Thread: Sharpeing Stones - Knives

I have the same issues with a knife on a stone, but in using a small folding DMT on my knives, I can be consistent by holding the knife steady in one hand and rubbing with the DMT using the other. Works for me!

I use the WE system and I frequently say that I've never spent better money. I can't understand why you would move AWAY from the WE system. Some may get good edges from stones. Grit is grit. But the WE system nails the angle and achieves consistency every single time. In the end, this can save the investment you made in knives by not screwing them up or grinding away at 20 degrees this time and 15 degrees the next. Or, getting the heel and middle sharp while the tip is still dull. I swear by it. As a guy that gives my knives heavy kitchen use, its been the best investment I've made. Each of my knives is always in tip top shape. If you already know how to sharpen well on stones, great. If you're not used to it or have a problem keeping a consistent angle, the WE is money well spent. But, arguably, I don't sharpen knives for fun. Results are the only thing that matter to me.

I get my initial burr on dmt then I move on to either a fine washita or a charnley forest. I wouldn't use either of the latter on those steels with the incredibly hard carbides though.

I don't have a system for honing knives,

I just use my BBW as I was told by my grandfather and keep the stone still and drag my razor over it, spine leading strokes at a 40° angle +-

I get nice solid edges that hold up well

today I honed one of my Opinels with Sandvik inox steel on a tiny BBW and it was shaving arm hairs easily; I followed it up by a Herold red and black pasted strop and regular leather strop, stropped at a 40° as well

I never used pastes before, so this was a first test, the damn thing is passing the HHT like nobody's business, color me impressed by these pastes.

I have a pile of stones and sharpen a ton of knives, both the ones I make for sale, plus my personal shop knives, pocket knives, kitchen knives and such.


my go to stones are a Norton crystalon coarse/fine with mineral oil for setting edges, and a dmt continuous diamond in 325 {labeled coarse} for a finisher.

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

I use the WE system and I frequently say that I've never spent better money. I can't understand why you would move AWAY from the WE system. Some may get good edges from stones. Grit is grit. But the WE system nails the angle and achieves consistency every single time. In the end, this can save the investment you made in knives by not screwing them up or grinding away at 20 degrees this time and 15 degrees the next. Or, getting the heel and middle sharp while the tip is still dull. I swear by it. As a guy that gives my knives heavy kitchen use, its been the best investment I've made. Each of my knives is always in tip top shape. If you already know how to sharpen well on stones, great. If you're not used to it or have a problem keeping a consistent angle, the WE is money well spent. But, arguably, I don't sharpen knives for fun. Results are the only thing that matter to me.

I hear what you are saying but... sometimes you cook with a recipe, other times you just have at it. Both ways can produce awesome. Sharpening with that system is like working in a lab. Working in a lab can be awesome, but it's not for everyone.

I'm a palm honer myself.

I have pretty much decided on getting the WE Pro Pack 1, this kit contains all the grits one would need to put an edge on a severely negelcted edge to just some touchups on the German steel we use in the kitchen. I wish i had the ability to consistantly put a repeatable edge on a knife but im not one of the chosen ones so sometimes its best to look at other options.

I may buy some beater blades to contiune to use on my 400/1200 diamond plates along with my Shapton stones just to work on improving my skill but i dont want to constantly grind on fine cutlery trying to gain skill.

I dont have as many hones as lots do but we all know that one can get by with a 1k and 8k barber hone to give us a decent usable edge but we all contiuned to buy stones from between the 1 and 8k to bridge that gap to save us time and we also including me went well above the 12k range to give us those truly hair popping edges, i mean really who needs a 30k edge to shave with and some of the JNATS i have cost the same or more than this WE system.

The WE is an awesome system that can put an incredibly sharp edge on a blade. The even better aspect is that is is repeatable. Put a blade back in the clamp in the same position, there is a gauge to ensure this, set your angle and BAM, touchup in short order. I do love the system from the results aspect but it does become a bit mechanical.

I will continue to be a hybrid and sharpen knives both using the WE and freehand. Better results from the WE but a more enjoyable experience from freehand. Maybe I will become proficient at freehand one day. We shall see...

Originally Posted by Robini

The WE is an awesome system that can put an incredibly sharp edge on a blade. The even better aspect is that is is repeatable. Put a blade back in the clamp in the same position, there is a gauge to ensure this, set your angle and BAM, touchup in short order. I do love the system from the results aspect but it does become a bit mechanical.

I will continue to be a hybrid and sharpen knives both using the WE and freehand. Better results from the WE but a more enjoyable experience from freehand. Maybe I will become proficient at freehand one day. We shall see...

Rich,

I totally agree with your hybrid view and will more than likely practice the same, it’s kinda like when I was learning how to hone razors, I repeatedly used edges from lots of ppl that were more experienced than me and then I would compare those edges to my own and then the chase was on to duplicate that edge so I figure if I get a really killer edge from a system like the Wicked Edge I can practice my freehand skills to chase that same mechanical edge, I’m sure it won’t be easy but then neither was honing when I first started.