Todd Peters

[Todd Peters]

What angle on the arms did or do you start with?

I have been sharpening some hunting knives for a few buddies. To date I have had feed back on 3 different knives, most had some form of 440 stainless. To keep things simple I have been using a 19 degree angle down to a 3.5um strop. Then I come back and hit it with the 1000# at 20 degrees for a micro bevel. All the reports I have received have been great! One of the knives, while the owner told me it was not as sharp as when I gave it to him, would still easily cut phone book paper.

Hopefully I will be able to put my knife, with its new edged, through its paces in a few weeks.

[Todd Peters]

Something like this what you’re looking for?

http://www.fingerlakeswoodturners.com/downloads/Sand%20Paper%20Grit%20Comparison.pdf
or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandpaper#Grit_size_table

(Type “grit micron sandpaper” in google, and you’ll get a bunch of examples.) 🙂

This is the information that I was looking for, thank you.

As Phil stated I also noticed that the sand paper is roughly equivalent to the 1000 grit diamond stones. My experience with the sand paper is similar to some of the other members after the 1000 grit diamond the sand paper starts to bring out a nice polish. I enjoy trying all the different options just trying to make sense out of what I am experiencing

This is such a fun hobby!

[Todd Peters]

For those curious, I used the following: 600->800->1000 diamond stone, 1000->1200->1500->2000->2500->3000 sandpaper strips, then the Pro Pack 5um and 3.5um pastes on the included leather (100 light strokes each). Not perfect by any stretch, but a good start on the cheap for now 🙂

Do you know where your sandpaper treatment falls within the grit/micron structure. I suspect it is in the micron structure. I have searched around the cyber world and have not found the answer.

Thanks

[Todd Peters]

I have to agree! When I purchased my WE from Oldawan Bob was there with service and advice.

[Todd Peters]

Thanks for all the input! I keep reading about stiction. Could someone give me a working definition? Conceptually I understand the Wiki definition. When stropping a knife what level, quantity or quality (not sure how do ask) of stiction works best?

[Todd Peters]

Yeah, I have the screws loosen almost constantly unless I really torque them down as tight as I can with finger pressure. I tend to check the screws in between grits or between “sets” of strop strokes. The left side likes to get loosey goosey all the time, the right not so much.

I’m constantly fiddling with the strop angle, and definitely noticed an immediate difference in the feel of the edge. Cuts great either way, but strangely the reduced angle “feels” less sharp despite probably cutting better. Definitely a curious phenomenon, and probably why I’m always fiddling with different settings 🙂

I also sometimes use Clay’s trick of slightly wetting down the leather. I might try -1 degree and dampening the leather this evening on my carry knife, to compare to the finish it has now.

I remember seeing something about wetting the leathers but don’t remember what solution was used. What is the preferred solution and technique does one use?

[Todd Peters]

I second the inquiry for a “quick rule of thumb” on a micro bevel.

Clay,

While we’re on the topic of micro bevels, is there any quick rule of thumb you could share? Something like “3 to 5 degrees works well” or any general guideline. In this case I’m sticking with the factory grind, 22 degrees per side, and want to put that micro bevel on for somewhat heavy duty cutting to last.

[Todd Peters]

Kyle Welcome!

I have only had my WE for a couple weeks so I am confident that more experienced sharpeners my be able to add to or correct my help.

What sort of information do I need to provide to you all so you can help me troubleshoot? Most recently, I took my Kershaw Cryo and formed a burr each step of the way, 100 all the way up to 1000 and I had trouble cutting paper.

In my limited understanding the burr created with the 100 grit stone indicates that you have the bevel centered on the blade. Once this has been accomplished it is not necessary to create a burr with each stone.

When I am sharpening my knives I only create a burr with the 100 grit stone and only if I have to re-profile the blade (which I have done with every knife first pass through the WE). Then I use alternating strokes to sharpen the knife. Initially I counted strokes per side and was doing between 25 and 50. I had some questions about stroke count and the members here helped me understand that you could do it by sound and feel, still learning this part. I have good success with either method but the second method has help me to produce some very sharp edges.

Check out the Demos section of the WE website. Clay as several very good videos that should be able to help also.

Good luck but most of all have fun! :woohoo: I am off to find another knife to sharpen.

[Todd Peters]

Truer words have not been spoken. I have only had my unit 2 weeks and I see myself adding to my stash of equipment very soon.

