy! The knife you called dull STARTED sharper than I can get ANY knife! I Don't understand at all. I am a capable guy and AM holding the same angle!!
vassal11 1 year ago
@vassal11
Don't worry, that happens to most people starting out.
If you Google convex sharpening you will find an article by Reid Hyken. Give it a read and see if it helps you out.
Let me know how things go and I can try to answer any more questions.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
@NechakoRiver ok thanks
steve002800 1 year ago
@steve002800
No problem.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
im kinda new to sharpening knifes. So what does a strop do? Can i just use a leather belt, i also read that you can use cardboard and newspaper. And is their a special kind of brand sandpaper or can i just use sandpaper that i use for wood? What should be donnas first stropping or sand paper first?
steve002800 1 year ago
@steve002800
A strop is used to polish and refine the edge. A belt can be used but you need to lay it flat on a table. Cardboard will also give the same basic result. You need finer sandpaper than regular hardware store stuff. A store that sells auto body supplies will have fine grade sandpaper. If your knife is really dull, start with something around 800 grit or a bit coarser and work your way up to finer grades. Just copy what I do in the video and remember to not use too much pressure.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
great video. didnt realise getting my blades that sharp was so simple. could metal polishing compound on a piece of glass work as well?
RoninNZL 1 year ago
@RoninNZL
Thanks :)
The metal polish and glass would probably hone the edge just fine but for a convex blade you need a soft surface like leather to maintain the convex shape.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
I have a friend who makes knifes his name is Chuck Garlitz a cousin of big daddy Don Garltz. Well Chuck and i have made a few knifes together and i remember him calling a very fine sanding belt a micro-lam and man o man could you put an edge on a knife with it. it was also used to first pass polish a knife then buffed to a brilliant shine. thanks for a very informative video i learned some stuff
RichardOhKaNoi 1 year ago
@RichardOhKaNoi
No problem, I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
an easy tip for some if you dont have a leather strop you can do what i do and that is use a piece of corrugated cardboard. for the first stropping then i go to solid paste board then to paper. and it works i guarantee it. oh by the way a good instructional video. also is 10,000 grit sand paper also called trilam or am i mistaken ?
RichardOhKaNoi 1 year ago
@RichardOhKaNoi
Yep, cardboard makes a great improvised strop.
I don't know if 10,000 grit sandpaper has another name or not.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
very informative. thx!
diddymuck 1 year ago
@diddymuck
I'm glad you liked it.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
Good video dude
PopolVuh3 1 year ago
@PopolVuh3
Thanks. :)
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
i dont like to get my blades too sharp because it seems like the edge it more likely to get damaged by hard use .... it could just be me thought...... not tryin to start a youtube war
jacobninja25 1 year ago
@jacobninja25
A very sharp knife can hold an edge. Edge retention has more to do with how thinly the edge is ground than actual edge sharpness. A very thinly ground edge will slice well but is more prone to damage. A well ground and sharpened edge will slice well but will also have no problems holding an edge under hard use. :)
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
@NechakoRiver true thanks for the info bud :D
jacobninja25 1 year ago
@jacobninja25
No problem. :)
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
i wouldn't be happy with the edge until it started slicing when i tried to shave
bass4life1000 1 year ago
where could i get sharpening compound?
entrapmentadored 1 year ago
@entrapmentadored
KnivesShipFree is very good and sells the Bark River version.
Lee Valley will also sell green sharpening compound.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
i would rather have a convex edge because razor edges arent that good to me because one of my buddies has a old skinning knife and it cut him when he barely touched it
Knlonewolf441 1 year ago
ok so i rounded off the edge... how do i fix it? xD
pieface1726 1 year ago
@pieface1726
Start again with some coarser sandpaper to speed up the process and work up to the fine stuff to bring back the edge. Make sure to not use any pressure or start to flip the knife over before you lift it off the sandpaper or strop.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
would this sharpening technique also work with cantled edge knives?
lucpus26 1 year ago
@lucpus26
Yep, I sharpen all my knives this way. A flat ground blade is a good one to convex as smoothing out the final bevel on the edge will improve how it cuts.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
I got all the grits of sandpaper today at pepboys and went through all the stages starting at 320, then 400, 600, 1000, 1500, and 2000. Got it sharp enough to take my hair off my arm and slice paper. I think it could be sharper but it seems like convex grinds probably won't get as sharp as scandi grinds but people say they are a stronger edge that lasts longer so we will see. Thanks again for all your help.
georgio941 1 year ago
@georgio941
Glad to hear that you were able to get an edge on it. The final hair splitting sharpness (you can get them sharp enough to actually split a hair) will come with practice and a very light touch on the strop.
Enjoy your knife and if you want to read more about Bark River knives come join in at the Bark River forum on KnifeForums. :)
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
Where do you purchase the sandpaper above 1000? Is there anywhere online in particular that you use? I am assuming a home depot will only carry up to 320 or so.
georgio941 1 year ago
@georgio941
Any place that sells auto body supplies should have it.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
My bark river didn't come sharp and when i tried using the strop and bark river compound I think I dulled it even more and now I can't even cut paper with it at all. I might have rolled the edge or put too much pressure on it. I can't figure out how I can get it to bite again nor am I sure on the angle. I read the instructions that came with the mini strop and compound but should i be using sandpaper first if it is really dull and what grit do i need?
georgio941 1 year ago
@georgio941
Don't worry, it is pretty common to not get it right the first few times. The technique does take some practice but you will get it eventually.
