- Joined
- Apr 12, 2009
- Messages
- 13,197
Ever since I became seriously interested in sharpening my own knives, I've always had the specific goal in mind of learning to do it in a manner that's portable and always available to me. In other words, having the means and the ability to do it pretty much anytime, anywhere, with the most readily available tools and materials at hand or (better yet) in my pocket. No obligatory ties to electrical sources of power, save for decent artificial lighting when it's needed, and no necessity for workbenches with machinery attached. I've now met that goal in finally learning how to do that, and it's a very freeing feeling in having done it.
My goal would obviously be different if I someday became interested in grinding blades from pieces of bar stock or whatever, for which a belt grinder would have obvious advantages. But for simple sharpening or edge-setting, I don't feel it necessary to rely on a powered tool at all. Sharpening by unpowered means really only takes some extra time if one is setting up new geometry for an edge. The necessary patience learned in doing that is integral and a virtue, and makes for better results in sharpening overall. And even that can still be done in reasonable time, if one is wise about their choices of tools, i.e., the right grit for the task and a suitably large abrasive surface area in the stones selected to do the work. It usually only needs to be done once, if it's done right the first time. Once that's done, any maintenance sharpening that follows shouldn't and won't take more than a few minutes or less; and usually with just a few passes in less than a minute's time.
If I already owned a grinder and access to it was convenient and timely to the task at hand, I'd not deliberately ignore it. It's just another tool with it's own possibilities and uses, and another skill to learn. But, since I originally taught myself how to do without a powered grinder for sharpening needs, it's never going to be necessary to me for that purpose.
David
My goal would obviously be different if I someday became interested in grinding blades from pieces of bar stock or whatever, for which a belt grinder would have obvious advantages. But for simple sharpening or edge-setting, I don't feel it necessary to rely on a powered tool at all. Sharpening by unpowered means really only takes some extra time if one is setting up new geometry for an edge. The necessary patience learned in doing that is integral and a virtue, and makes for better results in sharpening overall. And even that can still be done in reasonable time, if one is wise about their choices of tools, i.e., the right grit for the task and a suitably large abrasive surface area in the stones selected to do the work. It usually only needs to be done once, if it's done right the first time. Once that's done, any maintenance sharpening that follows shouldn't and won't take more than a few minutes or less; and usually with just a few passes in less than a minute's time.
If I already owned a grinder and access to it was convenient and timely to the task at hand, I'd not deliberately ignore it. It's just another tool with it's own possibilities and uses, and another skill to learn. But, since I originally taught myself how to do without a powered grinder for sharpening needs, it's never going to be necessary to me for that purpose.
David
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