One simple question

[TexasSteve]

I have been on here reading all about the scary sharp method. The only thing I cannot find out is when a carver is using this method for their knives, do they only run across the sandpaper in one direction? All the youtube videos show the knife being pushed AND pulled on the different grits of sandpaper.

Looking to do this tonight so any help would be appreciated.

Steve

P.S. I have tried stropping with no luck so I looked at the edge under a magnifying glass and there are clear pits in it. I do believe i just waited to long between stroppings.

[Tom Ellis]

Steve, you can go both directions on a stone, but I would only go away from the cutting edge on the sandpaper. Make sure your fresh grind is all the way to the cutting edge on both bevels, then go to the strop with compound on it.

Good luck, Tom

[TexasSteve]

Thanks Tom. Hopefully I can fgure this out for now, Your TomZ is still on my want list. I am only using (wet) 1000 grit then 2000 grit then 3000 grit hopefully the strop after that.

[Robson Valley]

I use nothing but pull strokes for my fine carving tools. Strop every 20 -30 minutes, so rarely have to go back as far as 1,000 grit.
Yup, if the edge is pitted, time to get out the black felt marker. Reassure yourself of the bevel angle and start at 800-1000 grit. Pull strokes, alternating sides.

I do push-pull with any edge that needs hard work on oil stones with lots of Pennzoil 5W40

[Dicky]

I am not about to argue with these gents.

[Tom Ellis]

Steve, if you need quite a bit off, you could start with 400, or 600 , and then work up to your high grits, it will save you a lot of time.
Everett ellenwood starts with 200, and stops at 600.

Tom