Thread: Knifemaking photo-essay (9) Finishing and sharpening

Sharpening.

1) I begin by carefully grinding the new edge with a 180 grit belt.

2) One way to envision your sharpening angle. With a drop saw, cut a wedge to your selected angle, place it on the sharpening stone, and set the blade flat against the angle. You can now see what your sharpening setup should look like.

3) I begin stoning the edge using the fine (brown or red-brown) side of a Norton IB8 aluminium oxide stone. The IB8 at top was brand-new when it was given to me in 1980, the bottom one is new and unused.

4) An IB8 sharpening stone in a wooden holder, which is fixed securely to the bench.