The Sharpening Thread
Discussion
I have one of the ruixin 008 sharpening jig things, I think its pretty good. can get them very cheap from the usual Chinese places.
Would recommend the up-rated rose joint, a coarse-ish ceramic stone (220 - 400) (if you are completely changing the angle) and perhaps some of the very fine ones if you like to spend ages getting things to a mirror finish.
Perhaps a bit of a faff mounting things and changing stones if you are already good at free hand sharpening on a whetstone. but for a beginner who wants to make things sharp i wouldn't recommend many other things.
also add a cheap leather strop and some compound for that finishing touch.
Just be careful not to over do it starting at the choil end of the knife over and over again, making it too high compared to the rest of the edge. its a lot of effort having to try and fix it!
Would recommend the up-rated rose joint, a coarse-ish ceramic stone (220 - 400) (if you are completely changing the angle) and perhaps some of the very fine ones if you like to spend ages getting things to a mirror finish.
Perhaps a bit of a faff mounting things and changing stones if you are already good at free hand sharpening on a whetstone. but for a beginner who wants to make things sharp i wouldn't recommend many other things.
also add a cheap leather strop and some compound for that finishing touch.
Just be careful not to over do it starting at the choil end of the knife over and over again, making it too high compared to the rest of the edge. its a lot of effort having to try and fix it!
Atomic GTI said:
I have one of the ruixin 008 sharpening jig things, I think its pretty good. can get them very cheap from the usual Chinese places.
Would recommend the up-rated rose joint, a coarse-ish ceramic stone (220 - 400) (if you are completely changing the angle) and perhaps some of the very fine ones if you like to spend ages getting things to a mirror finish.
Perhaps a bit of a faff mounting things and changing stones if you are already good at free hand sharpening on a whetstone. but for a beginner who wants to make things sharp i wouldn't recommend many other things.
also add a cheap leather strop and some compound for that finishing touch.
Just be careful not to over do it starting at the choil end of the knife over and over again, making it too high compared to the rest of the edge. its a lot of effort having to try and fix it!
Good to see they've up-rated the rose joint as my plastic one now fits like a 'dick in a shirt sleeve'. Mine also does an awful job of clamping the stone - I've had 2 fall out and smashed on the floor! Overall they work really well.Would recommend the up-rated rose joint, a coarse-ish ceramic stone (220 - 400) (if you are completely changing the angle) and perhaps some of the very fine ones if you like to spend ages getting things to a mirror finish.
Perhaps a bit of a faff mounting things and changing stones if you are already good at free hand sharpening on a whetstone. but for a beginner who wants to make things sharp i wouldn't recommend many other things.
also add a cheap leather strop and some compound for that finishing touch.
Just be careful not to over do it starting at the choil end of the knife over and over again, making it too high compared to the rest of the edge. its a lot of effort having to try and fix it!
I have a pull through (have watched the above video) and have never been happy with it.
I don’t want to use a wetstone or the above mentioned jig.
I don’t want to spend anything like this but has anybody else used it? (or something similar)
https://shop.tormek.com/en-gb/products/tormek-t-1-...
There must be something where I just insert the knife and it puts a clean sharp edge?
I don’t want to use a wetstone or the above mentioned jig.
I don’t want to spend anything like this but has anybody else used it? (or something similar)
https://shop.tormek.com/en-gb/products/tormek-t-1-...
There must be something where I just insert the knife and it puts a clean sharp edge?
Quick update on the Horl 2 system I started this thread with........
My favourite knife (one of a set of 4 but really like this one) I'll own up as it's had a lot of obuse and deep nicks ( by Wifey of course) so gave it a flash on the Triton powered whetstone to get them out. Then onto the Horl 2 using the standard 600 grit and 1000 honer followed by the 3000 and 6000 wheels and finished on the supplied leather strop.
Excellent result with mixed feelings on value for money. I'll post some pros and cons when I get back......
My favourite knife (one of a set of 4 but really like this one) I'll own up as it's had a lot of obuse and deep nicks ( by Wifey of course) so gave it a flash on the Triton powered whetstone to get them out. Then onto the Horl 2 using the standard 600 grit and 1000 honer followed by the 3000 and 6000 wheels and finished on the supplied leather strop.
Excellent result with mixed feelings on value for money. I'll post some pros and cons when I get back......
andyxxx said:
I have a pull through (have watched the above video) and have never been happy with it.
I don’t want to use a wetstone or the above mentioned jig.
I don’t want to spend anything like this but has anybody else used it? (or something similar)
https://shop.tormek.com/en-gb/products/tormek-t-1-...
There must be something where I just insert the knife and it puts a clean sharp edge?
This is exactly where I am - wanting something less damaging than a pull through but without spending £200+!I don’t want to use a wetstone or the above mentioned jig.
I don’t want to spend anything like this but has anybody else used it? (or something similar)
https://shop.tormek.com/en-gb/products/tormek-t-1-...
There must be something where I just insert the knife and it puts a clean sharp edge?
Miocene said:
andyxxx said:
I have a pull through (have watched the above video) and have never been happy with it.
I don’t want to use a wetstone or the above mentioned jig.
