Video:
[
youtu.be]
I have been wanting a knife sharpening system that will sharpen all cutlery steels, can be used at home and also be portable, and will allow your to achieve a high sharpness edge easily, and as a bonus, leave an edge close to a mirror polish. Using the Spyderco Sharpmaker with the diamond rods and the UF rods, along with two DMT Diafolds C/F with EF/EEF, plus also EZE-LAP C (220#) and SF (1200#). I find that the WorkSharp Field Sharpener is a great system that has almost everything I would like, but I think that if it used triangle rods instead of round ones, along with a better option for the medium ceramic grit, it would be perfect.
The technique I have found that works best for me when using only diamond and ceramic hones is this:
If the blade needs to be repaired because of chips or it is being reprofiled, start with the #220 diamond.
Otherwise, start with the #325 DMT, #400 Diamond Spyderco Rods if the edge is very dull (won't slice printer paper). If it will still slice printer paper, you can use the DMT EF(#1200), EZE-LAP SF(#1200) or Spyderco M rods.
1) Lightly slice into the stone two or three times to cut off any fatigued metal and give yourself a cue for when you are close to apexing.
2) Place the blade on the stone and match the edge angle to the stone. If re-profiling, place the blade at the angle you want to re-profile at. Apply water, soap and water, or oil as a lubricant.
3) Use very light pressure and either scrubbing passes or full length passes on the stone, one per side, and check the edge. Do this until the light no longer reflects off the were the apex of the knife is by looking at it straight on under light, or use your thumbnail to see if it grabs your nail. This usually happens within five or less passes per side for me, your results might vary. I have found with very light pressure, you can get a better feeling of when the edge is getting closer to apexing, so you don't over grind and form a burr.
4) Use alternating forward leading passes, matching the angle, about five to ten passes per side.
5) Before moving on to the next stone, do one very light high angled forward leading pass on the stone, then do one crossing the scratch pattern. Do this every time before you move onto the next stone.
6) Repeat until the desired grit is reached. Finish with very short passes, along with crossing the scratch pattern.
7) Strop if desired.
If taken up to the Spyderco UF Rods, you should be able to whittle or completely sever a head hair, and slice paper towel, folded and not folded.
Edited for content.
