Knife sharping

[morfiend]

Thanks for the input . My best knife is a six inch skinning knife made by Case . Fold up type . Seem to hold a edge longer but getting a edge on it is a problem . I hear that if you lay a quarter on the stone then lay the thick part of the knife on the quarter that's the angle you want . Is this true ?

 Grab a norton kit,they have an angle giude that will help you to learn to do it free hand.

    I really depends on the task,you might want a very fine 23 degree edge but it wont last long! If you plan on skinning animals or cutting meat a less acute angle as suggested above will hold the edge longer. If you plan on doing fine wood carving you may need several knives with different angles for making cuts.

   Then there are all the different planes......



   

[Rob52240]

The angle you sharpen it at is less important that hitting the same angle consistently with your strookes.

[morfiend]

The angle you sharpen it at is less important that hitting the same angle consistently with your strookes.

  Indeed this is true but the angle you use can affect how long the knife stays sharp!



   

[Flench]

Thanks for the info and the PM's . Big help <S> .

[-ammo-]

If you are in the market for good kitchen cutlery, I recommend Solicut First Class.  These knives come razor sharp and are easy to maintain an edge.  The fit, feel, and balance are great.  Manufactured in Solingen Germany, the world's "cutlery capitol"

[Rob52240]

If you are in the market for good kitchen cutlery, I recommend Solicut First Class.  These knives come razor sharp and are easy to maintain an edge.  The fit, feel, and balance are great.  Manufactured in Solingen Germany, the world's "cutlery capitol"

I would argue that R.H. Forschner / Victorinox are the best kitchen knives for a person to purchase.

They're made in Switzerland except for their hand forged series which are forged in Germany and their sharpening steels which come from Sheffield England.

They're very reasonably priced if you don't get rosewood handles or their hand forged line.

Ask any butcher, they will agree with me.

[-ammo-]

I would argue that R.H. Forschner / Victorinox are the best kitchen knives for a person to purchase.

They're made in Switzerland except for their hand forged series which are forged in Germany and their sharpening steels which come from Sheffield England.

They're very reasonably priced if you don't get rosewood handles or their hand forged line.

Ask any butcher, they will agree with me.

I can't argue my recommendation is better than the R.H. Forschner.  I am sure they are great blades.

I will say I have purchased in piecemeal 7 different Solicut blades over the past 2 years and completely impressed with the quality.  The most expensive being the cleaver at just under 200 Euros.  The quality is just amazing from my perspective when you consider all the knives I had prior were cheapos. 

[Flench]

Well I have to check it out for sure ,

[Rob52240]

I don't know why all butchers use Forschner/Victorinox but they do.  I've never seen one with anything else in their hand.  I've seen a few pick up a Dexter Russell to save a few bucks and immediately go back to Forschner.  

One thing I'll definitely recommend if you need cutlery is to get on ebay and order a well used and very worn down Forschner boning knife for $10.  Most guys will sharpen them down to this state which actually adds to the useability, they just don't have a lot of sharpening left in the life of the knife so they get taken home or discarded.  The top knife is one of those Forschners that used to have a blade that was as wide as the handle.

[hyzer]

    I have never tried wetpaper and glass for putting an edhe on a plane iron but since I have several I may give it a shot!

Morph, this method is known as Scary Sharp, many many sites that describe how to do it.  It works very well.

[morfiend]

Morph, this method is known as Scary Sharp, many many sites that describe how to do it.  It works very well.

   


   I was on a straight razor site the other day and the forum had several "how to's"!

      I have some 3m micro paper,3000 and 6000 grit that I used to use to finish solidsurface countertops like Avonite or Corion. I also have a small block plane that needs attention so I may just give it a try.


   Something no one mentioned is a strop,I use one the remove the wire edge on my carving knives. If I strop my chiefs knife you can shave with it!


  I own a set of Lagostina knives,their forged line of blades are pretty good for the price,you can go crazy and get Damascus steel blades but since I'm not a chef I cant see spending close to 2 grand on a knife set.

   I looked ay the Forschners and it seems they are importers and dont actually make the knives.When I saw the pic I thought it looked like my Old Hickory knives!



   



   

[-ammo-]

  Something no one mentioned is a strop,I use one the remove the wire edge on my carving knives. If I strop my chiefs knife you can shave with it!

A strop is nothing more than a leather strap, right?  I can remember as a kid going to the barber shop they (the barbers) having a wide leather strap attached to the chair and they would glide the razor on the strap prior to using it.

[morfiend]

A strop is nothing more than a leather strap, right?  I can remember as a kid going to the barber shop they (the barbers) having a wide leather strap attached to the chair and they would glide the razor on the strap prior to using it.

  Correct!   It helps to have a nice thick piece of leather.



   

[Groth]

 As aside remember well getting wopped witha leather strop...
                                                                              JGroth