Degrees for Sharpening and Honing

[Arklatex]

Just thought I'd share with my OTP buddies about what I've learned when it comes to sharpening and honing knives.

20 degrees seems to be the standard. I am an avid knife user and sharpener. 20 degrees seems to me to be the perfect bevel for pocket knives. I've used it very successfully for the following pocket knives:

Trapper and Stockman type blades from various manufacturers like Case, Buck, Shrade, etc.

Multitools like Leatherman, Gerber and generic Chinese knockoffs.

Smaller fixed blades like Mora and ESEE.

25 degrees works well for your mid sized blades. I keep my Buck 119 and my Gerber Infantry knife honed at this angle and they more than get the job done for everything from bushcrafting to skinning and boning. This is my middle ground.

30 degrees works well for large blades like machetes and Bowies. Still very sharp but it retains some outstanding strength and chip resistance for heavy use like chopping or batoning.

40 degrees. Still experimenting but my 2 Spyderco knives are mfg recommended to be honed at this angle. My PM2 is surprisingly sharp at this angle but nothing like the Case trapper I carry as a backup. The jury is out on this one and the PM2 may get reprofiled to a lessor degree.

What are your preferences when it comes to this topic?

[hawgrider]

I have always hand sharpend my knives and follow the angle of the original edge. If I want to shave the hair off my arm with one I use a Arkansas white stone with a couple drops of gun oil. For maintenance touch ups a knife steel is perfect for every knife in the house including my boning knives and my cleavers.

[Inor]

I use Japanese water stones and sharpen my knives by feel. Like Hawg, I keep the factory angle as long as possible. I have an 800 grit stone for rough work and a 3000 grit for fine tuning the edge. Then I use a leather strop with jeweler's rouge to finish it. The trick with the water stones is that it takes several passes to build up a slurry to actually sharpen the knife.

[Arklatex]

I used to sharpen by feel but in my experience manufacturers don't always put a bevel I like on the blade. My knives are still sharpened by hand on an Arkansas stone but I've got a good eye for angles since I used a lansky system for years. Yall may be surprised at the results of reprofiled blades! Especially if you like to spend an afternoon whittling like I do on occasion!

[Inor]

I am trying to justify buying a Wicked Edge sharpener. They are crazy expensive but all of the reviews are solid. I just want to try one before I shell out that kind of cash, especially since it only sharpens knives and does not do chisels etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Edge-Pro-Pack-II/dp/B00KX9JJMS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1451681503&sr=8-5&keywords=wicked+edge

[hawgrider]

I am trying to justify buying a Wicked Edge sharpener. They are crazy expensive but all of the reviews are solid. I just want to try one before I shell out that kind of cash, especially since it only sharpens knives and does not do chisels etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Edge-Pro-Pack-II/dp/B00KX9JJMS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1451681503&sr=8-5&keywords=wicked+edgeThose are OUCH thats expensive.

[Inor]

Those are OUCH thats expensive.

That is the one benefit to traveling as much as I do. I use my AmEx travel points to buy frivolous stuff like that.

[Arklatex]

I am trying to justify buying a Wicked Edge sharpener. They are crazy expensive but all of the reviews are solid. I just want to try one before I shell out that kind of cash, especially since it only sharpens knives and does not do chisels etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Edge-Pro-Pack-II/dp/B00KX9JJMS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1451681503&sr=8-5&keywords=wicked+edge
I think you could do better for a lot less. Wicked is way too proud of their product IMO. That said I haven't ever heard of them or researched them in the slightest way. But if travel points will pay for it what the heck! It may be the best thing since sliced bread!

[Infidel]

I use the Lansky system and have for years. I gave up hand sharpening when I hit about 30 or so, I just couldn't keep the angle consistent anymore for some reason. I've tinkered with some of the other sharpening gadgets like the Chef's Choice but always go back to the Lansky. I've been checking out the Edge Pro Apex and Wicked Edge systems as Inor has and they are both super expensive. Seems the Apex might be a bit more versatile and be able to do chisels which would be a benefit. I doubt I'll ever buy either system as I don't sharpen all that much. I'd have to do every knife in the house once a month to justify those prices.

As for angles I find that a 20 degree angle is about right for all my knives. I've been stropping all my blades for a couple years now which makes a huge difference in how sharp they get. I won't sharpen a knife without stropping afterwards anymore. For polishing compound on the strop I use 1 grit and that's the white Task Force compound sold at Lowes. I've made the offer before but if anyone needs a piece of scrap leather for a strop, shoot me a PM and I'll dig around in my box and see what I can come up with.

-Infidel

[Deebo]

I can take a decently sharp knife, AND MAKE IT DULL AS HELL.
I need to learn.
Leon was just showing something on Facebook. It was an angle device.

I will go look at it, and also check around, but purchasing has been minimal, as we are about to try the BIG MOVE again.

[DerBiermeister]

I am trying to justify buying a Wicked Edge sharpener. They are crazy expensive but all of the reviews are solid. I just want to try one before I shell out that kind of cash, especially since it only sharpens knives and does not do chisels etc.

http://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Edge-Pro-Pack-II/dp/B00KX9JJMS/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1451681503&sr=8-5&keywords=wicked+edge

Save your money and buy an equally good system -- KME

http://www.amazon.com/KME-Sharpeners-Knife-Sharpening-System/dp/B004GEGK00/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1451708835&sr=8-2&keywords=kme+sharpener

Ron Swartz runs a small shop and loves to talk knives and sharpening. Call him direct and order the KF-D4 sytem for $180.00.
800-561-4339

I've had his system now for most of a year -- and it is PRECISION in spades.

I am finding on most of my pocket knives they are right around the 20 degree angle. I haven't gone to my larger knives yet, like my Ka-bar or bayonet.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EomdBYeDR3k

[Inor]

Save your money and buy an equally good system -- KME

http://www.amazon.com/KME-Sharpeners-Knife-Sharpening-System/dp/B004GEGK00/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1451708835&sr=8-2&keywords=kme+sharpener

Ron Swartz runs a small shop and loves to talk knives and sharpening. Call him direct and order the KF-D4 sytem for $180.00.
800-561-4339

I've had his system now for most of a year -- and it is PRECISION in spades.

I am finding on most of my pocket knives they are right around the 20 degree angle. I haven't gone to my larger knives yet, like my Ka-bar or bayonet.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EomdBYeDR3k

I like the looks of that system and $200 is a whole lot easier to take than $750. Thanks!

[DerBiermeister]

Here is an older KME video . There have been a lot of improvements since this was made, but you can get a basic idea of how the system works.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=9Mtz0aNJBCY