If you Google convex sharpening you will find an article by Reid Hyken that will answer some of your questions. Read through it and see if it helps.
One thing I used to do when I was learning was start to flip the blade over before it was clear of the strop. Doing that will round off the edge and make the knife even duller.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
@NechakoRiver lol I was doing that. Thanks for the referral. I was just worried that I permanently damaged the blade. As long as an edge can be put back on I will keep trying.
georgio941 1 year ago
@georgio941
You have to remove a lot of steel to actually destroy a blade so no worries. The strop can be pretty slow to restore an edge so some 2000 grit would help speed things up without removing too much metal if you get things wrong.
Good luck and let me know how it turns out.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Guys type in "gift" before youtube then press enter
deathkilljr 1 year ago
Can you use a Japanese water-stone to sharpen convex blades or are they reserved for Scandinavian grinds? Also, where can I buy the compound and stropping board?
georgio941 1 year ago
@georgio941
To maintain the curved convex shape you need something with a bit of flex to it. Stones should be left for beveled edges.
KnivesShipFree has kits that have everything you need to get started.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
@NechakoRiver Thanks a lot... I really appreciate the help. I just got myself a bark river but it didn't come really sharp and I am nervous about messing it up. Thanks for your video and knowledge.
georgio941 1 year ago
@georgio941
I'm glad I was able to help you. Let me know if you have any more questions.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
@NechakoRiver Yeah just one more. If you take your knife out in the bush, are there any portable methods for sharpening a convex blade? Do you just take in a small hand-held strop or can you use one of those diamond/ceramic dual sided Fallkniven dc4 sharpeners?
georgio941 1 year ago
@georgio941
I take a bit of sandpaper and hold it on my leg if I need to sharpen my knife. A piece of scrap cardboard makes a good improvised strop.
I wouldn't use a diamond sharpener on a Bark River but a steel could be used in a pinch.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
i dont have a strop is there anything else i could use?
bl4ckt1p 1 year ago
@bl4ckt1p
Some cardboard or a leather belt put flat on a table will do the trick.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
@NechakoRiver awesome thanks!
bl4ckt1p 1 year ago
@bl4ckt1p
No problem.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
@bl4ckt1p try a cheap mouse mat and some metal polish
petercar96 1 year ago
i find sandpaper at high grits to work better than stones...
booboorocks998 1 year ago
@booboorocks998
I haven't used a stone or steel in ages.
All my knives get sharpened like this now.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
@NechakoRiver stones are a load of hype
booboorocks998 1 year ago
@NechakoRiver also paper and cardboard can give the same effect as a strop
booboorocks998 1 year ago
@booboorocks998
Yep, when I'm at our moose hunting camp I use scrap cardboard and don't bring a strop.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
instead of using the stone could i fix up the knife with a leather strop?
denim494 1 year ago
@denim494
Yep, you can do this on any knife. No need to use a stone ever again.
If the knife is dull you will need to use some sandpaper to speed up the process. The strop is great to maintain the edge by giving it a quick touch up before it gets too dull.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
@NechakoRiver could i use a belt instead of buying a leather strop?
denim494 1 year ago
@denim494
You could do that no problem. I would keep the belt flat on a table so it doesn't sag down and put too rounded an edge on the knife.
When I'm away hunting I use a piece of scrap cardboard as a strop. You will be surprised at what you can use to strop a knife. Even stropping it on the leg of your pants can help to polish up the edge.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
dam this looks easy, but I haven't manage get a shaving sharp knives yet. to maintain the convex edge, you have to do this sweeping up and down motion? So a beveled edge the motion is straight along the sharping stone?
kamarulx 1 year ago
@kamarulx
You draw the edge away so it doesn't cut the sandpaper and keeps a nice curve in the paper to keep the smooth convex edge. You can also try starting at the heel of the blade rather than the tip. Some people prefer this way but it can be harder to get the tip sharp.
If you Google convex sharpening you will find a page by Reid Hyken that might be helpful.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
@NechakoRiver thank you! the thing that I didn't know before was the tool used to sharpen convex edge has the flexible backing (mousepad etc). I thought it's the same as the normal sharpening stone. It helped much.
kamarulx 1 year ago
@kamarulx
No problem, I'm glad I was able to help you out.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
Do you think i can use a lansky crock stick on a convex edge to get it sharp?
severzero 1 year ago
@severzero
Not if you want to maintain the convex edge. The Lansky system will put a beveled edge on the blade and while it is fine for a regular beveled knife it will not be correct for a convex blade. You need the soft surface of the mouse pad and sandpaper to keep the smooth curve of the convex edge.
If you wish to change the edge to a beveled one then go right ahead and don't worry about it.
NechakoRiver 1 year ago
I don't mean to offend but this method will only create a very thin, weak edge which will easily fold over. Wouldn't it be better to not strop it and leave a stronger cutting edge that will hold?
norcoshoreone 1 year ago
@norcoshoreone
Not at all, stropping cleans up any burrs and polishes the edge. If anything it will help the edge last longer.
Edges that don't l