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Sharpening 101

1/9/2020

 
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This is how I sharpen all my sickles, pruners, machetes, axes, weeding hoes, bill hooks, and straight razors with my $30 sharpening stone, a piece of newspaper and a leather belt.
Step 1: Establish primary edge with coarse side of stone (grey):
  • Check edge with three finger method to establish baseline
  • Apply oil or saliva to stone
  • Determine correct angle with the angle dividing tip below
  • Begin sharpening in circles or back and forth, ensuring the entire length of blade is covered.
  • Use 10-20lbs of force and switch sides at even intervals every 5-10 seconds
  • Check edge with fingers regularly to make sure edge is even and force is correct
  • Once a noticeably sharp, even edge can be felt proceed to next step
 
Step 2: Refine primary edge with fine side of stone (red):
  • Apply oil or saliva to stone
  • Strop backwards 5-10 times each side (motion is away from your stone not cutting into it.)
  • Check edge with fingers. If satisfactory proceed to next step
 
Step 3: Remove bur:
  • Draw edge lightly through a clean piece of wood 1-2 times to remove bur
  • Feel edge, if clean and sharp proceed to next step
 
Step 4: Strop with newspaper:
  • With two layers of newspaper on the fine side of your stone or a smooth surface (glass or granite counter top, strop backwards carefully 5-10 times each side.
  • If newspaper tears you still have a bur. Repeat steps 2 and 3 and try again.
  • Proceed to Step 5 only if using a razor for shaving.
 
Step 5: Strop with leather and chromium oxide or shaving compound:
  • With leather on fine side of your stone or smooth surface, strop backwards 5-10 times each side.

Remember the acronym SHARPEN:
​
Shape
  • Style of blade: single bevel, double bevel, scalloped, serrated convex?
  • Check for damage to the edge and its condition. Does it need reshaping or just honing?
Hardness
  • Consider the hardness of your blade and grit of your stone or steel
  • Both will affect the amount of pressure and time spent sharpening
  • If stones become dirty or slow to grind rub the surface in oil and wipe clean several times
Angle
  • Keep a consistence angle while grinding, stropping and honing
  • Divide angles in half to find 90, 45, 22, 11, and 5. The angle 22˙ is the most common
Rotation
  • When grinding to shape your blade rotation is not important
  • For grinding, stropping and honing always go in the opposite direction you would cut in
Pressure
  • Apply constant, firm pressure while grinding sharpening and stropping
  • The hardness for your blade and the grit of your stone, strop and steel will affect this
  • Use 10-20lbs of force
ENough
  • Switch sides every 5-10 seconds and check the your progress often after each cycle.
  • Your applied pressure, the hardness for your blade and the grit of your stone, strop and steel will affect this
  • Setting the stone on a damp rag on a table to use both hands while sharpening can help get the right rotation, angle and pressure
  • Not all tools need to be sharpened to Step 7. Step 3 is fine for tools like axes and machete
  • Edges on sharper tools can be maintained with regular newspaper stropping
  • For carbon tools that rust, coat blade with a permanent lubricant like Fluid Film. Not WD 40

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    aUTHOR

     My mission is to regenerate the health of the planet & its people & to help others do the same. Subscribe to my newsletter for blog  & video updates  about nourishing traditional diets, permaculture design, & more. I'll also send you a free copy of my recipe book filled with loads of tips about how to make delicious & nutritious traditional meals with organs, bones & fat!
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