Sharpening Tools

[Dan]

hey i have a set of flex chip knives and it seems that no matter how often i sharpen them they dont cut the wood as easily as when i first got them. im wondering if i dont sharpen them enough . when you are carving wood how aften do you sharpen your knives? when ever i sit down to carve I run it across the stone 10 times on each side. should i change that to 20 times, 40? i run it across my nail and its sharp but still it seems like it does not slice as easily as the first couple of carving that i did.

 

figured out that when i use them on the strop i am using them in the wrong direction is that a big factor in what im doing wrong? thought i was saposed to push the blade along the strop like you would a stone.

[Ed Twilbeck]

Dan I have several flex cut knives and chisels. I mostly use the strop and the yellow compound to keep them sharp. I have had to sharpen a little with a stone, I use a fine stone or a fine diamond file with a little water. The main thing to do with both is keep the blade flat on the surface, it is not any special number of strokes. With knives use equal strokes on both sides of the blade, if both sides are to be sharpen. Some knife blades have a flat side, that should be honed and stropped.

I hope that this helps.

[Dan]

when you say flat do you mean literly or should i slant it like 10 degrees to follow the bevel?

[Ed Twilbeck]

Follow the bevel.

[Dan]

ha figured it out im stroping the blade into the leather and i dulls the edge......yes those of you paying attention im a moron and thanks for the help ed