Keeping my tools sharp.

[Richard Carmen]

Thank you for all the comments and suggestions.I'll try them all and I'll be a little more cognizant of the angle that I'm stropping. Keep the comments coming. I truly appreciate all your advice.

Dick Carmen

[Robson Valley]

I can crap on and on about the angles. Others say you "need to get the right angle" without telling you what that angle actually is. Less than no help.
For years and years, I "sharpened" edges which simply did not cut anything. I had all the included bevel angles far, far too blunt. Needed 20 degrees, I was doing 45 degrees.
Mind you, there's lots of argument about this edge bevel and that edge bevel. In the mean time, let's get it done. If I miss and grind/hone 19 degrees and not 20 degrees, I COULD CARE LESS. Furthermore, I won't notice, either.
It is no secret. I have a little tool from General, really meant to measure the tip angles on drill bits. Turns out, it is a dandy for measuring the angles on wood working tools!

[Howie]

It also depends on what kind of knife you're sharpening. Carbon steel does really well with leather stropping (plus a bit of compound) – about 10 minutes takes my knives from dulling to razor again. But stainless steel and other types don't strop as well – at least that's my understanding.
I'd suggest going to a carving store or a club to see if anyone can help with your technique. If you're in Canada, Lee Valley's strop/compound kit for $15 comes with an extremely helpful little brochure that helped me fix my technique.

Good luck!

[jiju1943]

Originally Posted by Howie

It also depends on what kind of knife you're sharpening. Carbon steel does really well with leather stropping (plus a bit of compound) – about 10 minutes takes my knives from dulling to razor again. But stainless steel and other types don't strop as well – at least that's my understanding.
I'd suggest going to a carving store or a club to see if anyone can help with your technique. If you're in Canada, Lee Valley's strop/compound kit for $15 comes with an extremely helpful little brochure that helped me fix my technique.

Good luck!

I have found the same thing, I have a SS filet knife and have it reasonably sharp but I can not get it as sharp as my carving knives which are carbon steel.

I have seen the scary sharp video and have been doing it that way for a while. I have been using a flat piece of wood instead of the glass or granite, will Corian work just as well as the granite or glass?

[jmischel]

Welcome to the wonderful world of wood carving, Richard. To paraphrase a former President, "I feel your pain." I think that every one of us has gone through the sharpening woes. After two years, I'm pretty comfortable sharpening my knives. Gouges still give me a little trouble (takes me a while to get them right) and V-tools are still impossible. But then, I don't use V-tools and gouges very often. And I only ruined (well, almost) two blades before I finally got it down.

It takes practice and patience, just like everything else worthwhile. But it's well worth the effort. Carving with a dull knife is way more frustrating than learning how to sharpen.

[DickB]

Richard,
Thanks for asking the question! I've really learned a lot from this thread. Thanks to all who gave advice. Mabe there's hope for me too.
DickB

[bob easton]

Originally Posted by jiju1943

I have been using a flat piece of wood instead of the glass or granite, will Corian work just as well as the granite or glass?

Sure, Corian will work OK. (I'm guessing you're asking because you have an old Corian top handy.) You know, glass is really cheap. A glass store will cut a 1/2 thick piece to the size of a sheet of sandpaper and polish the edges for about 10 bucks.

[jiju1943]

Thanks Bob, I appreciate that information, you are right, I have some scrap from an install I made a few years back. Thanks for the idea about the glass shop, I will be making a visit.

Sorry I hi jacked the thread.

Jim

[Jack900]

Well my friend as others have already rightly pointed out, sharpening is an art and like every other art, comes with time and practice. I am sure as time goes by, the more you do it the better it will get don't worry.