Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 22
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Melbourne, Aus.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    12,746

    Default Razor Sharp knife sharpening system - first impressions

    This consists of two discs of compressed paper one of which carries #180 SiC grains and the other white polishing compound. They're mounted on a grinder and you freehand your knives. Carving tools would work too. Similar in concept to a hard felt buffing wheel.

    The discs are available in 8" and 10" diameter and are about 3/4" thick. Arbours are 5/8 and 3/4. I'm using 10" wheels on an old Abbot and Ashby 8" grinder.

    My first run was with half a dozen Western knives.

    The grinding wheel is quite abrasive and will readily shape bevels and removes nicks. Then working the edge on the buffing wheel takes 3-4 passes to take out the scratch marks - as the SiC grains bed-in this will diminish I expect.

    The kit comes with a spare tub of SiC grains to recharge the grinding wheel. Individual components are available. Knifemaking Sharpening Systems Archives - Artisan Supplies If you wanted just to touch up your knives then you could buy one wheel and compound and not have to commit a whole grinder.

    All up, the work is quick and the resulting edge is very sharp.

    By way of comparison, for touch ups I've been using a Veritas 6" hard felt wheel with Veritas green compound and this RS kit is in the same ballpark. Given the wheel size, access on an 8" grinder is of course a lot easier.

    Gritted-and-Slotted-paper-wheels.jpg
    Cheers, Ern

  2. # ADS
    Google Adsense Advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Age
    2010
    Posts
    Many





     
  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Bundaberg
    Age
    54
    Posts
    3,402

    Default

    I made something similar years ago, a 10" dia disc made from 3/4" MDF mounted on a lathe faceplate and charged with polishing compound. I use it for freehand honing small blades such as my pocket knives. It certainly puts a keen edge on them quickly.
    Nothing succeeds like a budgie without a beak.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    5,124

    Default

    I've often considered something like this. The idea of using mdf is a good one.

    Does anyone use these for turning tools?

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Bundaberg
    Age
    54
    Posts
    3,402

    Default

    My idea was to use it for turning tools by standing at the back of the lathe and honing gouges. Another idea was to make it from thin steel plate with an MDF "tyre" which would allow it to be permanently mounted behind a chuck. The current disc is mounted on a faceplate and has a layer of non slip matting on the face so I can use it to trap bowls etc between the disc and the tailstock to clean up the bowl bottoms; using the edge for honing was an afterthought that has worked extremely well.
    Nothing succeeds like a budgie without a beak.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Melbourne, Aus.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    12,746

    Default

    I tried black compound on convexed MDF on the lathe in order to polish gouge flutes. The compound wouldn't stick.
    Cheers, Ern

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Melbourne, Aus.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    12,746

    Default

    I had a play with carving tools and BE chisels on the honing wheel. Again, quick and effective.

    First ride the heel and then bring up the handle bottom. Go over the toe contact point by a smidgen for a 2ndary bevel.

    Doesn't do wonders with straight on the BEs though, despite my levelling the compound surface with a steel bar. You quickly lose your straight perpendicular edge so it's not for precision work.
    Cheers, Ern

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Mornington Peninsula
    Posts
    2,741

    Default

    10 months on, are you still happy with the paper wheels Ern?

    Thinking of taking the plunge (or at least doing a lot of hinting ) at this time of the year. The alternative is making up an MDF wheel.

    George

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Melbourne, Aus.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    12,746

    Default

    Yes, I am George. It's the preferred sharpening kit among several.

    The honing wheel gets most use of the two as you'd expect. A couple of passes on each bevel puts an edge back on a knife - just one pass on the fine Japanese ones.

    The only thing I'd do differently next time around is use Veritas honing compound instead of the white stick supplied. It's a bit more aggressive and less inclined to transfer to the edge but there's not much difference in it.

    The other tool used on it was a hatchet with a flat bevel that I wanted polished. No drama there.

    HTH.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Mornington Peninsula
    Posts
    2,741

    Default

    How do you think it would go on carving chisels with curves?

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Melbourne, Aus.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    12,746

    Default

    I've rarely used them cava so this is speculation really.

    You mean out-cannel gouges?

    The wheels are 10" so there's going to be some degree of hollow grind (bevel concavity) but obviously less than the standard 8" wheel. If you can't afford that then this is not your system. I leave the maths to you of the extent of it.

    If that's not a problem then what remains to consider is your manual dexterity in freehanding the work.

    What I'm finding with the knives is that the closer I get to the edge the sound changes first and then there will be some extrusion of the abrasive. So it's possible to creep up to the very edge to avoid dubbing over or a 2ndary bevel.
    That's just a matter of practise then.

    Of course it's possible to install a platform in front of the wheel to give you some guidance.

    The wheels would just clear the bench on my Abbot and Ashby 8" utility grinder (but I have mine mounted on a front-side overhanging shelf for access with large tools).

    HTH.
    Cheers, Ern

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Sydney NSW
    Posts
    53

    Default

    Speaking of compressed paper vs MDF - paper wheels should be better for honing.
    Paper wheels stay in-between hones and strops thanks to their compressibility – paper wheel deburrs as it hones; while MDF works like a hard hone, raising a burr with each lap.
    Well, that's in theory at least - I know paper wheels all through, but not MDF, and haven't met too many people with real life experience of MDF honing wheels.

    May i ask Chief Tiff - by your MDF experience, do you have to finish on a strop after MDF?

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Melbourne, Aus.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    12,746

    Default

    I tried black crayon on MDF and it wouldn't stick very well. Wasn't pressing so I didn't pursue it.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Sep 2017
    Location
    Sydney NSW
    Posts
    53

    Default

    On one occasion I tried Green Rouge buffing compound on a paper wheel, but couldn't make it stick evenly; ended by rubbing it with a finger dipped in chain saw oil to distribute evenly on the wheel.
    Chain saw oil was by advice of one inventive user of paper wheels with diamond paste, he convinced me that the tackifiers in it help keep diamonds on the wheel surface for longer.

    BTW, rsser, it is possible to change to a different honing compound by scraping away the current compound - i do it with a dull plane iron.
    Scraping is needed now and then anyway to clean the wheel of the sludge built-up.

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Jan 2002
    Location
    Melbourne, Aus.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    12,746

    Default

    Yeah, thanks for the tip KG. I learned that when needing to do a refresh of the compound.
    It's not pressing either. There's a 1x30 belt sander in the kit with a CrOx charged leather belt.

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    5,124

    Default

    Bought the wheel kit plus the beginners sanding belt selection.


    What a good find.


    The Wheel Kit is on special ATM for $85


    Bargain!

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 13
    Last Post: 21st May 2015, 04:53 PM
  2. A Sharpening Strategy: beyond a sharp edge.
    By derekcohen in forum SHARPENING
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 6th March 2009, 06:19 PM
  3. Lap-Sharp Sharpening System
    By Sharpdon in forum SHARPENING
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 5th March 2009, 08:42 PM
  4. plane sharpening scary sharp
    By DarrenSmith in forum SHARPENING
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 7th September 2003, 09:16 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •