Sharpening a RAT 7

[Ramapo]

Thanks Weaver, that's what I figured.

Eric, do you find that the diafold sharpeners are large enough to sharpen a blade of over four inches? I thought they might be a little small, so I had my eye on coarse ad fine six inch whet stones. These bech stones also look a bit easier to use to me. If the diafold will do the job though, that'd be great as it's cheaper.

 

[weaver]

I keep a DiaFold in my pocket all the time. I have used it on machetes, butcher knives, axes, X-acto razor blades, fish hooks and hundreds of pocket knives. It is big enough to get the job done. It takes more work on a long knife, but the convenience of having it with you is worth the extra effort most of the time.

OTOH, if I run into something that is badly damaged or extremely dull I will not waste my time. Back to the shop and onto the belt sander it goes.

My large bench stones I reserve for planer blades, drawknives and wide chisels. Things that absolutely have to be flat.

 

[Longstrider]

I'll second Weavers words. I have DMT bench-hones but they live in the workshop for plane blades and the like. If I can't sharpen something with my Diafolds, it's in a very poor state indeed. I've sharpened everything from the small blades on Swiss Army Knives to billhooks and machetes with my diafolds. I've even used then to completely re-profile an axe or 3 in my time too.
It's a shame you missed my workshop at the Summer Moot. Had you been there I would have shown you how I sharpen with a diafold by holding the knife still and moving the hone. Doing it this way simply means that you can sharpen a blade of any size with a relatively small hone and still end up with an even, straight, and razor-sharp edge.

 

[Ramapo]

Alright, you convinced me. I ordered two of the DMT whetstones, a coarse and a fine stone. After I learn the basics with the benchstones, I'll move on and get a diafold to carry while I'm hiking and backpacking.

I'll let you all know how it goes. Hopefully the TAK-1 will be better for all this in the end!