Thank you everyone for the suggestions, I really do appreciate it. I did the sharpie trick and I do believe that i have the correct angle. Then I dropped my grit down to the lowest I have of 220.
However, I did about 15 passes on each side and didn't get a bur, just metal shavings. I pinned and stropped anyhow, and the blade is still pretty dull. It still just rips paper and I can put moderate pressure with my finger on the blade and still feels dull. Im still not sure what I'm doing wrong.
by FiestyNuts75
9 Comments
Check your angle. If it’s not doing anything it’s the angle is wrong or the pressure is wrong.
how much pressure do you put on the stone…? is your knife secured well? I would also suggest using the little 3d printed table that goes under your knife to really nail going at the same angle
What angle are you sharpening at? Have you tried edge leading only? You may not get as keen of an edge, but you’re also not worrying about forming a bur, so more of a straight forward process, and can show if it’s technique related. Also, have you tried a different knife? I don’t know what knife you have there, but I’ve had a couple of knives that won’t take an edge, maybe that one has a bad temper.
I have only used mine once, started on a $5 Walmart special. It took about 30 passes on each side but it was absolutely razor sharp. I think my angle was wrong to begin with.
Do the 15 passes of 220 and then go up to a higher grit and do 15 more passes. Also try applying a little more pressure
Worksharp has videos on how to use the precision’s adjust.
I will add that 15 passes is probably not enough to get a bur. Sharpen one side until you get a bur and then switch sides. The bur will show up on the opposite side of the blade than the one you are sharpening. I drag my nail off the edge gently and you will feel the lip that your nail catches on when you e achieved a bur. I continue to sharpen until the blade had a bur along the entire length so there isn’t any dull spots. Then flip the knife over and do it all over on the next side. Once you get a bur there you flip the knife and move up to the next grit. Rinse and repeat until you get to the ceramic stone and then strop.
Good luck. The precision adjust is an awesome sharpening system when you get t down. There are some 3d printable supports to keep the clamp from flexing while sharpening which can help get a better edge too.
Is this a dull knife or are you just touching up an edge? What’s the steel?
If it’s dull and in a hard steel you may not be doing enough passes or don’t have the right pressure. Don’t bother counting passes, they mean nothing. It’s just to help keep your bevels even. Go until you get a burr. I like to use a little piece of soft cloth like microfiber, it will grab burr when it’s still too small to feel with a finger or see.
You said you are doing the sharpy trick, are you sure there’s not a very fine line of black left on the apex? Use a light at an angle, it can be hard to see if you’re barely missing the apex. If you’re not raising a burr you’re not hitting the apex.
But I’d bet it’s a combination of pressure and missing it. You’ll get a feel for it.
Edit: also, wet your stone even if you’re using diamond. It helps. I also wipe off the swarf when it’s visible.
These work well but it takes way more passes than any of my other sharpening solutions.
I LOVE mine.
Not sure what steel you’re working with but some are much more challenging to sharpen than others.
Make sure you tighten the blade down tighter than you think reasonable and place a finger under the clamp to prevent the blade from flexing down. Once you get down to finer grits, you ease up on the pressure.