I am just curious though. How sharp does a knife really have to be? Like I don't mean this in a derogitory way. I mean what is an adequate sharpness to you guys? To me when I can push cut a receipt I consider that quite sharp.

Oh young Grasshopper, sharpness is a relative term. Each person has to determine for themselves what "Sharp" is TO THEM. My sharp may not be your sharp and vice versa. IF YOU are satisfied with the edge and consider it sharp, who am I or anyone else to say you are wrong. Come to terms with your definition of sharpness and be satisfied with it until you decide to change YOUR definition of what sharpness is. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Do not worry young friend, with age comes wisdom, but mostly forgetfulness. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I am not saying I wouldn't mind a sharper knife but I dont really have a ton of experience yet. I have only been collecting knives for maybe a year. I should try out some paper wheels. Richard doesn't even live that far from me either.

Take my advise or not, it may not be the ideal situation for you, but I think like this. Get a diamond hone of some sort. I bought a 6 in smiths course (yellow) hone for $22.00. Practice on that. Then If you want a little more refined edge, get a fine stone (usually red). Learn to use them. That way if you are "out and about" you will have the skills necessary to put a new edge on your blade or blades. You MIGHT want to try the DMT folding two sided hones. One side is course grit about 300 and the other fine, about 600. The reason I said smiths hones is they are usually cheaper than DMT and I can't really tell a difference.

As I said, this is just my two cents and something for you to think about, nothing more.

Oh and one more thing, for real portability check out the EZE-lap model M diamond rod. It is the choice of a lot of "experts". I have one and like it, Diamond coated steel rod in a brass holder.

For me, what I consider sharp a lot of times others I KNOW would not. But I have found out over the years that the edges I put on my blades work just fine for me.

Different strokes for different folks! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I would like to learn freehand sharpening but I wasn't having much good luck with it. I was dulling my knives pretty badly. I use the Sharpmaker at the moment and I love it.

I can sharpen freeman better now than I used to. Still use the Sharpmaker a lot too. Plus I have used the sandpaper and mouse pad method as well. Just experiment and you'll find what works for you.

YUP, what Todd said.

Oh and Tom too! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Y'all getting hit pretty hard by rain Tom? It's started here again.

Yah the only problem with the sharpmaker is I can sharpen convex edges with it. So the paper wheels would allow me to sharpen Swamp Rat knives or the Scrapyard knives that come with one. Rather than sending each knife out to have the edge reprofiled.