Sharpener carry

[IMR4198]

     Only a sharp knife is a usable one, I suppose.  Does anyone here carry a sharpener or stone with them?  I have carried a ceramic rod before in a pack.  Very lightweight.  It generally works well enough to put some edge back on something you have dulled out. 
      I saw an old fellow pull his Case out of his pocket to show it to me.  It came out with a small carborundum hone.  They stayed together in his pocket, and came out together.  The hone had really abraded the Case bone down considerably.  Best wishes.  Gary

[Poncho65]

Yes, I carry a dual sided Buck branded diamond plate in my phone case which has a pocket behind the phone case pocket It is a Buck EdgeTek Dual sided sharpener. One side is medium and the other is fine. Works very well

I use to carry the DMT credit card sized diamond sharpener plates 3 different grits

[IMR4198]

I used to borrow a Buck Steelmaster from Chip who lived down the hall from me in college.  Anybody ever seen one of those things?  Pretty heavy.  Came with a case and a metal sheath sort of thing.   Sounds like you have a usable sharpener with you Poncho.  Be prepared, right?  Best wishes.  Gary

[BPRoberts]

I don't EDC one (the odds that I'll use any of them enough to dull one blade, let alone all of the 3 or 4  that I usually have) but when I go hiking or whatever I usually drop a Falkniven DC4 in my pocket/bag just in case.

[Pilotsupergrip]

I've had this one for maybe 6 years and it has been my primary way of sharpening blades. If I get a dent on a blade or it needs reprofiling before that ceramic rod I use most of the time a diamond file on my Curl or Surge. Don't carry this in my pocket but always at hand in the go bag

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[DIAMOND]

I carry waaaay too much stuff already.

But, I have used the edge of a car window and the bottom of ceramic cup.

[Pilotsupergrip]

I carry waaaay too much stuff already.

But, I have used the edge of a car window and the bottom of ceramic cup.

Good tips Diamond. The bottom of a ceramic is a really great option to keep in mind because cups, plates etc are in every house. That's also a zero budget option for sharpening. Car windows typically come with a full car and that might be more expensive depending on the car

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[DIAMOND]

Good tips Diamond. The bottom of a ceramic is a really great option to keep in mind because cups, plates etc are in every house. That's also a zero budget option for sharpening. Car windows typically come with a full car and that might be more expensive depending on the car

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[Tasky]

I also have the Vic one in my bag, and have used it most often on other blades, such as the hideously dull kitchen knives supplied on self-catering caravan holidays.
I'm not especially good at freehand sharpening, but it's there if I ever need it.

[cody6268]

In my fencing tool bag, there is usually some kind of small old-fashioned Carborundum stone (which has to be 30-40 years older than me), but I'm soon pairing that with a puck sharpener, as a small pocket stone isn't suitable for axes, machetes, scythes, and brush hooks, and a puck is too coarse for axes.

[IMR4198]

      I knew an old mechanic that had a very portable solution for chisels and pocket knives.  He would just use a small quarter sheet of sandpaper.  Put it on something fairly flat and it worked pretty well.  It wears quickly, but is excellent for portability.  Also useful for other sorts of things a piece of sandpaper is good for.  Sanding rust from something.  Knock off a burr.  Wood applications and many other materials.  Best wishes.  Gary

[nate j]

I’ve got a small diamond rod in my hiking pack, but don’t carry any sort of sharpener daily.  Just never felt the need.

[Pilotsupergrip]

      I knew an old mechanic that had a very portable solution for chisels and pocket knives.  He would just use a small quarter sheet of sandpaper.  Put it on something fairly flat and it worked pretty well.  It wears quickly, but is excellent for portability.  Also useful for other sorts of things a piece of sandpaper is good for.  Sanding rust from something.  Knock off a burr.  Wood applications and many other materials.  Best wishes.  Gary

Maybe a set of few different grits would work as it should take the almost same space if you got one or three sheets carried in some kind of sleeve/pocket/back of a moleskine/wallet. Think I may actually try this one out. I tend to use sandpapers often so it may just have a place in my edc

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[IMR4198]

     I have actually done the sandpaper sharpening before.  You might want to use it like a strop.  Pull the blade away from the edge side.  Using it like a stone where you push it like you are cutting a slice from the stone might not work for you.  Try it on some old clunker first until you learn.  It is easy to fold a sheet so that you have for instance; a half sheet folded so you have grit on two sides.  Beware that when you use it that way you will be leaving marks on whatever you rest it on.  Not a good idea for furniture. 
     I wouldn't say this is a great way to first put an edge on a blade.  It works for touch ups pretty well.  Don't use really coarse grits and be careful you don't scuff the blades up.   Best wishes.  Gary

[IMR4198]

Might need some more pictures on this thread.  Here is the ceramic rod sharpener from my belt pack.  Everybody says 'fanny pack' here, but that doesn't translate to British evidently.  Also a 58mm for scale and an old Case accessory.  Anybody remember these?  Best wishes. Gary
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[Poncho65]

Here is the Buck diamond sharpener I was talking about above It is 1 inch X 4 inch

[IMR4198]

     Top notch photo, Poncho.  You know, I am a little surprised that nobody is carrying one of those little pocket steels that look like a pen.  You know the type.  Or something like the little steel that sometimes you see with a Champion in the leather pouch.  Best wishes.  Gary

[NutSAK]

I have Lansky portable crock stick sharpeners everywhere (LCKEY).  One is always within easy reach and they are amazing for touch-ups.  I will use the bottom of a ceramic coffee mug at times as well, as those seem to always be near.  I touch up/hone frequently and very rarely need to "sharpen" a knife.

