Hello everyone,

Just joined the group here tonight. I have only been carving off and on for a short time but find it thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing for this 41 year old. I just have a few tools-- a Flexcut carving knife, and Frost and Mora Swedish knives. My question is this. Could someone explain to me the basics of sharpening or refer me to a good website please ?? Many thanks.

[MelNM]

http://www.carvingpatterns.com/sharpening.htm Try this website she has lot's of other useful information. There other site with sharpening info also.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

do a google search on 'scary sharp'...it is done with sandpaper of different grits, is easy to learn for a new carver and is a cheap way to start....you also need a strop, once sharpened and if not mistreated, you rarely have to sharpen, just strop.

I use stones and strops for sharpening, honing, and stropping my knives. I explain my technique on my web site.
http://cliffordparker.tripod.com/sharpening.html

Imho learn to do it properly the first time ... there are no real short cuts ... I popped over to Cliffords webb site and with a couple of very minor differences it's the same way I learned over 50 years ago ... sounds like good advice to me. The biggest difference between his method and the way I was taught is he doesn't lubricate his stones; I'm a little gross (antisocial) and spit on mine.

Ed,

That is exactly the way I was taught to 'lubricate' a whet stone and used it until I began dry honing. Once I figured out that the hard arkansas actually worked better for me dry I tried it out on the whet stone and it cut better too so now I just spit and whittle.

In case you go through all 5,000+ postings on the Google search and still can't find the Scarry Sharp method, here it is:
http://www.shavings.net/SCARY.HTM

Its a little humorous as well as enlightning.

Good Luck Ken in So Cal

'Scary Sharp' with a TM?

This technique has been in common use for many years prior to the internet. I used the ALO sandpaper on a flat surface in Metallurgy classes over 35 years ago to prepare samples for microscope examination.

[FK]

The AlO paper is rather expensive for long term use.

Much more economical would be the readily available Norton stones, fine India is a great general purpose hone and then strop with Yellowstone or CrO (green chrome) on leather or plain wood.

Regards,
Fred Krow

[BasketballJones]

Here is another good link I found conducting my surfing http://www.woodshopdemos.com. What I've learned is a mild abrasive plus friction will produce a sharpening effect. The desired effect is the result of what abrasive is used. Interesting what you run across in research. That was a good topic. Nice to see the various methods being shared.