Do I need a sharpening system?

[Sparky415]

So I love my Lansky system sharpener  but as a kind of response to JRs sharpening question I had an idea

What if you only want to sharpen a knife or two and didn't want to buy an expensive system 
After all you might only need to sharpen once or twice a year inbetween honeing 

So looking at the sharpening systems,
in the simplest terms you need something to hold the knife edge to the 'grinding' surface at a fixed angle,
Either the cutting edge or the grinding surface should be stationary as the other moves 

That sounds easy 
So take a fairly flat piece of wood and glue some fine sand paper (wet&dry, emery cloth) to one or both sides
I'm using 240 & 400 grit


With a screw and washer (two would be more stable) secure the blade to a small scrap of wood,
screw that to the edge of a bench, table or board
Colour in the edge of the blade with a sharpie
Prop the far end of the sharpening stick on a brick, 2x4 or book.
Move the prop backwards until the stick is at the same angle as the cutting edge
Gently start to sharpen

A few pictures to explain




So long as you can hold the blade steady nothing needs to be complicated 



Then remove the blade screw flip the knife over and start again without moving the prop 

[SteveC]

Perfect example of the KISS philosophy 

[Kev D]

Nice work 

If you want better accuracy in the future you could have the prop on a threaded bar adjuster to change the angle

[Sparky415]

Yep, but I was trying to make it cheap and simple, nothing special needed except some 'sand paper'

(If you listen carefully you can hear old blokes rolling in their graves, saying 'sand paper? Sand Paper?  that's for budgies cages'    )

[Don Pablo]

Got to try this. 

[MadPlumbarian]

Hmm interesting..
JR

[Sparky415]

This isn't just for JR it's for anyone who wants to try some sort of jig/system
If you like it you can upgrade the prop to a nice bit of wood and insert some dowels for different angles
Make more sanding sticks with different grades of paper
Replace the sticks with diamond 'stones'
Up size it for bigger knives

Everythings adjustable 





400grit wrapped around my diamond stone

[magentus]

Nice idea Tony 

Have you considered putting some of your ideas on the you tubes? They would make excellent 'how to's'

[Sparky415]

Sounds a bit like hard work to me Mate   

Although it has been said I do look like a movie star from some angles 

[Kev D]

Sounds a bit like hard work to me Mate   

Although it has been said I do look like a movie star from some angles 

Horror movies?

 

[MadPlumbarian]

Now that’s interesting to get the right angle..
JR

[magentus]

Sounds a bit like hard work to me Mate   

Although it has been said I do look like a movie star from some angles 

Horror movies?

 

**cough Elephant man cough cough**

[Don Pablo]

Sounds a bit like hard work to me Mate   

Although it has been said I do look like a movie star from some angles 

Horror movies?

 

**cough Elephant man cough cough**

Is it weird that I instantly understood what you meant?

[MadPlumbarian]

Sounds a bit like hard work to me Mate   

Although it has been said I do look like a movie star from some angles 

Horror movies?

 

**cough Elephant man cough cough**

Is it weird that I instantly understood what you meant?

I thought Rocky Dennis from Mask,,
JR

[Don Pablo]

Sounds a bit like hard work to me Mate   

Although it has been said I do look like a movie star from some angles 

Horror movies?

 

**cough Elephant man cough cough**

Is it weird that I instantly understood what you meant?

I thought Rocky Dennis from Mask,,
JR

Nope that’s not it. This case was much older and different, in Victorian times.

[microbe]

I was really curious to see what alternatives to a sharpening system I would discover here.
...Only to find a DIY sharpening system 

[Sparky415]

I was really curious to see what alternatives to a sharpening system I would discover here.
...Only to find a DIY sharpening system 

But it's a system you can make for yourself, it can be as simple or as complicated as you like   

[Sparky415]

Now that’s interesting to get the right angle..
JR

Do you mean the uni-strut 'prop' JR?
Again you just move it forwards until you have the desired angle

[MadPlumbarian]

I was really curious to see what alternatives to a sharpening system I would discover here.
...Only to find a DIY sharpening system 

But it's a system you can make for yourself, it can be as simple or as complicated as you like   

I just always thought using a stone was a way to get a sharp edge, but I guess 1000grit paper on a block is the same as a 1000grit stone..
JR

[MadPlumbarian]

