Knife Fine

How do I get a knife “scary sharp”?

I am pretty good at sharpening my knives. However No matter how hard I try I cant get them “Scary Sharp” to the point where I can shave the hair of my arm. I am using a Norton sharpening stone with both coarse and fine grit the finishing off with 600 grit sand paper and a leather strop. Are there any better tools to use. Also how to I get a Mirror Polish on my knives. If there is anyone who can share some light that would be great.

The first thing is the grit. In my shop I need leather cutting knives that will not just shave the hair off my arm but cut off just the top half of the hair without the blade touching the skin. 600 grit is not something I get a fine edge with, that is for a damaged blade that needs WORK. For sharpening I normally use a light oil or water on wet/dry sandpaper starting at 1000 grit then 2000 grit. If the knife just needs a quick touch up I start with the 2000. I finish with 2500 grit then use a FIRM leather strop coated with red jeweler’s rouge. Be sure you put the sandpaper on a surface that is FLAT, I use a small section of 3/8″ thick Plexiglas. I also have a 6000 grit water stone that I hone my finishing knives on between the 2500 and the polishing strop. Doing the 6000 grit step will produce a mirror finish after the rouge polishing. If you have more spending money than I do 8000 grit water stones are available too. My 6000 cost $35 (2″ x 8″) but a 8000 grit is almost $90!

If holding the blade at the same angle EVERY STROKE (which MUST be done) is a problem for you I highly recommend the Lansky sharpening system. The basic set will put you back about $55 and add another almost $20 for the 2000 grit “Super Sapphire” hone. The Lansky clamps onto the blade and uses a guide rod to run the honing stone at the same angle all of the time. The downside is, it will only use their stones. But they do last a long time.

If you decide on a machine, the Tormek sharpener mentioned is a good tool but Grizzly tools makes one just as good and at 1/3 the price! A member of the Leatherworker’s Guild I belong to has one and loves it.

Arkansas Stones- Diamond Sharpening Stones- Coarse, Medium, Fine- Smith’s Knife Sharpeners