Sharpening your pocket knife

[Toothpick]

I have a Kershaw Skyline that could use a good sharpening. it barely cuts the edge of a piece of paper. I have a whetstone but its one my dad has had as far back as i can remember, 20+ years at least. IDK if it is the stone or my technique but I cant put a good edge on the blade. Holding it at a 15-20 degree angle and "cutting" the stone as if im slicing a thin layer off and it just wont take an edge. Last time I put cooking oil on the stone and was able to get it somewhat sharp. tonight I dont have any cooking oil so i used my saliva. I don't require it straight razor sharp but i would like it to cut a piece of paper!

any tips? Thanks!

 

[gadabout]

I usually use the type of sharpener that consists of two ceramic rods that get inserted into a block of wood in a vee shape. It makes it easy to get the right sharpening angle.

 

[inspiringK]

The case that the stone is in looks restrictive, I'm not sure I would be able to sharpen effectively with that setup.

I think the best way to quickly and easily sharpen small blades is probably a Lansky type system

I use Japanese water stones for kitchen knives and razors, but really don't mind the Lansky type systems when quickly sharpening a smaller knife.


If you do want to keep trying with that stone you have, it may be good to figure out whether it is actually a water stone or an oil stone - and then use the right lubrication accordingly. My guess is that it would have to be an oil stone in which case buying some honing oil will help.

 

[Rockminer]

I can get hair whittling edges with my setup. If you want the real thing it's called an Edge Pro sharpener. I have a Chinese knockoff that looks the same and costs around $25 on e bay. (Look under " fixed knife sharpener " ) I have a strop from Stropman.com I have the jumbo with white and green compound, but you can go with whatever you like.

Sharpest pocket knives I've ever owned have come from this setup.

 

[Toothpick]

I like that Lansky system. attractive prices too. But i also like the idea of the stone, and learning it the hard way so to speak.

the fixed knife sharpener also seems nice.

had no idea these things existed!

the stone I have is hard to get the right angle. parts of my knife hit the wood and I have to kind of do half the blade at a time.

 

[ChefJohnBoy-ardee]

clean your stone. some ajax and a green scrubby.

should be all you need.

 

[Rockminer]

Nothing wrong with going with a stone, there is a learning curve I would make sure you have a perfectly flat stone. You should look into different grits as well. Start out with something around 1000 for reprofiling, all the way up to somewhere around 6000 for final finishing. A strop will get you that last bit of sharpness.

 

[JeffBr]

Have a Lansky, but prefer Spyderco Sharpmaker.....work very well IMO
http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=77

 

[Toothpick]

A strop will get you that last bit of sharpness.

and i assume you would strop it just like i would a straight razor? pull tight strop light...

 

[inspiringK]

I like that Lansky system. attractive prices too. But i also like the idea of the stone, and learning it the hard way so to speak.

the fixed knife sharpener also seems nice.

had no idea these things existed!

the stone I have is hard to get the right angle. parts of my knife hit the wood and I have to kind of do half the blade at a time.

Both the Lansky and the Edge Pro are essentially the same thing, they just look a little different but both use the same system.

If you can, it may help a lot to remove that stone from the base. Obviously you don't want to force it, but it should be easier to use without the wooden box.

Learning how to use full size whetstones is the ideal when it comes to sharpening knives, but the advantage of those system packages is that they come with a number of different stones at a pretty low price.
Alternatively, you could look into a 1000k or 12000k stone (or maybe some kind of a combo stone). It will probably do all you need it to do for pocket knives and come in handy for kitchen knives.

I compare some of the sharpening options and talk about my experience learning about water stones in this thread.

 

[Rockminer]

and i assume you would strop it just like i would a straight razor? pull tight strop light...

Same concept but my strop is glued to a piece of board with a handle shape on one end

 

[Toothpick]

Same concept but my strop is glued to a piece of board with a handle shape on one end

and here i thought stropping was only for straight razors!

Both the Lansky and the Edge Pro are essentially the same thing, they just look a little different but both use the same system.

If you can, it may help a lot to remove that stone from the base. Obviously you don't want to force it, but it should be easier to use without the wooden box.

Learning how to use full size whetstones is the ideal when it comes to sharpening knives, but the advantage of those system packages is that they come with a number of different stones at a pretty low price.
Alternatively, you could look into a 1000k or 12000k stone (or maybe some kind of a combo stone). It will probably do all you need it to do for pocket knives and come in handy for kitchen knives.

I compare some of the sharpening options and talk about my experience learning about water stones in this thread.

so i wouldn't need both then, unless i had KSAD (knife sharpening acquisition disorder)

I bookmarked that link for later reading, looks like a ton of great info there. I might be able to out sharpen the old man one day soon!

 

[seattleshaver]

The issue with the stone is that we don't know the grit. All you can do (with that stone) is clean it up a bit and then use some mineral oil and give it a try.

If your blade is so dull that it can't cut paper and if that stone is a finishing stone then it may just not be a low enough grit to set the profile.

 

[Rockminer]

You would not need both. They both have advantages and disadvantages;

1.The lansky holds the blade in the clamp so it won't move, but you are limited to the angles offered by the clamp. Not a huge deal as you can just re profile your edge to meet the angle of the lansky.

2 The edgepro has an infinite angle adjustment and you hold the knife on the base ( it's not clamped ) so you can slide it a bit to do larger blades. It's not clamped so it can move ,if you let it and sometimes hurts your angle. Once you get used to it you will be fine, and you can make single degree adjustments to your edge.

 

[Rockminer]

If you can stomach the cost, there is something called the " wicked edge " that is a clamp style with infinite angle adjustments. you can buy all the grits you need, they have diamond hones and strops as well.

if I could afford it, I would buy every Chosera stone made and learn freehand, but what I have suits me well and was fairly inexpensive.

 

[Kentos]

+1 more for the edge pro. It makes things much easier for those pesky pocket knives.

 

[seattleshaver]

I have the Lansky fixed rod system as well as the Crock Box which is the Lansky ceramic rod system but a $22 Arkansas Tri-Hone which you use free hand will do the job.

 

[ThePatrician]

I have a Kershaw Skyline that could use a good sharpening. it barely cuts the edge of a piece of paper. I have a whetstone but its one my dad has had as far back as i can remember, 20+ years at least. IDK if it is the stone or my technique but I cant put a good edge on the blade. Holding it at a 15-20 degree angle and "cutting" the stone as if im slicing a thin layer off and it just wont take an edge. Last time I put cooking oil on the stone and was able to get it somewhat sharp. tonight I dont have any cooking oil so i used my saliva. I don't require it straight razor sharp but i would like it to cut a piece of paper!

If nothing else, I've used WD40 as a sharpening oil with good results. It looks pretty old, so a good cleaning would most likely work wonders on it. Remember to hold the grind perfectly flat on the stone.

 

[nymtber]

DMT diamond file for me. Most of my knives are modern stainless that take forever on natural stones. DMT diamond stones/files sharpen my knives QUICK and sharp enough.

All carbon-steel is sharpened on the Smiths tri-stone that I have.

All are hit with my homemade strop that gets loaded with a little Flitz metal polish.

 

[Legion]

I "cheat" on most of my pocket knives and use the Spyderco sharpmaker. Puts an edge on that will easily pop arm hairs, and hard to get wrong. Use it with a good thin carbon blade, like a Opinel, and you can almost shave with it.