[Gergie]

I have posted here before about my inability to "get it" when it comes to sharpening. Sometimes it takes me 2 minutes to get an edge on a knife or chisel. And the next time it takes me an hour to go through my 2 knifes and 5 main chisels.

Well tonight I was having a tough time and I got out my course stone and hit each edge and started from scratch. Well it worked, I went through the 4 stone process and all my tools are razor sharp.

I still say there's got to be abetter way.

Tahnks for letting me vent.

[xsailer]

When you start thinking "I still say there's got to be a better way" then its time to start considering mechanical means. Now you've opened pandora's box.

[Just Carving]

Gergie,

Now that you have them sharp--keep in mind you don't always have to start with the coarse stone. Most of the time--for average carving work, it's just a mtter of dressing with a strop--do it every time you're done using the tool for the carving session--or every half hour's worth of work, and you'll probably only end up sharpening maybe once or twice a year.

So, if you're just not getting that edge that you want with the strop, go to the last stone you use and see if that improves your edge and then strop again.

Bob L

[AlArchie]

Once in a while, when stropping no longer quite does the job, I use a very fine ceramic stone to hone the edges, then strop. It usually does the job to near perfection.

This won't work with gouges and chisles, but does works with knives. Pick up one of those small hand hones with the crossed ceramic sticks embedded in a plastic handle. I keep one of these in my pocket or carving box and when the edge on my knife seems to loose it's edge, a few strokes through the pocket sharpener puts it back in A-1 shape. Works as well for my carving knife as it does for my hunting and fillet knives.

Al

[Gergie]

Thanks for the advice. I will start stropping more and see if that helps. And I do have one of those ceramic cross sharpeners. I'll give that a try also. Thanks for the help.

I think I read on here there's someone that does sharpening and I might be better off mailing them to him once a year for a good edge.

I know when I got my Flex cut gouges and knife in the mail they were sharpened perfectly.

[bullshipper]

I can relate to your frustration, I've been down the same road. The system I use is one I purchased from Gil Drake and it works slicker than owl #@*&.
It problably takes me not even a minute to bring each tool to a razors edge. It's not high tech or fancy but it works. I'll post a link to his site and photos of the system I use.
Lonnie


http://www.dakeknifes.com

[Just Carving]

Gergie

You can send your tools to Rick at Little Shavers (website: LittleShavers.com)

I believe he charges 2 dollars a tool but check with him.

Bob L

[Gergie]

Originally Posted by Just Carving

Gergie

You can send your tools to Rick at Little Shavers (website: LittleShavers.com)

I believe he charges 2 dollars a tool but check with him.

Bob L

Thanks

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

Well, I took Al's advice and ran out and bought one of the little plastic things with the crossed sticks. Actually, I bought two of them, one with coarser black sticks and one with fine white sticks. Tried them and they don't work for me. Maybe I bought the wrong ones. Back to the stones and strops.

I guess what I'm trying to say is everything doesn't work for everybody. Find something that works for you and stick with it.

[whittlinguy]

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER use a coarse stone on your knives unless they are like butter knives. If they are that dull just spread butter with it.

I have always had good luck with a fine diamond honing stone. Just a few strokes and you have a good edge. Then use FLEXCUT honing compound and a leather strop. (I use the backside of an old leather belt glued to a flat piece of wood). The FLEXCUT honing compound will make your edge razor sharp. I found that the FLEXCUT honing kit works GREAT on gouges and smaller chisels and VEE parting tools. It has the gouge patterns already cut in a piece of wood that you charge with the bar of honing compound.