>>1210759I'm surprised /k sent you here, at lest on the KTG threads, sharpening is often discussed.
The basis of any sharpening is to make the apex as thin and pointed as possible. Almost all sharpening methods involve shaping the bevel with course stones, and then polishing it with higher grits, strops, lapping film, ect...
>Common termonoligy-Bevel; the proper name of the edge
-Apex; where the two bevels meet, the very edge of the knife.
-DPS (degrees per side) some times called "inclusive". EX; Most knives are sharpened at 20 degrees inclusive, or 20 DPS, or 40 total.
-Burr. A supper thin eyelash like structure that forms on the opposite side from where you are sharpening when you reach the apex. Very important for gauging by feel what is happening at the apex.
>Free handThere are many ways that work. The most simple and basic concept, is called Burr to Burr and on a oil/water/diamond bench stone. This video is a very good tutorial. Learning this way is a good way to master the basics and start to understand the concepts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWU_qTp3DLM>Set angleThere is also guide angle sharpening. I personally mostly work with a set up called The Wicked Edge, that is how I sharpened the knife in pic related. These systems have a much shorter learning curve to get supper polished hair popping edges, however have some limitations and often are very expensive. For example my WE set up is well over $1,000 at this point, and I can get the same results with $200 of benchstones. Even a high end, ballar, set up of Water Stones will rarely go past $500. There are cheaper systems, but really I have found most set ups bellow $200 or so to just not work in the long run. And Everything in the $150-$300 range tends to be pretty bare bones, you will end up spending more to get better stones for the system.
