A sharpening aha moment...

[Nonsuch]

To be honest I have struggled for a long time to get my scandi-grind knives really sharp. I tried Japanese water stones, I tried Spyderco ceramic stones, I tried a DC4. I was fine with other styles of edge but I never seemed to get a shaving edge on, for example, my BG Bushcrafter with its 4mm stock. Now at last I have found something that works for me.

On an excellent tip I made myself a set of four thin wooden blocks about 20cms long and 5 cms wide, onto which I glued 400, 600, 1200 and 1500 grit wet or dry paper. I then sharpened my BG, starting on the 600 and proceeding through the grades, finishing with the 1500, then a good strop on a leather covered board. Wow - the result is hair-popping. All for about £5......

The boards weigh nothing and are now a permanent addition to my kit.


NS

 

[Shinken]

Good on you mate, waterstones can be very un-abrasive. Normally wet and dry moves metal faster

 

[milius2]

My wharpening kit is somewhat simmilar, but too chunky to carry around as every sanding paper has it own wood block. It's good though

 

[MSkiba]

Its all about what works for you.

My mate can get razor sharpness from a uneven old oil stone on a scandi grind. No idea how, but he can. Which ever method works for you, stick to it and it will get easier and easier

 

[Chainsaw]

Will that be the £5 sharpening kit then (sorry being cheeky!) You can get away with using just 600 and a bit of leather with some cutting compound

Cheers,

Alan

 

[Nonsuch]

Ho ho - err yes ! Doh.
Good ideas have a way of floating to the surface. I like the idea of having rubber feet on each board.
My set is very small and light and fits in a bushcraft man-bag, so still worth posting as a variant.

NS

 

[Everything Mac]

if you make it to comrie - could you bring that along please?

 

[falcon]

I carry a piece of thin plywood approximately 6" x 3" backed on one side with 1500 grade and the other 2500 grade which fits easily into a side pouch and is very effective. Just strop on the back of your belt or make a small strop attached to paracord to complete the job...

 

[British Red]

Try this for a very light portable version of the £5 kit

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11571&p=196796#post196796