[Pilotsupergrip]

     Top notch photo, Poncho.  You know, I am a little surprised that nobody is carrying one of those little pocket steels that look like a pen.  You know the type.  Or something like the little steel that sometimes you see with a Champion in the leather pouch.  Best wishes.  Gary

You mean those (cheap) diamond rods that wardware stores often sell? Looking like a pen that has a pocket clip. I've used for 10 years one when I need to reprofile my serrated blades before using a ceramic rod. Or maybe you meant a different kind of sharperer?

Btw it's always nice to see some pictures. Often I have some idea of what something would look like but only when I see of picture of it I can evaluate if I would be interested also in someones carry/idea. As Im saying this I dont have a picture of what I just described..

Btw again. My friend carries a Fjällkniven DC4 (if I remember correctly) double sided small stone in a leather sheath. I've tried it and it's just excellent. Made me really jealous and I almost bought one myself. But then I reasoned I can make even a spoon shaving sharp with what I already have so I saved the money instead.

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[IMR4198]

     I was thinking of something like the 40982 Victorinox mini pocket honing steel, I think.  Less than four inches long with a loop on the end.  No diamonds on that one.  I have seen similar things that look like a pen.  Some are diamond coated, some are like a little butcher's steel.  The Victorinox one like you use, Pilot, would serve the save purpose.  Once upon a time you used to see Champions in a leather pouch with a little pocket for the mini steel.  Maybe they still sell them with the big Vics. 
     Definitely just a touch up device.  That's all the little ceramic thing I carry is good for.  I used it this morning.  Best wishes.  Gary
 

[NutSAK]

Btw it's always nice to see some pictures. Often I have some idea of what something would look like but only when I see of picture of it I can evaluate if I would be interested also in someones carry/idea. As Im saying this I dont have a picture of what I just described..

This is the Lansky LCKEY portable crock stick sharpener I was talking about.  It can be used as a "pull through" device, but I use it just as I do my Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker, sharpening heel to tip in a downward motion and it pairs with it very well, with a 40 degree inclusive angle.

I have about 7 of these; in each vehicle, in my office, the kitchen, BOB, etc.  They are very handy.

[Farmer X]

I'm awlso in the camp that's never felt the need to carry a sharpening medium medium in typical everyday life. I usually have a selection of knives on my person, and my usage is pretty light. If and when I ever learn to sharpen properly and get to week-long camping trips, I'll be singing a different tune. There will be time to figure out the best sharpening kit for such a use.

[Poncho65]

Sometimes mine gets use on others people's blades  I rather sharpen their knife and theybuse it than them to use mine

I also have a Fallkniven DC4 and it is a good option but the Buck is just the lightest option I have found

I actually have lots of different sharpening gear though

[Pilotsupergrip]

Sharpening takes time (training hours) as all skills do. When I first started I messed up my only Spartan's blade and on any knife that I trained with I could hone for 2 hours and it still couldn't get it sharp.

As this is a sharpener thread I suppose I could give a few sharpening tips for anyone interested that have worked with me: 1) Always hone both sides of the blade equally with the same angle. It takes time until your hands get used to keeping the angle even. Rest the blade flat on the stone, then tilt it until there is no shadow seen between the edge and the stone. Here you have the right angle for your blades current geometry. If there is still no "bite" when honing, tilt it just few a millimetres more. 2) Always "cut" the stone. Don't make a circular motion 3) There is a sound and feel when you start to have an edge and it starts to bite into your stone. When this happens, do several passes just to be sure and then move up a grit. 4) Start with coarse stone or diamond if the blade is dull. Start with ceramic or fine stone if the blade still cuts paper/cardboard/wood in some way still. If it takes a long time to get it sharp use next time more time with lower grit  5) If your edge has a dent you have to propably start with the lowest grit you have until there is no dent seen. Check with light and in different angles. Then move up a grit.

The only few gear I have: Vic ceramic rod, small cheap diamond rod, Surge/Curl diamond file and a small sharpening stone. I've taken the stone with me on camping trips but I get faster and sharper edges with using just a diamond file and ceramic rod so that's what I only use nowadays. Works for small SAK blades and axes with some dents. I do however take a file with me when I use axe because of the covex edge profile.

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[Pilotsupergrip]

This is the Lansky LCKEY portable crock stick sharpener I was talking about.  It can be used as a "pull through" device, but I use it just as I do my Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker, sharpening heel to tip in a downward motion and it pairs with it very well, with a 40 degree inclusive angle.

I have about 7 of these; in each vehicle, in my office, the kitchen, BOB, etc.  They are very handy.

Just yesterday I found one from our kitchen drawer! Not sure If you would carry it but it would be good for touching up kitchen knives. I think I will put it next to the knives for now

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