knives

[Wookie]

3 hours ago, Colt45 said:

Doesn't everybody?

 

That's easy...those are only 3-4" blades!

[DeskSmkr]

On 4/16/2020 at 3:04 PM, Wookie said:

I want to love my 8" Mac. It feels great in the hand. I've had an issue with getting it really sharp on my stones without an inordinate amount of time spent....whereas other knives are much easier to get a razor blade sharpness and mirror shine. I have this issue with other knives as well. Will be interested in your experience. I do find that a 10" blade takes a lot of extra effort to get sharp. 

Ok. Haven’t sharpened or steeled it yet, still razor sharp as delivered. Thanks, maybe I’ll enlist a professional when the time comes!

[RDB]

^ Never a steel! Unless you are desperate and the choice is between blunt and not quite blunt. Horrible things. Whetstone every time, but not too often.

[CaptainQuintero]

On 4/16/2020 at 11:04 PM, Wookie said:

I want to love my 8" Mac. It feels great in the hand. I've had an issue with getting it really sharp on my stones without an inordinate amount of time spent....whereas other knives are much easier to get a razor blade sharpness and mirror shine. I have this issue with other knives as well. Will be interested in your experience. I do find that a 10" blade takes a lot of extra effort to get sharp. 

 Have you looked into a strop? Depending on what burrs are being brought up by the steel you could notice a lot of difference. Heck even with my pocket knife a good strop will take a sharp edge to razor

[Wookie]

21 minutes ago, CaptainQuintero said:

 Have you looked into a strop? Depending on what burrs are being brought up by the steel you could notice a lot of difference. Heck even with my pocket knife a good strop will take a sharp edge to razor

I don't use a steel. That was another post. I use whet stones. And in my shop I finish all sharpening of my chisels with a strop/powder or more usually with green honing compound on a wheel. Maybe I should try that with my kitchen knives? Sharpening lots of knives by hand becomes monotonous and I'm no professional, nor do I have zen patience to do groups at a time. But it's still hugely satisfying to me to get a razor sharp, mirrored finish by hand. Wish I could do it with every knife, every time. 

[scap99]

On 4/16/2020 at 5:05 PM, Wookie said:

That's easy...those are only 3-4" blades!

Possibly shorter.  Trejo isn't very tall.  Internet says 5'6", but I'd bet he's not been that tall since his youth...if ever at all.

[CaptainQuintero]

12 hours ago, Wookie said:

I don't use a steel. That was another post. I use whet stones. And in my shop I finish all sharpening of my chisels with a strop/powder or more usually with green honing compound on a wheel. Maybe I should try that with my kitchen knives? Sharpening lots of knives by hand becomes monotonous and I'm no professional, nor do I have zen patience to do groups at a time. But it's still hugely satisfying to me to get a razor sharp, mirrored finish by hand. Wish I could do it with every knife, every time. 

  I never use a steel but that's because I really like relaxing with a whetstone block. But even then I use a strop to remove the tiny burs that any sharpening will do. In all likelihood you won't even need to use an pastes/powders on the strop if you've used a fine enough stone but if you do, go down on the finest grade as the higher grit paste/powders will likely be higher than the finishing grade stone you've just used

  I try to avoid wheels or other electric things just down to the heat generated can start to mess with the metal. Tools fine obviously but if you're paying for something finely crafted personally I'd avoid it.

 If you're new to it, a quick look around straight razor enthusiast forums/sites will give a a good idea to get that kiteral razor edge, it's the same thing just different application. 

  Just don't let anyone else use your knives after!