Well after a good bit of mucking around, I finally sharpened a knife, as opposed to just dulling it. Admittedly, I am not a master by any stretch of the imagination, but I'm dang happy with my results - took an old beat up little Kershaw folder from barely being able to cut paper to shaving the hair off my arm <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
The method I chose was the mousepad and sandpaper - started out with 280 to reprofile to convex, then 400, 600, and 1500 (didn't have anything in between). It took a little while to get the feel of how much pressure to use. When starting out I was using a fair amount to grind down the back bevel, but then moved to lighter pressure while still on the 280 and lo and behold, I finally felt that wire edge. For any other newbies who are still struggling, it's true - you will know it when you get one (I had no idea what it would feel like until tonite). Of course, that was just the first step, and I was nervous that I would screw up the whole process somewhere along the different grits that I was going through. I was relieved when I finally tested the blade and it wasn't duller than when I started <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />
I guess the biggest thing was taking my time and really thinking about what I was trying to accomplish with the angle I was holding and how much pressure to apply, and how that would affect the edge. I still don't know if my reasoning process made any difference (or if my assumptions were/are even correct), but at least the blade came out sharp <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> FYI, I worked from the tip back on each pass once I got about halfway through the 280 (was still trying different things I had seen on you tube) - and I felt I had more control over what I was doing. Different folks different strokes I guess. Admittedly, the tip is not as sharp as the rest of the blade, so I might try workng the other way on the next beater and see how it goes, just in case I ever get a power sharpener.
Once I really get the hang of it (without scratching the knife), I'll be going after the scrapyards that I have - unfortunately they have been safe queens as I didn't want to dull them without knowing how to bring them back. The next step is ordering a leather strop and seeing what that will do.
Anyway, I just had to share this moment - I feel like I've just taken the first step into a new world.
