Ceramic sharpening rods - thoughts?

1

155440

Joined
Aug 7, 2012
Messages
1,120
I'm a novice at free hand sharpening on a stone (Practice makes perfect) and while I'm definitely improving, the results are still mediocre compared to a factory edge. I just recently tried sharpening my opinel (the carbone version) using a ceramic rod, and I had awesome results. Seeing as everyone recommends stones, is there anything wrong with using a ceramic rod? Am I damaging the blade by using it? Is using a ceramic rod a no-no like the slit sharpeners or the electric ones? Any advice is welcome.

I've also had success using steel rods as well, any advice regarding either would be great.

Also, after reading around, I think when free handing on the stone (with limited success), getting frustrated and moving on to a steel rod, I may have, without realizing, removed the burrs from the blade?
 
Last edited:
There's nothing wrong in using ceramic rod. They are handy and often times I too use small (palm fitting) ceramic rod to remove burr. With minimal pressure it's very handy : )
 
Thanks for the feedback, I don't know much about sharpening so every tidbit of knowledge helps. :thumbup:
 
If you're already comfortable using ceramics on your edges, I'd say you're ahead of the game. :thumbup:

Many will have troubles in using too much pressure on ceramic hones; especially round rods or triangular, which will focus pressure and roll edges of softer steels (such as your 'Carbone' Opinel), or will chip harder steels. If you're getting good results now, that means your hands are becoming correctly tuned to use of pressure, and that's a great thing in sharpening. Life gets much easier from here on, if you're doing well with that.

At some future time, you'll likely feel the need for something more aggressive at metal removal, such as for re-bevelling your edges. At that time, it'd be worthwhile looking for a coarser sharpening option. That's the one thing ceramics won't do well, as they're not coarse enough to do those jobs efficiently. For routine maintenance and light touch-ups, they can be great.


David
 
Thanks for all the feedback, also I read the "What is knife sharpening about?" thread just after starting this thread (before people started leaving feedback) and edited my questions accordingly.
 
155440 said:
Thanks for all the feedback, also I read the "What is knife sharpening about?" thread just after starting this thread (before people started leaving feedback) and edited my questions accordingly.
Click to expand...

155440 said:
(...)Also, after reading around, I think when free handing on the stone (with limited success), getting frustrated and moving on to a steel rod, I may have, without realizing, removed the burrs from the blade?
Click to expand...

With the steel rod, it's possible (likely) that you realigned & straightened a somewhat rolled edge, as opposed to removing burrs (save for some lightly attached and very weakened tatters of burrs). Smooth honing steels are known more for realigning rolled edges; and grooved steels can actually create very large burrs, like a file would do. Though, as with ceramic rods, if you use extremely light pressure on a grooved steel rod, they can really add some bite to an edge.


David
 
You might want to checkout EZE-LAP Diamond products and DMT Dia-Sharp diamond sharpening cards I have both a fine and extra fine card, the extra fine is 1200 grit and the fine is 600 grit. Lansky also offers a good sharpening set but it does clamp on the back of the blade and does leave evidence it was clamped on the metal, I acquired the diamond "stone" for the Lansky system as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top