Thread: Knife Vs Straight

I think David is just trying to start a fight. But I'll join in.

The difference between sharpening a knife and a razor is that the razor is easier because it has a built in angle guide.

The people that say that you use more pressure when sharpening a knife don't know how to sharpen a knife.

The people that say that you use different grits don't understand the honing process.
I many bevel set a near wedge on a 800 grit, but I'm not bevel setting a full hollow or a pen knife on that low of grit.
Or truly scary, I watched a guy bevel set a razor with a machinist file, refine the bevel with a bastard file, do a few swipes on an ark, and it shaved just as smooth as silk.

The swiss army knife in my pocket has two blades. One is sharpened to 4000 grit, the other to 12000 grit. They hold their edge just fine. If your knife can't hold an 8000 grit edge, then perhaps you are buying knife shaped objects.

Did that stir it up enough?

You nailed it Cris. Honing is all the same, only the object being honed, changes. I've honed numerous implements, from axes n chisles, to ice auger blades n pocket knives. Its all in keeping the proper working angle, in the bevel.

Look at the knife sharpening picture in the OP. You can see the blood being pushed out of the fingertips putting pressure on the knife. Just sayin.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

Look at the knife sharpening picture in the OP. You can see the blood being pushed out of the fingertips putting pressure on the knife. Just sayin.

It looks relative to the blade being honed. But I'd say its more from the pressure being applied by the thumb behind the blade, trying to hold the correct angle and application of pressure. But just as razors, pressure is always lightened as things progress.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

Look at the knife sharpening picture in the OP. You can see the blood being pushed out of the fingertips putting pressure on the knife. Just sayin.

Just because half the world doesn't understand how to do something correctly, isn't proof that the two aren't the same. Believe me, you can push down on a straight with all the force of the world too, and I've seen guys do it.

Edge longevity for knives is achieved by convexing the bevels during sharpening (freehand). For a razor convexing is a big no.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Edge longevity for knives is achieved by convexing the bevels during sharpening (freehand). For a razor convexing is a big no.

Zackry..!!! Said the Samurai sword. That's about the closest I've seen to a razor's sharpness, and there was rust n pits on the blade. An amazing piece of steel, to say the least.

Originally Posted by DZEC

I have a knife with a scandi edge that I just cannot finesse into the sharpness it had when I got it even though I can now pretty consistently get good edges on my straights. My razor honing skills do not seem to transfer so easily to my knives.

I’m with Gasman on that point. It requires practice, but I do believe there are differences in technique and maybe even in the best stones to use for each purpose.

Scandi's are like razors, the bevel is built in but maintaining it & not having 23 different angles to the bevel is the hard part
Can be a lot of work if the initial work was done on a belt . A stone will want to flatten all the dips from grinding.
I just sharpened my first one & was in no rush to do others

Originally Posted by mainaman

Edge longevity for knives is achieved by convexing the bevels during sharpening (freehand). For a razor convexing is a big no.

Yeah but only because we all sharpen on flat stones so maintenance is easily repeatable. A convexed razor edge can shave just as well tho.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Edge longevity for knives is achieved by convexing the bevels during sharpening (freehand). For a razor convexing is a big no.

If you use a pasted strop, then you have a convex edge.

Originally Posted by criswilson10

If you use a pasted strop, then you have a convex edge.

HAR!
Brings to mind a few I have with excessive pasted strop wear.....Sheffield wedges, of course!
You can almost hone them...Multiple layers and such.
What gets them shaving?......

Other than a regrind, a pasted strop!