Background Help or hurt?

I just purchased my Norton 4K/8K and am waiting on my Shapton 16K. I have always honed my own knives, 12" Chef's, Usuba, Yanagi, etc. I've been honing those with King stones 1K & 6K, for about 15 years. I learned to sharpen knives from my father on his USMC K-Bar. How much is this going to help my with a str8, or is it going to hinder? My Usuba and Yanagi are Suisin, and see time on the hones every day that they are used. I've used my King's to bring back knives that were pretty much left for dead, but am nervous about tackling a str8. Advise?

I make knives for my violin shop and use japanese waterstones from 600 up to 8K and then leather with jeweler's rouge and was really nervous about doing my first straight. I found I had to use a lot less pressure than I usually do, but other than that, not much different. Lynn shows how to hone in his DVD, and I just followed his advice. I think you'll get a much better edge on a razor than you will on the K-bar, just go slow and pay attention to what the edge is telling you (both sight and feel).

I agree - I think if you understand the idea of sharpening (from your knives), the rest is just detail. With straights it is just about pressure and knowing when to stop.

I think you will do fine.

Good luck.

James.