Sharpening the North Star...

[tomtom]

ok i have just take the plunge and ordered a Bark River K&T North Star... ): but this is a big step up from the old mora.. and now i worrie my sharpening skills will not do justice to the new blade...

soo all information greatfully recieved.. fistly what are the most common systems?

 

[Martyn]

You will need either a hoodoo hone, or a starkie sharp or both. Do a search on those terms and you will turn up loads of info.

Forget sharpening systems and stones, they will dramatically alter the edge profile and so are no use for a full convex grind.

 

[JakeR]

BUY A STARKIE SHARP . The best sharpening tool for convex and non convexes since....urmmm...

Get yourself one of those and use it as a normal strop. With the paste on it you'll have a polished and razor edge in no time! The edges on BRKT are easy to sharpen and stay very sharp for a long time, but the starkie keep 'em up to scratch whenever needed.
If you dent it that is more of a problem. Im sure one of the people here can point you in the direction of that convex sharpening tutorial.

Hope that helps. I am the official BCUK starkie sharp representative, errmmm.

Cheers,

Jake

 

[Martyn]

That you are jake, that you are.





...want to borrow a knife to practice on? I've a woodlore that could do with a touch up.

 

[JakeR]

*add* It sais "lightly apply to the leather". I think its better if you put more on than what it implies. Im sure many people here will also recomend this product.

 

[tomtom]

ok so let me get this straight... i use a starkie sharp whish is a piece of leather??? to top up the edge on my knife?

 

[Martyn]

ok so let me get this straight... i use a starkie sharp whish is a piece of leather??? to top up the edge on my knife?

That is correct - and you'll get a razor edge too.

 

[JakeR]

Its a leather strop...yeah. You can use it without the paste but its best to use it as it is much quicker. Have you never used a leather strop before?

 

[JakeR]

Same time posted there Martyn. And i think you said it better than me

 

[ScottC]

Well I've just ordered this starkie sharp from axminster after all the good things I heard about it.

 

[JakeR]

You'll be a convert mate! I wish i tallied all the people i persuaded, i then could have sent an invoice to starkie.

 

[Martyn]

Just to note, pretty much any piece of leather will do the job (eg leather belt). The only reason the Starkie sharp gets a mention is because it comes with some honing compound, is nice and wide and is cheap as chips.

If you already have some honing compound for a buffing machine, or you have some other type of metal polish, you can just get an offcut of leather and you'll do just as well.

/edit - oops, just noticed the honing compound is extra, but at £5.45 is still cheap as chips for both the leather and compound.

 

[tomtom]

yeh i have used a leather strop.. but i have only ever used it after a waterstone for finishing...

i willl need to only use this (and the paste) with the new knife.. seems nice and simple

 

[Martyn]

yeh i have used a leather strop.. but i have only ever used it after a waterstone for finishing...

i willl need to only use this (and the paste) with the new knife.. seems nice and simple

That's just to keep the edge touched up to a razor. If the blade gets dinked, or very dull, you'll need a hoodoo hone.

 

[tomtom]

ok yes... thanks for all the information people... i dont know of anywhere else in the world where one could ask specialised questions at quater to twelve and recieve useful answers in seconde

ok next.. is a hoodoo hone anything to do with BCUK's very own Hoodoo?

i dont seem to be able to find much on it... any links?

 

[bushwacker bob]

The Hoodoo hone is a bit of wet and dry paper, mounted on a mousemat,mounted on a block of wood. It was perfected and posted by Dr Trier a.k.a Hoodoo and its used by most as an exellent sharpening system for all blade types. Do a search at the top of the page for an illustrated tutorial.

 

[Martyn]

ok next.. is a hoodoo hone anything to do with BCUK's very own Hoodoo?

One and the same.

Search BcUK for "hoodoo hone"

here's one that came up...
http://www.bushcraftuk.net/community/showthread.php?t=842&highlight=hoodoo+hone

 

[tomtom]

how easy is it to mess up...?
does one need to get angles (sp) exactly right

 

[Martyn]

nahhh, I think you can safely ignore most of the worries I expressed in that thread. Mike Stuart and Hoodoo did a good job of convincing me it was a doddle.

The Starkie sharp will see you through 95% of your needs.

 

[tomtom]

): Thank you very much.. that has put my mind at reast... now i just have to find a way to fill the wait untill it arrives!!