how to sharpen knife

[Benny01]

just wondering whats the best way to sharpen knives. i have a draw-thru style one and need to know if its best to go slow or fast or push light or hard etc. just lookin for the best result

[Jeremy87]

The harder you push the more steel you remove from the blade. The draw thru sharpeners are ok for giving a bait knife a quick tuch up on the boat but are pretty useless for maintaining a good quality edge for a filleting knife

[squizzytaylor]

Benny, I have this kit here and find it fantastic, takes about 3-4 minutes per knife and will have them razor sharp. I paid about $65.00 for mine from my local Tackle World. I can not rate these highly enough. Have a look at the video as to how they set up and work.

Geoff

http://www.lanskysharpeners.com/LKC03.php

[Noelm]

as already mentioned, any of the "miracle" pull through/over/across some sort of gadget will be OK for a quick sharpening job, but to get a proper edge on a quality knife will require practice, an Oil stone and a "steel", no short cuts, how many times have you seen a Butcher drag out a "demtel" sharpener?? never, only a steel, and an Oil stone out the back each day.

[wheelerdog]

i have a chefs choice electric diamond sharpener. its the ducks nuts. purchased it from a well known on line store.

I use a Jewel Stik to touch up, the electric sharperner can restore a rusty throw away with a bit of work to a razor edge.

[Little grey men]

Gotta agree with Noelm....for the best result you can't go past an oil stone and a good quality steel.
It may not be the quickest method but it will produce a very good edge if done correctly.
Our skinning blades were sharpened like this and they were sharper than a sharp thing with sharp bits on it.

[rando]

I just bought a set of sharpening stones last month.
400 grit diamond hone
1000 grit diamond hone
6000 grit japanese waterstone.
The diamond stones are amazingly fast, in fact the 400 grit must be used cautiously.
But you still need to spend a bit of time and be precice with your edge angles, but "boy oh boy" do they give a good edge.
Ive previously only used the composite al-ox stones but i will never go back to the Stone-age after using these items.

Carba-Tec at Cooparoo has a good range of diamond and jap stones,,, cheap.

[Noelm]

I think the secret is being able to hold the angle when using the "stone" and being able to repeat it next time as well, I have to admit, I am not too flash at sharpeneing, but I know the theories (just like lots of things I suppose) but I am probably just a bit above average, and certainly way better than your mate who insists on giving your favorite knive a scrape on the back step or driveway, "just to touch it up"

[scrubba01]

I bought a water wheel not long ago cost $180 from mitre 10 made by Triton. It has a water wheel which is good for thinning the blade as well as sharpening and a leather honing wheel with honing paste to bring it up to shaving sharp does a knife in 2 minutes. Also comes with an angle guide and a clamp which can be used for doing chisels. Great machine highly recomend it takes a lot less skill than an oil stone to get a razor sharp edge.

[Scott nthQld]

I too use an oil stone after every trip, but always take out one of the pull through sharpeners for quick touch ups.

The method I use on the stone isn't the correct way, I don't even know if it detrimental, but I've had no issues so far. I just use vegetable oil on the stone, but use the corner of the stone, using the same motion you would normally only on the corner. I find it is much easier to maintain the smae agle and sharpens your knives up much quicker. i then use a steel to get a proper cutting edge.

Works like a dream, I can have a totally blunt knife that you would cut butter with razor sharp in a matter of minutes. For knives that are only a little dull 2 or 3 runs over the corner of the stone for each side, a quick run with the steel and it'll cut your friggin hand off without you feeling a thing...well initially anyway

[Jeremy87]

Yep Scott i use the same technique for my knives. All of my hunting and filliting knives have an edge that you can shaves you arm hairs with. When we were filliting some spotties the other day my mate mitch was using my knife and complaining it was too sharp. I said "what do you mean too sharp". his initial cut near the head had nearly gone straight through the spine of an 85cm spottie.

[Tailortaker]

[quote=Noelm;940840]as already mentioned, any of the "miracle" pull through/over/across some sort of gadget will be OK for a quick sharpening job, but to get a proper edge on a quality knife will require practice, an Oil stone and a "steel", no short cuts, how many times have you seen a Butcher drag out a "demtel" sharpener?? never, only a steel, and an Oil stone out the back each day.[/quote
Nolem is correct except for the highlighted part, dont know many butchers that use the stone each day, if we did we wouldnt get much life out of a knife
cheers TT

[reidy]

Good day all,
Have a bo peep at a Swiss star sharpener.Just a simple stick sharpener (steel one side ceramic the other) but a beauty.Small enough to put in your pocket a few swipes and your edge is back.Mine goe's everywhere i go.
A top bit of kit and simple to use.
Cheers
Reidy
Love the santas

[Noelm]

[quote=Tailortaker;941290]

as already mentioned, any of the "miracle" pull through/over/across some sort of gadget will be OK for a quick sharpening job, but to get a proper edge on a quality knife will require practice, an Oil stone and a "steel", no short cuts, how many times have you seen a Butcher drag out a "demtel" sharpener?? never, only a steel, and an Oil stone out the back each day.[/quote
Nolem is correct except for the highlighted part, dont know many butchers that use the stone each day, if we did we wouldnt get much life out of a knife
cheers TT

Yep true, I guess I was just being a Fisherman and stretching the truth a tad, maybe not every day, but you get the idea!

[trueblue]

oil stones and steels are the best way to go

a new upgrade to the oil stone is the diamond stone, a flat piece of steel with embedded daimonds, used the same way as an oil stone

for quick touchups, I like the hand held daimond sharpeners with about a 1" x 1" flat bit of impregnated daimond

cheers

Mick