Hello Everybody, I've got an Arthur Wright & Son Lambsfoot pocket/pen knife. I've got it quite sharp but I've found when I do the paper cutting test my nife almost always makes a curve to the right in front of me. Why is this? Is it sharpened better on one side than the other?
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how to sharpen my penknife
- Thread starter 9397jim
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Well depending on the orientation you are cutting in, one bevel or side of your edge may be steeper than the other resulting in your curved cuts.
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Most likely that.^^
An asymmetrical edge grind, with one side at a different angle than the other, will behave that way. The edge tends to turn away from the side with the narrowest bevel (which is the side with the more obtuse edge angle), resulting in an arcing cut. This is real common on very small blades with thin edges, like a pen blade; since there's not much metal to remove to drastically alter the geometry, it's very easy to produce an asymmetrical edge on these blades. And the 'arc' in the cut will be compounded with narrower blades as well (spine-to-edge width); a wider blade would tend to help stabilize or straighten out the cut, though there'd still be some 'pull' in one direction or the other.
Even a lot of factory edges on small knives will sometimes be hideously off-balance like this, especially if examined under magnification.
Speaking from my own experience, a very small folder like a pen knife can sometimes be challenging to sharpen, because the small handle makes it a little tricky to maintain a steady & firm hold, from both sides, in equal fashion. This is another reason why it's not unusual to see the sharpening angle vary from one side to the other.
David
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Are you in the Northern Hemisphere or Southern? Perhaps it's the 'Coriolis Effect.'
Stitchawl
Thank you everybody! My pocketknife is small, the blade is just under 3 inches. I've watched lots of videos on sharpening and always sharpen one side then the other. I did see one video though that said I should get a 20 degree wedge of wood and use that to ensure the angle was the same on both sides. I wonder if my sharpening angle varies from one stroke to the other...
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In my personal experience, my return stroke angle is always shallower or lower than that of the forward stroke angle. To make the bevel even, I have to make a conscious effort to slightly increase the angle of my return stroke.
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This is also where the 'Sharpie technique' of marking the bevels can really teach a lot. Blacken the bevels on both sides, make ONE stroke on each side with your current hold/technique, and compare the similarities/differences in ink removed on each side. Wider strip of ink removed = lower angle; narrower strip of ink removed = more obtuse. Use a 10X or better magnifier, and BRIGHT LIGHT to inspect. You'll quickly see how your individual hold or technique is affecting the angle on each side, and you can adjust accordingly to retrain your hands for a more even balance.
David