Phatdaddy Posted April 9, 2012 Report Posted April 9, 2012 (edited) It's TRUE and I am ashamed. It's stressed so frequently here and with good reason. WOW. I have been using the same tandy blade that came with my starter kit. That probably made a number of members cringe alone, worse yet is that it bared all of my newbie stropping to boot. Awhile ago I acquired a few of those keen edge swivel knife sharpeners in a lot of leather tools and materials I picked up and tonight I found my hone. I decided to go at the blade and resurface/angle it. It was in really bad shape. It took quite a bit of time to get the faces straight and even again. I went to it with the jewelers rouge on card stock as I wanted to use the keen edge at the same angle and all(my leather/wood strop would be awkward). It's still not even 70% polished and it's cutting 1000% better I can't believe the difference. I'll finish it tomorrow. I just wanted to share, I'd be willing to bet money there are a lot of us out here using dull swivel knives... Kevin Edited April 9, 2012 by Phatdaddy Quote
Members Sylvia Posted April 9, 2012 Members Report Posted April 9, 2012 LOL Good for you Kevin! Now repeat after me. "A Dull knife is a Dangerous Knife. A Dull knife is a Dangerous Knife. A Dull Knife is a Dangerous Knife." Quote A teacher pointed at me with a ruler and said "At the end of this ruler is an idiot." I got detention when I asked "Which end?"
Members Domino Posted April 9, 2012 Members Report Posted April 9, 2012 Yeah, it does make a big difference.. I've switched to a hollow ground for my main blade, but yesterday I was using Little Border Wizard, so I was using my original blade.. Halfway around the project I was kicking myself for not sharpening it before starting.. I swear it was getting duller every six inches. Of course I didn't want to risk not getting it back into the Wizard in the same place, so I struggled on, but it was really hard work cutting towards the end.. I had to use the tool the other way up to use the other end of the blade for the last curve, by then I was having to push so hard I didn't fancy my chances of getting around a curve with the side I started with.. Quote
rickybobby Posted April 9, 2012 Report Posted April 9, 2012 (crowd says) Hi Kevin Its been 3 months since I last used a dull swivel knife. Oh yea, this isn't about me! Kevin Just make it a habit to sharpen those things once in a while! I strop before starting a project, I strop while doing the project, I strop it before putting it back in the tool slot, I think I may have a problem! lol!! Look on youtube for vids on sharpening swivel knives also, check out Paul from leather wranglers video on sharpening head knives, its not that hard and he does a great job showing how it is done. As Sylvia said ""A Dull knife is a Dangerous Knife. A Dull knife is a Dangerous Knife. A Dull Knife is a Dangerous Knife." And a dull swivel knife is just frustrating!! Quote Rick
Members Mudruck Posted April 9, 2012 Members Report Posted April 9, 2012 On 4/9/2012 at 1:15 PM, rickybobby said: (crowd says) Hi Kevin Its been 3 months since I last used a dull swivel knife. Oh yea, this isn't about me! Kevin Just make it a habit to sharpen those things once in a while! I strop before starting a project, I strop while doing the project, I strop it before putting it back in the tool slot, I think I may have a problem! lol!! Look on youtube for vids on sharpening swivel knives also, check out Paul from leather wranglers video on sharpening head knives, its not that hard and he does a great job showing how it is done. As Sylvia said ""A Dull knife is a Dangerous Knife. A Dull knife is a Dangerous Knife. A Dull Knife is a Dangerous Knife." And a dull swivel knife is just frustrating!! Hi, Im Kelly and I have a 'friend' that may be using a dull swivel knife, but I think he really doesn't know how sharp a swivel knife needs to be. He is pretty much self-taught and gathers as much information he can about stuff from some support group that he talks with online somewhere.... He wants to know just how sharp are we talking here.... head knife sharp? sharp enough to slice your finger if ya run it down the blade? My 'friend' wants to know so that my 'friend' isn't using a dangerous, dull blade. Thanks all, I will relay this information to my 'friend' Quote
Moderator Art Posted April 9, 2012 Moderator Report Posted April 9, 2012 I don't think there is a 12-step swivel knife program.......yet. Art On 4/9/2012 at 9:37 PM, Mudruck said: Hi, Im Kelly and I have a 'friend' that may be using a dull swivel knife, but I think he really doesn't know how sharp a swivel knife needs to be. He is pretty much self-taught and gathers as much information he can about stuff from some support group that he talks with online somewhere.... He wants to know just how sharp are we talking here.... head knife sharp? sharp enough to slice your finger if ya run it down the blade? My 'friend' wants to know so that my 'friend' isn't using a dangerous, dull blade. Thanks all, I will relay this information to my 'friend' Quote For heaven's sakes pilgrim, make yourself a strop!
Members Sylvia Posted April 9, 2012 Members Report Posted April 9, 2012 Mudruck: As far as I can tell from what I have read, you want your blade to glide with no drag when you cut. That's pretty dang sharp. Quote A teacher pointed at me with a ruler and said "At the end of this ruler is an idiot." I got detention when I asked "Which end?"
Members busted Posted April 10, 2012 Members Report Posted April 10, 2012 Are you blonde?? On 4/9/2012 at 3:41 AM, Phatdaddy said: It's TRUE and I am ashamed. It's stressed so frequently here and with good reason. WOW. I have been using the same tandy blade that came with my starter kit. That probably made a number of members cringe alone, worse yet is that it bared all of my newbie stropping to boot. Awhile ago I acquired a few of those keen edge swivel knife sharpeners in a lot of leather tools and materials I picked up and tonight I found my hone. I decided to go at the blade and resurface/angle it. It was in really bad shape. It took quite a bit of time to get the faces straight and even again. I went to it with the jewelers rouge on card stock as I wanted to use the keen edge at the same angle and all(my leather/wood strop would be awkward). It's still not even 70% polished and it's cutting 1000% better I can't believe the difference. I'll finish it tomorrow. I just wanted to share, I'd be willing to bet money there are a lot of us out here using dull swivel knives... Kevin Quote
Phatdaddy Posted April 10, 2012 Author Report Posted April 10, 2012 Let's just say when some of the members suggest "leather cuts like butter" I never thought it could feel like that...AND IT CAN... I actually didn't get it finished up tonight, spent the day fishing and the eve rewiring my boat trailer. I can't wait to get back at it though and carve my next project. Kevin On 4/10/2012 at 12:30 AM, busted said: Are you blonde?? Bald... wanna buy me a drink? Quote
rickybobby Posted April 10, 2012 Report Posted April 10, 2012 On 4/9/2012 at 9:37 PM, Mudruck said: Thanks all, I will relay this information to my 'friend' Hi Kelly, The knife needs to be sharp enough that there is no drag when used. Once you have used one that is that sharp you will know. Spend some time on the blade, see if you tube has some vids on it. I sat down with Paul from leather wranglers at the leather show and used one of his sharp blades "WOW" what a difference. I went home and sharpened all of mine. I am still working on getting them as sharp but spending some time on them and "giving them a little attention" has paid off on the ease and quality of work. give it a try, I mean tell your "friend" to give it a try!! Quote Rick
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