Craftsmanship > Hawks and Knives

What kinda Arkansas stone?

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greyhunter:
Need to buy a new sharpening stone, sob, my old one gave up the ghost.  Didn't survive the drop offen the bench.  Now which Arky stone do I buy, soft, med or hard. I know some are for chisels and other carving steels, but I need a good gen'l purpose stone for my hunting knives.  My old stone was all gray and I used spit to whet it. Boy it would put an edge on a blade. sniff........... Thanks for yer support.  GH  

Three Hawks:
My suggestion is to get either a Medium India and use thin oil, mineral oil is very good, on it or get a medium grit ceramic stone and use water on it.  The ceramic is easily cleaned by simply washing with soap and water.  Barring physical damage it will last longer than the pyramids.

Speaking of oil, people have used every kind of oil available to man with good results. EVERY KIND.  I recommend pharmaceutical grade mineral oil.  It has no odor, it is dirt cheap, and it will never dry.  You can get 4 oz in a bottle labelled "Mineral Oil USP" at a drugstore for pennies, or 2 oz in a tin labelled "Honing Oil" for several dollars.  Same stuff, different label. You do the math.

During over 35 years as a professional wood boatbuilder, I tried every new and exciting thing to come along including Japanese "water stones".  The one still in my handbox is a Norton med. India about 6" X 1 1/2" X 1".   I've had it about 15 years and it still puts a shaving edge on any straight cutting tool.  Curved tools require curved stones.

There's a lot of hokum to be had on the subject of sharpening, with some advocating a great deal more "Technique" than necessary.

An edge is not improved by circular or wavy motions over the stone, just hold the blade at about ten degrees or a bit flatter, keep it even and rub.  Do this on both sides as evenly as possible until you have a wire edge.  Strop this off on a piece of soft leather or wood and you have an edge you can shave with.  Ceramic stones are particularly good as they do not hollow out over time as other stones do.   Diamond embedded stones are even better.

The purpose of liquid on the stone is to float particles of steel that have been removed from the blade away and keep them from filling the pores in the stone.  Ceramic and Diamond don't have this problem and can be used dry, with only periodic cleaning.

Some swear by natural stones, I learned long, long ago to swear at them.

Your mileage, as always, may vary.

Three Hawks

david32cal:
Three Hawks you should do a short tutorial on blade sharpening,i cant put a good edge on a blade to save my soul.

Three Hawks:

--- Quote from: "david32cal" ---Three Hawks you should do a short tutorial on blade sharpening,i cant put a good edge on a blade to save my soul.
--- End quote ---

I just did.  Set your stone on a piece of cloth on a firm work surface, a shop rag on the kitchen counter is good,  slather some light oil on it and spread it around with your finger.

Put the edge of the knife on the stone at a ten degree or flatter angle, hold it there using both hands if necessary and rub the edge evenly with about five or so lbs of pressure over the entire stone.  without pressure, nothing happens.  If you get a grey slurry in the oil, you're doing it right.   Wipe the stone, re-oil and do the other side.  Do this until you have an even wire edge the entire length of the edge, then strop it off by wiping backwards on a piece of soft leather or wood.   Pine works.   I use the palm of  my hand.  VERY CAREFULLY !  The important thing is to keep the blade angle even. Even is much more important than the angle.  

All the curlique techniques some guys go through only make keeping the angle constant much more difficult.  

Keep in mind that there are some knives which simply cannot be sharpened.  I've got a gorgeous little hand forged patch knife I paid far too much for that's like that.  Too soft.   Disappointing.

I hope this helps.

Three Hawks

david32cal:
how about steels,good or bad? i seem to be able to keep a sharp edge longer if i use a steel on it occasionally,would stropeing it on leather be better

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