What do you use to sharpen knives?

I've heard about the mousepad + wet/dry sandpaper technique for convex edges. Seems like it should well with minimal investment.

Rick
 
I use a 1" wide by 30" belt sander with a used 320 grit belt to get the edge.
Then I use a buffing wheel on a bench grinder with a 6" muslin wheel loaded with green chrome rouge to strop/polish the edge.
razor sharp in two minutes. I run both the belt sander and the buffing wheel with the cutting edge down.
The buffing wheel is the most dangerous part and the blade can catch and be thrown out of your hands if you're not careful.
 
What a lot of great info! Maybe somebody with a camera can do a sharpening tutorial with some of the exotic methods? My best sharpening tool was my son's hunting buddy who was at our house so much in my active years he was like a stepson--just hand them over to him and go get coffee! Have carried an ez lap so many years its acquisition is lost in the fogs of distant memory...always belted right next to my knife. I guess I had too heavy a hand; my Buck Personal got thinner and thinner after I removed the factory edge until it resembled one of those blades the buff'ler hunters carried. Sure wish my son's friend lived closer these days--sharpening always baffles me. Plus he enjoyed disassembling and cleaning my .45 Colt Officer's Model so much he wound up buying one for himself.
 
Depending on what shape the knife edge is in when sharpening I go through this routine. Most of my knives have a convex or micro convex edge but you can sharpen any knife just adjust the angle.

> 400 grit emery paper on a mouse pad. (The mouse pad I use has a "firm" top.) This can be used for a knife or axe that is in bad shape.

> 600 grit emery paper on a mouse pad.

> 1100-1200 grit emery paper on a mouse pad. If the knife is in good shape I start here. At this point an axe can be razor sharp if it's made out of good steel.

> Using a two sided paddle strop with black compound, 3,000 grit.

> On the other side of the strop use white compound, 12,000 grit. Label the strop on each side black or white so you don't mix the compounds.

I have a few Bark River Knives and Ahti Knives that are made in Finland that I can get razor sharp using this method.

The paddle strop and compound can be purchased from most Bark River Knife distributors.

http://www.dlttrading.com/...ing-accessories.html

The Work Sharp knife sharpener Ken Onion Edition has a good video at:

http://www.worksharptools.com/
 
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Depending on what shape the knife edge is in when sharpening I go through this routine. Most of my knives have a convex or micro convex edge but you can sharpen any knife just adjust the angle.

> 400 grit emery paper on a mouse pad. (The mouse pad I use has a "firm" top.) This can be used for a knife or axe that is in bad shape.

> 600 grit emery paper on a mouse pad.

> 1100-1200 grit emery paper on a mouse pad. If the knife is in good shape I start here. At this point an axe can be razor sharp if it's made out of good steel.

> Using a two sided paddle strop with black compound, 3,000 grit.

> On the other side of the strop use white compound, 12,000 grit. Label the strop on each side black or white so you don't mix the compounds.

I have a few Bark River Knives and Ahti Knives that are made in Finland that I can get razor sharp using this method.

The paddle strop and compound can be purchased from most Bark River Knife distributors.

http://www.dlttrading.com/...ing-accessories.html

The Work Sharp knife sharpener Ken Onion Edition has a good video at:

http://www.worksharptools.com/
Click to expand...
About how long does this process take? I'm always weighting how long it'll take me to get a great edge versus how fast I'll wreak it. But your method doesn't sound like it'd be a chore.
 
Jason, when using the emery paper that goes somewhat fast and you can get a decent edge. Stropping takes time and I do it when watching the news or a TV (hunting) show in the morning when no one around.
 
I vote for the worksharp from Darex llc. Bought mine off flea bay, free shipping. Liked it so well i am giving two as Christmas presents.
I am not spamming,am i?
 
Lots of good info here.

How about a recommendation for a good knife repair? I am trying to find someone to repair a 1967 Puma Trappers Companion that was a 21st birthday gift of my Dads, from his parents. It saddens both myself and even more so my Dad that the knife sits unusable.
 
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