I don’t want to spend anything like this but has anybody else used it? (or something similar)
https://shop.tormek.com/en-gb/products/tormek-t-1-...
There must be something where I just insert the knife and it puts a clean sharp edge?
This is exactly where I am - wanting something less damaging than a pull through but without spending £200+!I don’t want to use a wetstone or the above mentioned jig.
I don’t want to spend anything like this but has anybody else used it? (or something similar)
https://shop.tormek.com/en-gb/products/tormek-t-1-...
There must be something where I just insert the knife and it puts a clean sharp edge?
Does knifes only unlike it's big brother the T4 or T8 that can sharpen virtually anything.
Only has a 600 grit stone - hardly a "professionals choice"
Using a 600 grit stone regularly will soon wear a blade down.
Joe M said:
Been watching some reviews of the different sharpeners, tormek, horl etc.
Think I'm going to go for a Work Sharp Ken Onion edition. Any experience of it on here?
Ken Onion.... I thought you were making it up, but no: https://www.cyclaireshop.co.uk/knife-sharpening-to...Think I'm going to go for a Work Sharp Ken Onion edition. Any experience of it on here?
Looks like the same idea as the Robert Sorby Pro-Edge.
Well, thanks to this thread, I've just been down a sharpening rabbit hole on YouTube.
I like the idea of using a whetstone, but didn't like the idea of them wearing and having to re-flatten them from time to time.
This led to looking at diamond whetstones, as they should remain flat indefinitely. The recommendation seems to be to go for monocrystal diamonds that are properly embedded in the metal block rather than stuck on with adhesives.
Although DMT were an often recommended option, they did appear quite expensive, so I've ultimately gone for a Trend double-sided one with 300 grit one side and 1000 grit the other. Also ordered a small bottle of lapping fluid to use with it. Total cost was £60.
I suspect this setup will be more than sufficient for my needs, so will see how I get on with this, and decide later whether to add a strop for a finer polish at the end.
I like the idea of using a whetstone, but didn't like the idea of them wearing and having to re-flatten them from time to time.
This led to looking at diamond whetstones, as they should remain flat indefinitely. The recommendation seems to be to go for monocrystal diamonds that are properly embedded in the metal block rather than stuck on with adhesives.
Although DMT were an often recommended option, they did appear quite expensive, so I've ultimately gone for a Trend double-sided one with 300 grit one side and 1000 grit the other. Also ordered a small bottle of lapping fluid to use with it. Total cost was £60.
I suspect this setup will be more than sufficient for my needs, so will see how I get on with this, and decide later whether to add a strop for a finer polish at the end.
^ The cost of the lapping fluid seems rapacious quite steep, try this when you’ve used it all Honerite Gold, £18.00 makes six litres. I mix a batch up and decant some in to an empty window cleaning hand pump spray.
wolfracesonic said:
^ The cost of the lapping fluid seems rapacious quite steep, try this when you’ve used it all Honerite Gold, £18.00 makes six litres. I mix a batch up and decant some in to an empty window cleaning hand pump spray.
Thanks for this. I also thought the cost was pretty steep, so will try your suggestion in future. 
C n C said:
wolfracesonic said:
^ The cost of the lapping fluid seems rapacious quite steep, try this when you’ve used it all Honerite Gold, £18.00 makes six litres. I mix a batch up and decant some in to an empty window cleaning hand pump spray.
Thanks for this. I also thought the cost was pretty steep, so will try your suggestion in future. 
You don't need any compound with that type of stone other than water (not really needed in use either other than to clean it). Yes a strop should be used but for now an old pair of denim jeans can be used for that. Have a Google on it.
Got fed up with blunt knives over Christmas so just bought a Chef's Choice 120
Didn’t really want to spend £165 (on price match) but this has been recommended to me so if it does the job, I will be happy.
https://www.hartsofstur.com/chefs-choice-120-edge-...
Didn’t really want to spend £165 (on price match) but this has been recommended to me so if it does the job, I will be happy.
https://www.hartsofstur.com/chefs-choice-120-edge-...
Let us know how you get on with it!
I'd settled(ish) on this one, but not purchases yet, as it consistently gets good reviews and seems straightforward to use:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharp-Precision-Adjust-Kn...
I'd settled(ish) on this one, but not purchases yet, as it consistently gets good reviews and seems straightforward to use:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharp-Precision-Adjust-Kn...
Miocene said:
Let us know how you get on with it!
I'd settled(ish) on this one, but not purchases yet, as it consistently gets good reviews and seems straightforward to use:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharp-Precision-Adjust-Kn...
Look carefully at the youtube videos and see how flimsy and 'wobbly' the plastic is. I'd settled(ish) on this one, but not purchases yet, as it consistently gets good reviews and seems straightforward to use:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharp-Precision-Adjust-Kn...
dickymint said:
Miocene said:
Let us know how you get on with it!
I'd settled(ish) on this one, but not purchases yet, as it consistently gets good reviews and seems straightforward to use:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharp-Precision-Adjust-Kn...
Look carefully at the youtube videos and see how flimsy and 'wobbly' the plastic is. I'd settled(ish) on this one, but not purchases yet, as it consistently gets good reviews and seems straightforward to use:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sharp-Precision-Adjust-Kn...
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