Beginner blade sharpening thread

A 5 gram pouch will treat many strops. A little goes a very long way.

And what you do with your leather paddle is your business and not mine šŸ¤ .
 
BigWaylon said:
Sounds like a plan!

BTW...I went to order belts and itā€™s multiples of 6 for each grit, because it sounds like they cut down a wider belt. Wanna just split an order? Iā€™ll order several extras and if you want them weā€™ll figure it out.
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Sounds good, do it
 
For just sharpening knives you don't really need power tools. Just a couple of good stones.

This guy can get you started.

I've gone up to 8000 grit on my knives but honestly they cut some things better at lower grits. More sawtooth than razor.

I've settled on a 1200 grit diamond stone and a card strop with compound for kitchen knives.
 
J R Green said:
For just sharpening knives you don't really need power tools. Just a couple of good stones.

This guy can get you started.

I've gone up to 8000 grit on my knives but honestly they cut some things better at lower grits. More sawtooth than razor.

I've settled on a 1200 grit diamond stone and a card strop with compound for kitchen knives.
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Yeah, well this thread is about sharpening with a belt sander...so šŸ¤Ŗ.
 
An alternative to the strop....... I use an old sock flipped inside out, old washcloth, microfiber rag, etc. Apply a small amount of fine polish such as Flitz, SemiChrome, etc to the fabric and work it in with the blade.
 
rantingredneck said:
Honestly if you're not reprofiling or doing heavy shaping work anything under 220 is unneeded. I could make an argument for starting with 400 even for your application. I use more 400 grit than any other belt for sharpening and can go straight from 400 to a strop.
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Yea this. On a knife that is in reasonably good shape, I may start with 220. I usually just finish on a worn out 400 and then strop. Your edge should be pretty well apexed at 220.

edit to add, usually Doing all this with J flex cuz I have a ton and they work. Youā€™re going to have to play with it and make mistakes.
 
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Also, I donā€™t know if they make scotch brite belts in the size youā€™re using but they are awesome. I use them on so many different things and they are versatile enough to knock rust off an axe or all the way to doing a satin finish on a watch bracelet buckle,

Donā€™t use them for sharpening.
 
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frakncylons said:
Also, I donā€™t know if they make scotch brite belts in the size youā€™re using but they are awesome. I use them on so many different things and they are versatile enough to knock rust off an axe or all the way to doing a satin finish on a watch bracelet buckle,

Donā€™t use them for sharpening.
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Those are sold as "surface refinishing" belts by various manufacturers in various "grits". They are indeed awesome and I use them for everything from finishing and refinishing blades to contouring and finishing kydex edges.
 
Hereā€™s what I ended up ordering since it had to be multiples of 6. I had my first timer 15% off code, and was already paying for shipping, so I added the J Flex belts (just in 400) to try as well.

FEE26FBC-62A5-41F7-A1BA-9A920D2CCC4E.png

Shipping was a bit much, but the belts were definitely less than some other ones mentioned.

Now I need to choose a strop and compound.
 
I made my strops from a random piece of 2ā€ wide leather and an oak block I had laying around, but you can pick up what I just mentioned for like $15.

I have a bar of gray rouge and green rouge that will last me several lifetimes. I can send you some chunks if you like.
 
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rantingredneck said:
Those are sold as "surface refinishing" belts by various manufacturers in various "grits". They are indeed awesome and I use them for everything from finishing and refinishing blades to contouring and finishing kydex edges.
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PXL_20201203_224727878.jpg
 
BigWaylon said:
Hereā€™s what I ended up ordering since it had to be multiples of 6. I had my first timer 15% off code, and was already paying for shipping, so I added the J Flex belts (just in 400) to try as well.

View attachment 273350

Shipping was a bit much, but the belts were definitely less than some other ones mentioned.

Now I need to choose a strop and compound.
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Looks like you got aluminum oxide belts? And you got two sets of 400 grit?
 
