How do I sharpen a Charge cutting hook?

[Leatherman123]

Hey guys, I was looking at my Charge's today (  ) and I noticed that a few of my cutting hooks don't cleanly cut paper. I don't know how they're dul. but they are. They can still cut paracord and stuff but I like them razor sharp! Does anybody here no the "correct" way to sharpen them easily and efficiently?

[jzmtl]

Ceramic rod, follow the bevel of original grind and use your thumb as a guide.

[Leatherman123]

So, you think ceramic would be better than diamond? Would you happen to have a link to the ceramic rod your referring to? 

[Anthony]

I think a diamond rod would remove more steel than you want to, whereas a ceramic rod would keep the cutting edge nice and clean/smooth.

[jzmtl]

So, you think ceramic would be better than diamond? Would you happen to have a link to the ceramic rod your referring to? 

Do you have sharpmaker? I think the triangular rod fits too. I've used diamond rods to start but always finish with ceramic rod. You don't really need it either, sandpaper wrapped around any rod would work.

[Leatherman123]

I do have a Sharpmaker, I'll give it a try!

What grit sandpaper would you recommend as I feel that would be easier.

[Dunc]

Thats the main reason why the Gut hook models have never interested me because the are sods to sharpen and what with them being 154CM your going to need a steady hand .

Dunc

[jzmtl]

I do have a Sharpmaker, I'll give it a try!

What grit sandpaper would you recommend as I feel that would be easier.

I would use 600 to sharpen and something around 1500 or 2000 to do the final polish. The key is to keep a constant angle, maybe try it on something else first if you haven't done it before.

[WH867]

Thats the main reason why the Gut hook models have never interested me because the are sods to sharpen and what with them being 154CM your going to need a steady hand .

Dunc

I think the serrated blades with hook are 420HC.    Only the main blades are  154CM or S30V

[Dunc]

Thats the main reason why the Gut hook models have never interested me because the are sods to sharpen and what with them being 154CM your going to need a steady hand .

Dunc

I think the serrated blades with hook are 420HC.    Only the main blades are  154CM or S30V

That wouldn't be so bad then .

Dunc

[getpower]

I cant find the thread, but I asked this question not too long ago too.

I have a sharpmaker, but still havent tried sharpening the hooks on my tools yet.

[jzmtl]

Oh yeah, it's probably best to put masking tape on the serrated edge first so you don't nick yourself.

[Poncho65]

Oh yeah, it's probably best to put masking tape on the serrated edge first so you don't nick yourself.

In 15 hours how many times has Nikko already cut himself

Good warning though because I would have probably already cut myself

[jzmtl]

Oh yeah, it's probably best to put masking tape on the serrated edge first so you don't nick yourself.

In 15 hours how many times has Nikko already cut himself

Good warning though because I would have probably already cut myself

Hehe, it's a lot harder to forget things when you learn it the hard way, so if you had cut yourself consider I just did your a favor. 

[Poncho65]

Oh yeah, it's probably best to put masking tape on the serrated edge first so you don't nick yourself.

In 15 hours how many times has Nikko already cut himself

Good warning though because I would have probably already cut myself

Hehe, it's a lot harder to forget things when you learn it the hard way, so if you had cut yourself consider I just did your a favor. 

Sucks to learn stuff the hard way I have learnt plenty of it that way but live and learn

[Leatherman123]

No blood, but I figured out a way how to do this. Since the hooks could still cut paracord and things of that nature they weren't "dull" they just weren't that sharp. So, I thought of stropping a knife to get a polished edge that can give it extra sharpness. So, I searched all around my house for some leather "lace" material. I ended up finding a pair of boating shoes that I must have gotten as a gift somewhere along the line... So, I took one of the leather laces out (best thing I could find) and I got some Mothers' Carnauba Wax out of the garage. Then, I cut the lace to about 8 inches or so and applied the wax all over the lace. After that, I put one side of the lace in my teeth and the other in my left hand. Then I took the Charge and I just stropped the cutting hook. After about 5 or so passes on each side the cutting hook can cleanly cut through paper! I am really surpised that this works so well! I hope you guys get the idea as it works flawlessly! 

