If I can do it, anyone can. All I used was a course DMT stone, the spyderco sharpmaker, and a strop.

This is proof that YOU can get your knife past shaving sharp. Here are the results:





Over at bladeforums this is called 'hair whittling' sharp. Can’t wait to get some use out of it.

Good combination of sharp and tough.

I got a spyderco sharpmaker as well, and in the works of making a strop.

Nice work.

I usually use a cermaic rod and strop. The thing is that I never actually take of steel. I would need a course stone or porcelain to do that. The rods usually just move the steel back in place.

I think one of the sharpmakers might come in real handy. Though, I need to get something bigger to sharpen my FBM. The sharpmaker would be fine, but it's kinda hard using a 6 inch porcelain rod on a 10 inch blade.

Man, I have yet to sharpen any of my toll steel blades, and I'm having enough trouble with some 440C right now. I suck at sharpening.

I am horrible at sharpening as well. How long did it take? Maybe I am just not patient enough.

Great job on the sharpening. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

Sharp, The sharpmaker works with large knifes once you get the hang of it. The key is to do it in sections, the first 4" then the middle ect. Finish with a strop and the edge will be uniform. However, The weight of and sharp or large blades do make it much more awkward. If you mainly plan on sharpening knifes larger then about 5 inches I wouldn’t recommend it. It really shines on smaller blades.

Joe, like many things it’s all about practice. It’s taken me years to be able get a blade this sharp, but if you devote the time, you can too! The key to remember is be patient and be gentle. What setup are you using now to sharpen?

Lighthiker, I cant give you how long for sure, as I work on the knife during commercials, but I'd guess reprofiling was 2 hours, and sharpening and stropping was about 20 minutes. You have to remember the knife only has to be reprofiled once. What equipment are you using?

If anyone is interested there are good sharpening videos here:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=549075

Its not the same technique I use, but it is good information. This thread was what inspired me to work on the DM.

stabby joe, I think 440c and stuff can be hard to sharpen, (well, at least harder to sharpen than tool steels) tool steel as normally pretty easy to sharpen.
sharp: I thought ceramic romoved metal.
I thought it was that just sharpening steels align the edge... but i think ceramic actually sharpens the knife... from what I understand.
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