Ok here is my experience after trying to sharpen a Santuko Heckels knife the other night. I changed my technique to the following:
1) I slowed way the heck down and did everything with a purpose. I used the lightest pressure I could and still feel that the stones were working.
2) I used sharpie which is permanent
3) I took the 20x lighted loop seriously and learned what was happening after every few strokes of the stones on each edge. I discovered at the start that one side was at the edge (the side I worked more on the other night), the other side was short of the apex by less than a millimeter, so that was my problem the other night.
4) I was careful with sharpening the heel and the tip with deliberate strokes at both.
5) Every few strokes I relooked with the loop and when it looked like I was at the edge on both sides, I stopped and moved on.
6) I could tell when the stones had done their work this time because as you grind down the scratches with the next grit, the action gets smoother and you know you are about there and additional work has diminishing returns. WHEN USING LIGHTER STROKES, IT IS VERY EASY TO TELL WHEN THE STONES ARE NO LONGER TAKING OFF MUCH STEEL
7) Perhaps next time I need to use 800 grit for the microbevel so it is more toothy
Also, I believe I will purchase the upgrade kit soon for the following reasons:
1) I would like to go lower angles if desired…of course
2) Although the U-joint arms it comes with work well with oil, I can tell I am going to need to spray them down with brake cleaner to get all the oil out, along with the steel and diamond shavings, then reapply oil then put some protective rubber over them (like the cut-off clove fingers I see being used, even with the ball joint arms). So far; however, they are working good enough and are rather smooth. 3 in 1 oil works much better than dry graphite…I will say that. Perhaps even break-free would be better as it has a better friction protection factor when you mix metal shavings in the lube where the CLR breakfree tends to keep the shavings suspended and not allowing them to adhere to the metal you are trying to keep clean (the joints).
Other thoughts are appreciated.
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