What do you use to sharpen your khuks?

Daniel Koster

Daniel Koster

www.kosterknives.com
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Oct 18, 2001
Messages
20,978
I'll keep the list running at the top of this thread in order of most popular.


***UPDATED: 02/07/03***

Most popular overall (in general): Chakma
Most popular as "first choice": Diamond Stones/Rods
Most popular as "go between": Ceramic Rods
Most popular as "final touch": Strop w/compound





Just put down what you use most and in order of preference and I'll edit this post to keep it "alive"...:eek: :D

If you really need to know how I determined this ranking, feel free to email me, but...you oughta know my style by now...:D :p
 
For the most part, I use varying grits of wet/dry sandpaper on a mouse pad. I also use a cheap ceramic rod that the previous owners of my dome left behind. Lately I've been playing around with a strop as well. Oh, almost forgot, I use the chakmah quite a bit too. Great topic! I'm curious to see what methods others use. I'm always open to new ideas.
--Josh
 
Usually just:
Diamond steel, then ceramic then smooth steel.

Touch ups with the chakma from my 20" AK (one that was properly hardened).
 
whoops...

forgot to add:

put it in order of preference like this:

1 -
2 -
3 -
 
Oops!
1. sandpaper and a mouse pad
2. ceramic rod
3. chakmah
4. strop

This isn't really accurate as far as order of preference though, because I usually use several of them together. It just depends on how dull the blade is.
--Josh
 
I use elbow grease, experience, and whatever abrasive/polishing medium lies close to hand. I know that sounds facetious, but the truth is I've tried dang near everything out there, and unsurprisingly it all works. Still, if you're looking for specifics, an EZ-Lap diamond hone is about five and a half bucks at WalMart, a ceramic stick is a buck from Ragnar, and between the two of 'em you can put a sharp working edge on a khuk in three minutes or less. Add a strop and you're just a couple more minutes away from "hair popping sharp".

Sarge
 
I use a multitude of things.;)

1- If the khuk comes to me without a convex edge it goes to the Grizz belt sander for rework, then to the buffers for a razor edge.

1 1/2- ;) Oopsie*.:o Almost forgot until I read Federico's post, let alone it's been so long since I needed to sharpen a khuk on anything other than my Grizz belt sander.
The DMT Duofolds in black, very coarse, blue, coarse, red, fine and green, extra fine.
These are great for complete reworking and sharpening although they take a while.
The black very coarse DMT will remove a lot of steel in a short amount of time and is good for removing deep dings and nicks in the blade.

2- Many times if there's a thin wire edge I'm having trouble removing I will give the khuk a couple of swipes on my fine ceramic hones mounted in the classic wood block, but no more than a couple and then the strop will restore the convex edge.

2- 3- The Norton Fine India whetstones are excellent for touching up and with practice will let you finish your job without using a strop, handy while in the field.:)

4- Many times a Scotch-Brite pad rubbed towards the edge will bring it back to where a couple of hits on the strop will restore the razor edge.
This is best done at home after you've worked the khuk out that day.
The Scotch-Brite will leave a beautiful satin finish while removing tree sap, dirt, and other stains.

5- Also happened to think the last time I had occasion to use one of my khuks not too long ago was when we went to the river to gather new willows for a new altar for our Sweatlodge.
A couple of swipes with a properly hardened chakma, then a couple of swipes on the ceramic V hones and a good stropping was all it took to get them back as they were when we left the house.
The khuks also limbed and skinned the willows and cut them to the proper length.
It was good to be able to work with them for at least a little while once again.

Edited for order. And an Oopsie.:o
*Oopsie borrowed from my friend Vampire Gerbil.;)
 
1-diamond sharpener bench or hand held small

2-steel chakma or butcher steel

3-norton oil stone

Sam
 
1. Chakma
2. Strop and green stuff
3. Ceramic Rods

I use an old leather belt and more green stuff to get a convex shaped edge. Dunno if that's correct but to onlookers it looks like I know what I'm doing. :)

I could use the same list to answer the question "What do you use to dull your khuks?"

:rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by BruiseLeee

I could use the same list to answer the question "What do you use to dull your khuks?"

:rolleyes:
Click to expand...


I use rocks, trees, barbed wire, etc. :D
 
When I cant borrow any blood, sweat or tears from someone else:D I use:

1. DMT replacement diamond stone coarse (I was too cheap to by regular diamond stones so I just bought the replacement ones for thier duo-fold sharpeners, and at the time at about $5 a pop instead of $20 I figured not bad).

