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.

Congratulations, polarbare. My grandfather taught me 50 years ago. Until recently, I thought most people could do it. But they can't. Who knows how many wonderful skills our ancestors had that we have lost over the years? I know you must be quite happy with your success, and you should be.

Congratulations Polarbare,

Your're ahead of me. I've spent many hours trying to get a great convex edge on my RMD and have managed only a fair edge. I figure that I've been putting too much pressure on the blade. I now have a 1x30 belt sander with the Horn Dog recommended belts (thanks Horn Dog) so after I get familiar with it, the RMD will get belted.

Last night I constructively took out my frustrations by putting a hair-shaving edge on my CR small Sebenza using my very familiar wet-stones. No convex edge, but a very sharp one. I feel better now.

I highly recommend that you get a good stropping setup. I love my Bark River stropper.

Dogbert

Yeah, it does seem kinda silly, but I don't think most people can sharpen a knife. And if you set me down with just a set of stones, I'd be back in that group until I tore up a few blades. My biggest frustration in this adventure was not having anyone around to teach - luckily there's the internet with you tube, but there's only so much you can glean and there was a bit of trial and error with pressure and angle - hopefully it wasn't just luck and will be a repeatable process <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

i have to confess...i can dull one real quick....but,i can sharpen a convex edge w/o much trouble

It isn't silly at all. And the only way we really learn anything is by doing. I'm still learning new techniques. Some of them are impossible to relay with language. You will not only repeat it, you will improve in speed and precision.
And then you will try it on 154CM and say, "where's my belt grinder".

Nice job! It's always nice being able to take a dull blade and get it shaving sharp. I'm sure you'll end up with many more bald spots on your arms!

And where's my belt grinder?

Congrats! I sharpen by hand with stones, and I'm STILL working on getting my Hairy Carry and Mud Puppy like I want them.

Congrats Polarbare! As Vic said, sharpening is becoming a lost art. Happy to hear we saved another one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

congrats! im still working on my technique i cant yet get shaving sharp but i also am working on it i need a new benchstone mine broke in two when we moved (dont ask me how)

Thanks for the words of encouragement! Dogbert, I seriously doubt that I'm ahead of you - what I have now is probably what you'd consider a fair edge <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> It will take awhile before I ever post a pic of one of my edges.

If you need a coarser grit stone, Harbor Freight has double sided (different grit) for like $3.