I  "stropped" the cutting hooks on all my Charge's that needed it (which is only about 4) and they are all shaving sharp. I am pretty happy with the results.

If I wasn't clear, which is probably the case (  ) I will clarify.

 

[Poncho65]

1 Question How did the wax taste

That is a good idea LM123 If I ever get around to getting a Charge I will remember that little trick

[getpower]

Beat me to it.

When I was reading the part when you held the string of leather in your teeth the first think I thought was "how did the wax taste?".

[Outback in Idaho]

Still trying to find the best method to sharpen the cut hook, and have messed up the original surface. Makes one wished this blade was made from CM154 or S30!
One would think that Leatherman must of had some idea on how to sharpen this Cutting Hook back to razor sharpness without much effort... correct?



Have contacted Spyderco numerous times and after a few months they came back with a reply. The only suggestion they came up with was their 1/4" ceramic rod which is too big around.


Tried diamond rods... they could not sharpen it to razor sharpness, so I'd have to tug or rip through to cut something. Not effective nor wanted!


So ended up trying a Dremel Sharpening Kit, which none of the bits that came with my package was small enough. Ended up making the cutting area slightly bigger.


This sort of worked, but still not razor sharpened.

After a while I got creative with my Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker. Put the triangle rod point up in the scissors area, then drug the knife blade horizontally across with a slight twisting motion. Mind you my Cutting Hook now has a bigger hole. My kingdom for a decent workshop! 


This did work, now, with some careful effort. Yet... still looking for better ideas.


Today I went to BiMart and came up with two more items, one being yet another stinking diamond stone. And a way smaller ceramic rod to try out!

Smith's Pocket Pal Knife Sharpener - carbide & ceramic embedded draw sharpeners, with a rotatable tapered diamond rod.


Lansky Mini Knife Sharpener - The rods pop out.


Haven't tried either version yet as my cutting hook is sharp now.


John, the creator of the sheath insert, said he used a green Dremel polishing wheel. He made the edge a curved surface with a file before using it to sharpen his Cut Hook. So that is another option - but that also requires electricity.

425 Emery Impregnated Disc


Anyone else come up with real working ideas?



Edit: Rearranged 2 photos

[Accujohn]

Tough to sharpen. They are really intended to just cut cord etc... Ive had precious few cut paper well. Leatherman was wise to make it a replaceable part on the MUT

[Threeme2189]

How about touching it up by "stropping" with a shoe lace or piece of paracord smeared with an abrasive like toothpaste?
Just smear toothpaste on the lace, stretch it and pass the gut hook on it several times as you would strop or sharpen a blade.
I'm sure that could work for a sharp blade that needs a touch up.

[The Copilot]

My suggestions would be to use the Spyderco 701 Pro Files.  You can sharpen serrations, gut hooks, you name it with these things:

[theonew]

I got this to sharpen the cutting hook and serrated blades. It works quite well

[Styerman]

I have a few diamond rods -conical in shape . I only use these on abused tools . For my own stuff I use a leather bootlace loaded with polishing compound . The lace has a loop to go around the toe of my boot , left hand holds it tight , right strops the hook on the lace .

Chris

[Outback in Idaho]

Anyone have a "stropping" video or tutorial with pictures? Never have done it.

[Outback in Idaho]

I got this to sharpen the cutting hook and serrated blades. It works quite well

Looks like Diafold Ceramic Serrated Knife Sharpener does not exist anymore. Nothing in eBay either.

[turnsouth]

A good three step process is to use a medium-fine triangle stone very lightly as needed, followed up by some wet sand paper (1000 to 2000). Then, like Threeme said, you can run some cord over it with compound for that extra shine and edge.

[theonew]

Looks like Diafold Ceramic Serrated Knife Sharpener does not exist anymore. Nothing in eBay either.
(Image removed from quote.)

Wow, didn't know that, what a shame I did get mine used on Ebay.

[Nikos]

I'm following this thread very carefully; seems like whatever will work for the TTi hook, will also work for the RRT (which I'm still struggling with wrt sharpening... ).