getting a knife razor sharp with sand paper

I this instructable you will learn how to sharpen a knife with sandpaper and a strop.

materials required
a knife
sandpaper 800, 1000, 1200, 1500, 2000, 2500
water
leather strop
stropping compound
piece of glass ( I used one out a picture frame that is 3/32", but the thicker the glass you can find the better)

Step 1 Know the methods to stroke the blade

In the first method you hold the cutting edge in the direction of travel as indicated by the green arrow

In the second method you move "up and down" as indicated by the green and blue arrows.

In the third method it is a combo of the first and second methods, where as you move "up and down" (as indicated by the green and blue arrows) you also move against the cutting edge at the same time (as indicated by the red arrow).

The fourth method is quick back and fourth motion as indicated by the green and blue arrows.

What ever method you choose you need to flip the blade over after 2 or 3 strokes.

It doesn't take a lot of elbow grease, time, working the blade to get it sharp.
It take maybe about 10 strokes on both sides of the blade total on each side of the blade on each sheet of
sandpaper.
Experience will tell you what it takes. and actually if your blade is just dull you may not even need 10.

If you want to get the knife polished, use more strokes and successively more strokes as you work up in grades of sandpaper and you can achive an almost if not a mirror polish when you strop it.

Comments

[zazenergy]

Good to know!