The only thing I am waiting for is my skills to catch up with the unit I have now. :blink:

Hi Jason,
I was in the same position as you when I first visited this site. I had a nice set of Shun kitchen knives made by Kershaw Knives and a few little gentlemen’s pocket knives and just wanted to keep them sharp. After all, a knife is only as good as it’s cutting edge in the end. Since then I have acquired a bunch of interesting and expensive blades, which is another topic for another thread.

My answer to your question is, if you just want to tune up your kitchen knives and few pocket knives or friends knives who want want sharp knives that cut well, get the Pro 1. If like me and many others I see, you are obsessive about getting a fine mirror finish and vision yourself as artistic, obsessive and compulsive about it, then get the Pro Pack 2.

One thing I have seen from watching these posts is that you may just want to sharpen your knives to cut an apple when you start, but the mere fact that you are here and reading this and other posts on sharpening, leads me to believe that it will not end there. If you buy the Pro Pack 1, you will almost certainly buy an angle cube to get an even bevel on both sides. Then as long as you are going to that trouble, you’ll just have to get your edge even sharper, so why not add a 1000 grit stone? Pretty soon, your putting the entire collection of stones, strops and accessories in your cart. So you can buy it now or you can buy it later, but you will buy it. Because there is no such thing as sharp enough, right?

Don’t tell me i’m wrong today. Wait a few weeks and tell me i’m wrong. I bet you won’t though. This whole knife collecting and sharpening thing is very addictive and those pretty sharpening stones are just calling out to you like crack to a cocaine addict.

[Todd Peters]

I recently purchased the pro pack I and added the 1200 and 1600 ceramics. I love having the options available to me that the pro pack I provides. I have been experimenting since I received the system and each night I figure something else out. To echo the previous poster make your mistakes (I know I still am) and ask questions of the members of the forum. In my opinion this is one of the best forums I have seen.

[Todd Peters]

I as a beginner appreciate all the pointers I can get. Thanks for all the information in this thread. I tried the saran wrap tonight and it work well.

[Todd Peters]

Pat welcome to the rabbit hole!

My WEPS arrived yesterday and I have already sharpened a dozen knives. Brought a couple into work to look at under our microscope and had to make myself quit tonight before it got too late. So now I am on the forum.

I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine, they are amazing machines.

[Todd Peters]

Thanks for the updates…

My WE is will arrive next week. I’m looking forward to redefining my idea of a sharp knife and I am sure the members here will help.

[Todd Peters]

RazorEdge

In reference to your current working edge. Will you stop at the 1k diamond or do you do stropping after the 1k? If you strop what is your progression? My WES will arrive next week and my kitchen knives first up to be sharpened.

Yeah man, your definitely on to something for sure! What you will find is that each personhas a sslightly different preference on this… My all around working edge is finished on the 1k diamonds right now… I absolutely love this edge for both hair popping but TONS of bite. I think mark posted a post a little while back discussing the best edge for tomatoes. The general consensus was more toothy than mirror finished (if I recall). However, the definition of “toothy” is pretty relative!

To answer your other question: the jump from the 1k diamonds to the micro fine ceramics is too large if you’re wanting to erase all the previous scratches you will need a “go between”. A cheap way to do this is with wet/dry automotive sandpaper by 3M…You can take this uptthrough 2500 grit and the go to strops if you are wanting a mirror edge. More expensive way would be to get a custom chosera set of say 800/2000 grit or something. Hope this helps!

[Todd Peters]

Hello All –

I have been an on and off again knife collector since I was 10. Unfortunately I was that age when my father passed away and did not have someone to help fuel my passion. Biggest reason I would fall in and out of the knife world was I could never get a knife as sharp as I thought it could.

Fast forward to a month ago…

I am an avid salmon fisherman and take great pride in the appearance of the fish once it is cleaned. The best way to accomplish a nice fillet is practice and a sharp knife. When possible a friend would let me use his electric sharpener. The sharpener did a nice job but I knew there had to be more. After a few searches I came across the WES site and knew i had found a home.

In my adult life I have fallen down several rabbit holes. The latest being knife edge perfection, in my case I am defining perfection as the correct edge for the job it is intended to perform. Prior to the most recent rabbit hole started to master great lakes salmon fishing, pointer dog training/upland hunting, deer hunting, fly fishing, fly tying, fishing rod building, tequila, cigars, and triathlons.

I am looking forward to the new skills I will learn from my experience with the WES and the members of this community.

Let the fun begin!

[Author]

Posts