Now that’s interesting to get the right angle..
JR

Do you mean the uni-strut 'prop' JR?
Again you just move it forwards until you have the desired angle

Yeah, move it down to the lower hole to narrow the pitch
JR

[Sparky415]

Now that’s interesting to get the right angle..
JR

Do you mean the uni-strut 'prop' JR?
Again you just move it forwards until you have the desired angle

Yeah, move it down to the lower hole to narrow the pitch
JR

In this case you find the hole which is close enough then move the thing backwards or forwards half an inch at a time
You get very fine adjustment
You could sharpen a big knife at a fixed angle then move the prop forward half an inch to add a micro bevel

Don't get caught up in the idea that you need various holes a brick will be fine 

[MadPlumbarian]

Now that’s interesting to get the right angle..
JR

Do you mean the uni-strut 'prop' JR?
Again you just move it forwards until you have the desired angle

Yeah, move it down to the lower hole to narrow the pitch
JR

In this case you find the hole which is close enough then move the thing backwards or forwards half an inch at a time
You get very fine adjustment
You could sharpen a big knife at a fixed angle then move the prop forward half an inch to add a micro bevel

Don't get caught up in the idea that you need various holes a brick will be fine 

Right, hole adjustment 10° Unistrut forwards or backward a inch = +/- 1°.. just a ballpark fig..
JR

[Sparky415]

Now that’s interesting to get the right angle..
JR

Do you mean the uni-strut 'prop' JR?
Again you just move it forwards until you have the desired angle

Yeah, move it down to the lower hole to narrow the pitch
JR

In this case you find the hole which is close enough then move the thing backwards or forwards half an inch at a time
You get very fine adjustment
You could sharpen a big knife at a fixed angle then move the prop forward half an inch to add a micro bevel

Don't get caught up in the idea that you need various holes a brick will be fine 

Right, hole adjustment 10° Unistrut forwards or backward a inch = +/- 1°.. just a ballpark fig..
JR

I've got an angle finder thingy somewhere, I will sort it out and experiment with it in the next couple of days 

[MadPlumbarian]

Now that’s interesting to get the right angle..
JR

Do you mean the uni-strut 'prop' JR?
Again you just move it forwards until you have the desired angle

Yeah, move it down to the lower hole to narrow the pitch
JR

In this case you find the hole which is close enough then move the thing backwards or forwards half an inch at a time
You get very fine adjustment
You could sharpen a big knife at a fixed angle then move the prop forward half an inch to add a micro bevel

Don't get caught up in the idea that you need various holes a brick will be fine 

Right, hole adjustment 10° Unistrut forwards or backward a inch = +/- 1°.. just a ballpark fig..
JR

I've got an angle finder thingy somewhere, I will sort it out and experiment with it in the next couple of days 

Ok, hope you have fun, idk what I got laying around to make something, that and I think the finest grit I have is 400, either that or only 250.
JR

[eamo]

 
except
 

[Mike 56]

Sparky., Another great write up!  Sandpaper on your jig is a nice setup on the cheap adding a diamond plate that's just sweet  . I think if you were to make a leather strop for your jig it would be great for touch-ups and final polish.
51

[Sparky415]

Thanks Mike 
I use a free hand strop (belt on a batten) but that's the point     you make what ever you need

[Sparky415]

Thinking a bit more about this 'system'
People are thinking too much about angles,
knowing an angle and being able to find an angle can be usefull but to re-sharpen a knife we just need to follow the existing grind

All we need to do is line up the surface of the sand paper until its the same as the cutting bevel
I'm too steep here


Better but a bit shallow


Hitting the bevel now (sorry for the poor picture)
I would carry on and sharpen the whole edge at this angle


We didn't need to know the angle to sharpen this chopper and we still don't but for curiosity's sake


And just for JR
The prop/brick is 4" high
At 14% (I don't have a degrees sign  )
The prop is 15 1/2" back from the cutting edge

At 17%
The prop is 12 1/2" back from the cutting edge

At 20%
The prop is 10 1/2" back from the cutting edge

Hope this is useful to someone 

[SteveC]

Nice Tony !   

On a PC you can get the degree sign by holding down ALT  then hit Numb Lock on the  number keypad and type 248  like this °

[Syncop8r]

I use ALT + 0176 = ° or ALT + 0186 = º