This is a sloyd knife I made and just finished up the other day. I ground it down to .003" before I even set the bevels. All steps done completely free hand, no guides other than my hands, posture, sound and feel.
1084 steel, HT and temper by me. HRc 58-60. 24* inclusive V-edge with shoulders slightly convexed for wood carving.
Bevel set on Norton IB8 india combo stone, pyramids on course side starting at 75 laps, decreasing 5 laps each set until I reached the apex and established the burr. One lap is up and back. Fine side pyramid starting at 50 laps, decreasing by 10 each set.
Next I moved to lapping films backed by a granite tile, starting at 600 for 50 laps, decreasing by 5. Went next to 1000 grit same pyramid, 2K, 4K, 6K starting at 30 passes edge trailing, pyramid decreasing by 5, then to 12K grit, pyramid starting at 25 passes edge trailing decreasing by 2, with 10 single passes each side after last set.
Next is Cr02 loaded balsa strop. Pyramid starting at 15 passes edge trailing, decreasing by one. Plain leather strop, same count. Finished on newsprint paper strop for single passes (no pyramid) 25 count, edge trailing.
Each progression I lighten pressure on the knife. No sharpie to check if I'm reaching apex, I can feel and hear it. I do use a 10x loupe to inspect for burr and general condition.
Now, this knife is not just sharp, it's damn sharp! We hear of hair whittling sharp, and even see the pictures, also, there is cutting a free hanging hair. Both of those tests pass easily. So I whittled a hair into a feathr stick! Three cuts in the same place on the same hair without breaking it or popping the curls off!
Here is the knife with no edge. The straight edge is what was sharpened.
My work space and materials, I think it cost me $20 for all this not including the Norton stone.
Here is the proof, you can see 3 distinct curls in th same place on the hair. My wife has really fine hair to begin with, too, which makes this even tougher for me.
This just goes to prove that a $300 shapton stone, or a mythical Japanese natural stone won't make your knives any sharper than the cheaper equipment. Your technique will make your knives sharper, and only your technique!. Yes, using good quality equipment helps by having uniform grit size, true flat surfaces, ease of use, but that doesn't mean my 3 year old son could use them to the same results. I have been seriously sharpening free hnd for only a couple years, and now feel as I have finally mastered my technique.
So, hope this doesn't discourage you gear heads that have tool boxes full of sharpening supplies, because that stuff is needed for many super alloys, but stick with it, learn to move repeatedly and predictably and you can get this sharp as well.
-Xander
1084 steel, HT and temper by me. HRc 58-60. 24* inclusive V-edge with shoulders slightly convexed for wood carving.
Bevel set on Norton IB8 india combo stone, pyramids on course side starting at 75 laps, decreasing 5 laps each set until I reached the apex and established the burr. One lap is up and back. Fine side pyramid starting at 50 laps, decreasing by 10 each set.
Next I moved to lapping films backed by a granite tile, starting at 600 for 50 laps, decreasing by 5. Went next to 1000 grit same pyramid, 2K, 4K, 6K starting at 30 passes edge trailing, pyramid decreasing by 5, then to 12K grit, pyramid starting at 25 passes edge trailing decreasing by 2, with 10 single passes each side after last set.
Next is Cr02 loaded balsa strop. Pyramid starting at 15 passes edge trailing, decreasing by one. Plain leather strop, same count. Finished on newsprint paper strop for single passes (no pyramid) 25 count, edge trailing.
Each progression I lighten pressure on the knife. No sharpie to check if I'm reaching apex, I can feel and hear it. I do use a 10x loupe to inspect for burr and general condition.
Now, this knife is not just sharp, it's damn sharp! We hear of hair whittling sharp, and even see the pictures, also, there is cutting a free hanging hair. Both of those tests pass easily. So I whittled a hair into a feathr stick! Three cuts in the same place on the same hair without breaking it or popping the curls off!
Here is the knife with no edge. The straight edge is what was sharpened.
My work space and materials, I think it cost me $20 for all this not including the Norton stone.
Here is the proof, you can see 3 distinct curls in th same place on the hair. My wife has really fine hair to begin with, too, which makes this even tougher for me.
This just goes to prove that a $300 shapton stone, or a mythical Japanese natural stone won't make your knives any sharper than the cheaper equipment. Your technique will make your knives sharper, and only your technique!. Yes, using good quality equipment helps by having uniform grit size, true flat surfaces, ease of use, but that doesn't mean my 3 year old son could use them to the same results. I have been seriously sharpening free hnd for only a couple years, and now feel as I have finally mastered my technique.
So, hope this doesn't discourage you gear heads that have tool boxes full of sharpening supplies, because that stuff is needed for many super alloys, but stick with it, learn to move repeatedly and predictably and you can get this sharp as well.
-Xander