2. DMT replacement diamond stone medium

3. fine India Stone (for some reason for the long time I thought it was an Arkansas stone, but after looking at other stones online I guess its really an India stone).

4. chakmak

5. If im in the mood Ill use a leather strop charged with simichrome, though its already razor sharp by the time the India stone is done. Imagine that the pressure one uses when using a stone can make a fine stone finer so to speak.
 
1- WWII rock hard Chakma

2- Butchers Steel

3- Strop with "Mimbro #697951" /Light cleaning buffing compound
(It's green + fast cutting -- Is this an accurate description
of what Tripoli compound is and does) Anyway It was $3 at
Lowe's and leaves my Khuks purdy darn sharp!

-Craig
 
Hi Guys. Haven't been around much lately. Taking a break and thought I would check in. I have a question or two:

1. what is the difference between an India Stone and an Arkansas Stone (I can't wait to hear some of the responses).

2. from some of the answers above, I take it that not everyone puts a convex edge on their HI blades. Is this a correct assumption?

take care.

bt
 
Originally posted by lcs37
I have this big flat rock!
Click to expand...

There's lots of flat rocks here in Oklahoma. Just don't stand too close to one when the cow raises her tail.:p ;)
Mostly sandstone and fair for sharpening. Once in a while you can find a really fine grained one, only problem is that they're generally too soft.

We have a saying here in Oklahoma about when it's raining really hard, "It's raining like a cow pissing on a flat rock."
When it's Really raining hard it's, "Raining like a double "endowed" cow pissing on a flat rock."
Ifen y'all wanna know what "double endowed" really is please e-mail me.:rolleyes: :p :D
 
Originally posted by btice
Hi Guys. Haven't been around much lately. Taking a break and thought I would check in. I have a question or two:

1. what is the difference between an India Stone and an Arkansas Stone (I can't wait to hear some of the responses).

2. from some of the answers above, I take it that not everyone puts a convex edge on their HI blades. Is this a correct assumption?

take care.

bt
Click to expand...

Ben the Norton Fine India Oil Whetstone is a man made stone made from Aluminium Oxide IIRC.
The Arkansas whetstone is a natural stone, Noviculite, that's quarried in Arkansas. They can be used with water or oil, but not both on one stone.

All of my using knives with the exception of my Scandanavian knives have a convex edge.
The Scandia knives have a single beveled edge.
The single beveled edge takes a little time if sharpened with a secondary edge from the factory.
A friend of mine brought me one from Sweden that had a small secondary edge on it.
Took me what seemed like forever to get it honed down right, but when they're right they are extremely sharp!!!!:D
I don't know how the Mora knives that Sarge talks about comes as I've never had one, but I'm hoping they have the single beveled edge.
 
I don't know how the Mora knives that Sarge talks about comes as I've never had one, but I'm hoping they have the single beveled edge.
Click to expand...

Yvsa, I've recently gotten a few Scandanavian blades and knives. Nothing fancy-- not hand-forged, and quite inexpensive.

seemed like three permutations:

1) Single bevel on Eriksson blades
2) Eriksson knives seemed to have very slight second bevel likely from a final polishing
3) Karesuando blade and Iisakki Järvenpää knife seemed to have a definate but very small second bevel.

Guess it depends on the manufacturer/maker, which isn't any great surprise...:rolleyes:

And many companies have a couple models with a hollow grind, (I guess to satisfy American demand), so make sure you get what you want if you buy one!!

It is a pain to hone down to eliminate that secondary bevel, but like you I think it is well worth it. Especially for wood-carving. My bevels may not be optically flat all the way to the edge, there might be a slight convexity to the edge, but they do get sharp.

Maybe Sarge can tell us which ones don't have a secondary bevel.
 
I never really get my khuks sharper than needed to hack my way throw things in the woods. But when i do hit the occational rock or bit or metal i usually use

1.) A lansky Edge Eater puck- weird i know, but it's what i grew up with.

2.) a butcher's steel

3.) my only properly hardened chakma

4.) my whetstone if i can find it :D

thanx
jake
 
1. Leather stop and jeweler's rouge
2. DMT diamond hone, usualy round one with red handle
3. Gerber Sportsman Steel
 
UPDATED: see first post :eek:


Oh, and keep the votes coming...
 
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