How to sharpen Flexcut Whittlin Jack?

[nuggetz]

I'm new into the carving/knife hobby and I'm not familiar with all the different grinds and what not. Anyway, I have a Flexcut Whittling Jack folding knife which is the sharpest knife I've ever played with out of the box. I strop it to keep the edge but I'd like to know how to sharpen it. At somepoint it's going to need it right? What if I ding the edge? I recently purchased a Spyderco Sharpmaker so that's all I have in terms of sharpening systems. I have some diamond bench stones as well. Anyway, what type of grind do I have here and what would it take to put an edge like this back on it if needed? Would putting a different edge on it affect performance or whittling wood? I wonder if the shape/grind has a purpose for woodcarving specifically.

Here's what it looks like. Couldn't find a picture to show the grind head on but its like a perfect V shape.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5795/flexcutwhittlinjack8002.jpg

 

[OHALLUM]

If you use the Flexcut Gold stropping compound to keep it sharp, and to do that you would need to strop it about every 30 minutes of carving, depending on what wood you are carving. You should not need to re-sharpen or grind the blade unless you ding or damage the edge. The blade is probably made out of 1095 carbon steel or some similar steel, so it would sharpen easily. I would try to keep the angle as acute as possible or near what it is now which is probably 10 or 12 degrees per side or less. The thinner the blade, the easier it will carve for you.

I use wet/dry sandpaper on mine if they need grinding down. (usually when new and not sharp enough for me) I have some paint stir sticks from Home Depot that I have cut and glued strips of 400, 800 and 1000, 1500, and one with 2000 grit paper on. I strop edge trailing with the sticks until I get them sharp and polished, and then follow up with the Flexcut Gold on a leather strop. Once this is done, just stropping with the leather strop keeps them sharp and ready to go. I hold the knife down on a block of wood and use a file type stroke on the edge with the sticks and the strop in a flat, horizontal motion to keep the edge bevel constant. Works great for me.

I use 3M spray adhesive to glue the sandpaper to the sticks. Easy, effective, and enjoyable! Check out this thread about whittling and whittling knives. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/f...-Workshop-Projects-Tools-Techniques-amp-Ideas

Blessings,

Omar

 

[Omega Leather Works]

Hi there. Omars got ya covered.

I agree about stropping. If you use a good strop frequently, loaded with good compound (Flexcut gold, White Gold or Deepwoods Ventures Pale) you should be able to maintain a good sharp edge indefinitely.

Edge repair is a whole different ball of wax. I definitely wouldn't recommend messing with your bevels/edges unless you NEED to or are very comfortable with your sharpening skills.

Omar linked you to the Workshop forum. Check out the Whittling thread there for sure. Here's a link to the Carving Knife & Chat thread.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1046919

Come by if you want to talk carving or carving knives. Great bunch of guys and gals there.