Any chance of talking you into posting up links to all the belts / materials for all of us belt-less folks, so as to accelerate the learning curve? A good how-to / quick reference for appropriate materials and when to use them would be fantastic for the nubs like me <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> [/quote]

Ok so here it goes.

I want to start by saying that I am a NEWB so this info should be digested and disected to ones own common sense <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I started sharpening with the mouse pad and sand paper option. I used 300, 400, 600,800 and finally a 1500 grit and a final stropping on leather with green compound. There are a ton of videos and websites that explain this procedure including SY. If you go the facts page the info is there. I think this helped me to understand what building up the burr looks like and what the convex shape should look like and about what angle you are comfortable with while sharpening. This is a LONG process by hand!<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" />I did while watching the hockey game and I think it took me a little over an hour to get a nice polished sharp edge! That was a lot of work, but you get to see in stages what the edge is progressing too. Although fun, This is too long for me! I am a results now kinda guy!! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" />

I asked a bunch of Questions here and the dogs were more than happy to help!<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowdown.gif" alt="" />

I bought me a HF 1x30 and decided to try it. I LOOKED EVERYWHERE for any 1x30 belts with grit higher than 180 and couldnt find it here in CA. I think it might be illigal to carry here...<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/banghead.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/doh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

So after watching a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLjFjT4vYsM

of the belt sharpening in process the guy doing the video mentioned the company that sells the correct belts.

Basically this is what I do:

Since the knife I had was new and had no damage I started with a 40 micron belt which i think is 320 grit. I start at the choil and pull the edge across the belt evenly, paying close attention the the angle consistency as you pull the blade across. Usually it only takes a couple of passes to build up the burr. I then go to the other side and knock it down. I then move to the next grit and do the same until I get to the last belt. As I progress I try to check the edge a lot to make sure I am not biting too far or anything. The videos on YT will help you alot with how the movement of the blade goes. After finishing with all the belts your knife should be pretty sharp at this point but probably not shaving sharp. This is where the leather stropping comes in. At first I was very skeptical that a piece of leather and some compound would do ANYTHING??? but in my short experience it is the difference in sharp and shaving sharp. I was amazed at what good it actually did! so dont skip this part! It also gives that nice shiny edge that looks SOOO GOOD!

I am including the exact order sheet below for what I ordered. I hope this helps ant Newbs like me to attempt convex sharpening. I am going to get a couple more Cheapos from HF and convex them before I start on my SY babies!

I would encourage any of the dogs who are Pro's at sharpening to critique this and let me know if I am doing anything wrong or passing off bad info! I am totally open to learning the right way!!

I also sharpened a HF Machete last night and that thing is razor sharp! Probably wont hold an edge for more than 5 chops, but what the hay!

Anyhow I am off to yosemite to produce My first chop off pics for my Dereg, DDF and S5! Ill post Pics when I return on Tue!


HF 1x30 belt sander

Item Description Quantity
05M0801 Honing Compound, 6.0 oz 1
54K9802 1" x 30" SiC Belt, 15 Micron -From what I gather this is 800g 1
05M3033 1"x30" A/O Belt, 1200x 1 - Came in with 9 micron label
05M3032 1"x30" A/O Belt, 500x 1 - Came in with 20micron label
05M3031 1"x30" A/O Belt, 320x 1 - Came in with 40micron label
05M3030 1"x30" A/O Belt, 180x 1 -Came in with 80micron label
70M0358 Pkg (6) Leather Strops
- 70M0353 Pkg (5) Leather Strops, 4-1/2"x1-1/2" 1
- 70M0354 Leather Strop, 4"x5" 1