Phatdaddy Report post 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Domino Report post 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickybobby Report post 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mudruck Report post 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!! 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Art Report post Posted April 9, 2012 I don't think there is a 12-step swivel knife program.......yet. Art 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
busted Report post Posted April 10, 2012 Are you blonde?? 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phatdaddy Report post 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 Are you blonde?? Bald... wanna buy me a drink? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rickybobby Report post Posted April 10, 2012 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 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted April 10, 2012 Bald... wanna buy me a drink? That's not a bald head...that's solar panel for a love machine! At least that's what my husband tells me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
McJeep Report post Posted April 10, 2012 I don't think there is a 12-step swivel knife program.......yet. Art "Admitting that you have a problem is the first step" is exactly what went through my mind when I read the post Hehehe I say that knowing full well that I've been using crap blades since I started with leather and *NEED* to dedicate a full day to learning how to sharpen em up properly Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bluesman Report post Posted April 10, 2012 Just got some new blades from Barry King and compared them to my others. The stones come out tonight. They are sharp enough to draw blood. Don't ask............... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mudruck Report post Posted April 10, 2012 Just got some new blades from Barry King and compared them to my others. The stones come out tonight. They are sharp enough to draw blood. Don't ask............... Snap! My swivel knife blades are nowhere near that sharp! Guess I know what Im ding tonight huh! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kevinhopkins Report post Posted April 23, 2012 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' Nothing more frustrating than a dull swivel knife...except possibly my wife's stupid dog! For what it's worth, most knives don't need to be honed all that often. but they do need to be stropped on a pc of leather or paper with jewelers rouge (buffing compound) rubbed into it. As long as the knife has a decent edge, all you really need to do is polish it on the strop every few moments, or whenever it starts to jerk and drag... Hope this helps! Kevin springfield leather Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mudruck Report post Posted April 24, 2012 Nothing more frustrating than a dull swivel knife...except possibly my wife's stupid dog! For what it's worth, most knives don't need to be honed all that often. but they do need to be stropped on a pc of leather or paper with jewelers rouge (buffing compound) rubbed into it. As long as the knife has a decent edge, all you really need to do is polish it on the strop every few moments, or whenever it starts to jerk and drag... Hope this helps! Kevin springfield leather Hahahah I hear ya! Yea, I took my blades and ran them across the stone for a while and got them pretty sharp. Went to test on a piece of 2-3 oz and nearly cut all the way through on the first try... but boy... I see how much less work it is to cut now! Heh, when you're learning things without formal instruction, you miss stuff like this... I mean really... who would go and sell a swivel knife to a noob like me?? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
scott312 Report post Posted April 25, 2012 It's TRUE and I am ashamed. I have been using the same tandy blade that came with my starter kit. That probably made a number of members cringe alone, w Kevin Oh crap ! dang, It looks like I will need to do the same thing. Mine is about 10 years old. It seems to work ok. : ) I just came back to leather last week. I just got my first tandy shipment yesterday. Maybe about 10 items and the one item I needed most "Lather Lace" was back ordered. How does a leather company run out of lace? Sheesh.....lol Tandy in Houston is only 4 miles from me. I guess I should had driven. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sylvia Report post Posted April 25, 2012 Oh crap ! dang, It looks like I will need to do the same thing. Mine is about 10 years old. It seems to work ok. : ) I just came back to leather last week. I just got my first tandy shipment yesterday. Maybe about 10 items and the one item I needed most "Lather Lace" was back ordered. How does a leather company run out of lace? Sheesh.....lol Tandy in Houston is only 4 miles from me. I guess I should had driven. Oh dear.... Tandy had an open house last weekend and EVERYTHING was on sale. non members got Gold prices, Gold members got Elite prices... Elite members got Wholesaler prices. They probably got wiped out. Go to http://www.stecksstore.com See if he has your lace... He ships really fast.... I usually get things from him in 2-3days. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
