One of the less-fun parts of the knifemaking process is sharpening a whole bunch of knives at once. I've been busting my tail for the show, and have 15 to sharpen today.
Here's a picture set about how I sharpen a bunch of knives at one time. If you're going to do a bunch, you need a system. I have these knives set out on an ironing board
Each is set beside the sheath it goes with. They're all pointed the same direction. As I move one off the grinder at a stage, I flip it over. That way if I have to walk away, I know where I am in the process.
I use trizact belts on my grinder to cut the initial bevel. 160 for the first cut, then 400 before I go to the stones. If the light is right, you can see the burr form on each grit if you have it right.
After all of the knives have been done on the grinder up to 400, I move to the stones. I set them in my vise, so the hight is comfortable and the base is stable. I use 600 then 1000 stones, then strop. I also check the sharpness on my ankles or shoulders, so that my forearms aren't bald. Tricks of the trade
Here's a picture set about how I sharpen a bunch of knives at one time. If you're going to do a bunch, you need a system. I have these knives set out on an ironing board
Each is set beside the sheath it goes with. They're all pointed the same direction. As I move one off the grinder at a stage, I flip it over. That way if I have to walk away, I know where I am in the process. I use trizact belts on my grinder to cut the initial bevel. 160 for the first cut, then 400 before I go to the stones. If the light is right, you can see the burr form on each grit if you have it right.
After all of the knives have been done on the grinder up to 400, I move to the stones. I set them in my vise, so the hight is comfortable and the base is stable. I use 600 then 1000 stones, then strop. I also check the sharpness on my ankles or shoulders, so that my forearms aren't bald. Tricks of the trade
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