BigWaylon said:
Hereā€™s what I ended up ordering since it had to be multiples of 6. I had my first timer 15% off code, and was already paying for shipping, so I added the J Flex belts (just in 400) to try as well.

View attachment 273350

Shipping was a bit much, but the belts were definitely less than some other ones mentioned.

Now I need to choose a strop and compound.
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Have gunbelt bring you a scrap of his belt cutoffs tomorrow.
Get more than 1 or 1 long one and you can use different compound on different areas
 
pinkbunny said:
Looks like you got aluminum oxide belts? And you got two sets of 400 grit?
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I got the belts @rantingredneck posted a link to.

And yes, I got two different kinds of 400 grit, just to try the J-Flex out...
 
LeeMajors said:
Have gunbelt bring you a scrap of his belt cutoffs tomorrow.
Get more than 1 or 1 long one and you can use different compound on different areas
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@gunbelt

Curt, do you have any belt scraps you can bring to lunch tomorrow (assuming youā€™re coming)?
 
BigWaylon said:
Hereā€™s what I ended up ordering since it had to be multiples of 6. I had my first timer 15% off code, and was already paying for shipping, so I added the J Flex belts (just in 400) to try as well.

View attachment 273350

Shipping was a bit much, but the belts were definitely less than some other ones mentioned.

Now I need to choose a strop and compound.
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Curt needs to make us some strops out of horsehide.

Whoops, posted before I finished the thread.
 
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I'm still working from a box of scraps I got from him 2 years ago. LOL
 
Must have patience grasshopper........................:)

www.bbc.co.uk

BBC Arts - Japan - Sacred arts: How to make a Japanese Samurai sword

One of Japan's last remaining families of Samurai sword makers continue the tradition.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk


Mitsutoshi Komiya spent 10 years learning how to polish samurai swords in Tokyo. Below he explains how he meticulously polishes for up to two months to complete the togishi's process.
 
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beamernc said:
I made me and my boys strops several years ago using walnut paddles and horse butt. I put smooth side out on one side and rough side out on the other.

View attachment 273404
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Well, then make one more and let me know when I can swing by to get it. šŸ˜‚

Or maybe youā€™ll have it done in time to bring to me at lunch tomorrow. šŸ˜Ž
 
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I am a totally incompetent boob. Bought a book, stones and strop. Did ok with some stuff and butchered a machete. Grabbed sharpmaker on a deal for knives it is good enough for a hack like me. Surely it is not up to @thrillhill or @rantingredneck levels. But a manā€™s got to know his limitations. Iā€™d like to be at their level but when you have to work on many weaknesses you have to pick your battles.

Edit. The sharpmaker did enough on a cleaver I about cut my thumb off. Find what works for you. And perfect it.
 
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rantingredneck said:
Red Label abrasives on Amazon is also good. I'm not entirely sure they make 1x30 though. I use some of their 2x72s. With one caveat, last batch of 36 grit I got from them I could not get to track straight to save my life. I was tempted to return them and they'd have likely replaced them, but I worked through it and used them anyway.
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They do and they work well.
Blade down.

And youā€™ll never grow hair on your arms again.
 
I've got a Ken Onion Worksharp coming for Christmas. My leather round knives are tough to get right and I've got a ding in one of the blades. And just looking to speed the process up a bit. Got a leather skiver I hope I can figure out how to sharpen a bit.
 
chiefjason said:
I've got a Ken Onion Worksharp coming for Christmas. My leather round knives are tough to get right and I've got a ding in one of the blades. And just looking to speed the process up a bit. Got a leather skiver I hope I can figure out how to sharpen a bit.
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I got one of these last Christmas. It's great. I've been able to keep a D2 blade sharp, and that used to be a challenge because the D2 is a toothy steel. The problem I have with it is the tips don't get as sharp as the rest of the blade (at least with me operating it.)
 
