round knife sharpening

[chapelstone]

At what angle should a round knife be sharpened? Just got a Ken Onion Work Sharp and hope the round knife bevel is one of the preset angles on this sharpener. 

[Art]

It really depends on you.  You can make it as sharp as you want, down to about 10° per side if you want, that is a 20° included angle and requires a lot on your part to keep it that way.  Read stropping continuously, not pushing into the cutting surface and sticking with pretty good supple condition leathers.  I have a couple of knives sharpened this way, but I know very well their limitations, a harder leather will round them over quickly.  A more reasonable angel is 15° to 20° per side for an included angle of 30° to 40°.  Depending on the knife steel, these hold-up very well, even in very tough leather.  A 30° included angle is very easy to sharpen with a secondary bevel, and can be sharpened quite a few times before a regrind.  Now, you're going to hate me, but it is what you and your knife likes, and your sharpening skills.  The Ken Onion WorkSharp is a pretty good choice for the home sharpener, we use something similar, but a bit bigger.  The nice part about the KO, is that you have it, and that means your knife SHOULD always be sharp.

Art

[chapelstone]

Thanks, I am new to sharpening. Would you suggest I set angle jig to 20 and then follow their instructions? I have been trying to use a diamond stone 1200 grit but I am not getting the angle consistent.. 

[Art]

If 20 is the included angle, no, read the directions.  You should probably start a 20° PER SIDE, for an included angle of 40°.

Art

[chapelstone]

I just got it and need to read instructions. The wheel is marked 15 to 30 degrees in 5 degree increments. 

[Art]

On the worksharp we use (mostly as a handy flat hone) all the angles are side angles, not included angles.

Art

[chapelstone]

Thanks for your help. 

[gmace99]

 

 

 

[Art]

Whadidesay?  Actually, I have found that listening to him for a half hour or more will tune your ear to his rhythm and pronunciation.  Then watch again or even another video and it will be much clearer.  Train the Brain.

Art

[gmace99]

I understand every word I say.  Then again I have to listen to myself every day. Ah such wonderful harmonics.

[Art]

Me, I don't necessarily understand everything I say.  Like when the wife says, "WHAT did you say???", and I reply, "I dunno, what DID I say???".

Art

[gmace99]

Wow you understand some of the words your wife says. I can never understand my wife. She says something like blah blah blah  nag nag nag

[billybopp]

If you REALLY want to know what's being said ... Do not try to use the youtube closed captioning feature.  But if you want a good giggle, try it!

 

Bill

[gmace99]

youtube closed caption is not great at all

[billybopp]

Its not ... And it doesn't do accents well at all.