Timfoilhat said:
I got one of these last Christmas. It's great. I've been able to keep a D2 blade sharp, and that used to be a challenge because the D2 is a toothy steel. The problem I have with it is the tips don't get as sharp as the rest of the blade (at least with me operating it.)
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I find D2 really shines (no pun intended) when stropped to a high polish. Not only does it cut cleaner but it cuts cleaner, longer.
 
I just got my Wen 1x30 sander in today along with some better belts and a strop.
Iā€™m planning on taking this one step further and actually using it to grind some bevels with stock removal, and to sharpen them after heat treating! I am very excited to get started and learn
 
pinkbunny said:
So, @BigWaylon , when do you want me to stop over?
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Well, I need to buy a sander first. šŸ˜

I have a Harbor Freight gift card heading my way, so Iā€™ll start looking to buy one after it arrives. Iā€™ll let you know. Belts have been ordered, but I need to order the leather. Will do that sometime this weekend. So...soon, but not in the next week.
 
Strop and white compound ordered.
 
BigWaylon said:
...and just to vent for a second...why does every HF coupon exclude Central Machinery. šŸ˜”

Got a 25% one via text today, not able to use it. They do mark the sander down from $49 to $39 occasionally, but I think the last coupon for that price expired in July. Waiting on a HF gift card to come in the mail before I buy anyway, but geez.
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Somebody do a sanity check for me...

Most of the 20%-25% off coupons include this:

DF07EAD7-BBBB-4840-B5A4-C41E521BB0CC.jpeg
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51E1A0BD-E4D6-4BAF-BCBC-2ECB5BBCAB47.jpeg

But I found this one yesterday. Central Machinery isnā€™t listed, and it doesnā€™t fall into any other generic category I see (gift cards, tool boxes, compressors, open box, etc)...unless somehow it counts as a saw mill? But itā€™s not working online. I wanted to have yā€™all double-check for me before I tried to argue it in person. See any reason a Central Machinery belt sander is excluded from this coupon?

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Oh yea, you might already know this trick,...get a big fat sharpie to mark the edge before you start grinding. Helps you see where youā€™re removing material.
 
BigWaylon said:
Somebody do a sanity check for me...

Most of the 20%-25% off coupons include this:

View attachment 274332
View attachment 274333
View attachment 274334

But I found this one yesterday. Central Machinery isnā€™t listed, and it doesnā€™t fall into any other generic category I see (gift cards, tool boxes, compressors, open box, etc)...unless somehow it counts as a saw mill? But itā€™s not working online. I wanted to have yā€™all double-check for me before I tried to argue it in person. See any reason a Central Machinery belt sander is excluded from this coupon?

View attachment 274337
View attachment 274338
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Go in in-person and Karen the crap out of that. I'm sure the manager will give you approval.
 
pinkbunny said:
Go in in-person and Karen the crap out of that. I'm sure the manager will give you approval.
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That was my plan, but I wanted to make sure I wasnā€™t missing something first. It might even scan just fine, but Iā€™m guess not.

My part-time job is at the same exit as a HF, so Iā€™ll be by there twice a week. Coupon is good until 12/31, so Iā€™m just waiting for the gift card to arrive...and it was ordered last Wednesday.
 
I got a HF email this morning for 25% off that ends today and it also lists Central Machinery.
 
beamernc said:
I got a HF email this morning for 25% off that ends today and it also lists Central Machinery.
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Yep, thatā€™s the 25% Friends and Family I posted a pic of.
 
rantingredneck said:
Use that diamond powder on a scrap of leather.
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Would you use the same compound I have coming for the 30ā€ leather belt?

Iā€™m assuming you donā€™t just put the diamond powder onto a dry piece of leather?
 
BigWaylon said:
Would you use the same compound I have coming for the 30ā€ leather belt?

Iā€™m assuming you donā€™t just put the diamond powder onto a dry piece of leather?
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No I wouldn't put the dust on a belt for the machine. Use whatever compound comes with it.

Yes I use the diamond dust on a dry piece of leather. Smooth side. Work a dime sized or so pile of it into the pores of the leather with a finger and then strop away.
 
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