What do you use to sharpen your khuks?

Chakuma, and until I get better at making a convex edge I will rotate my khuks in and out of service so that they all stay razor sharp for as long as possible.

Other than that I have DMT diamond stones in rough and medium, and a few well used stones I picked up in Colarado years ago that never had a make. I make whatever I have work... but am still learning on how to make and maintain a convex edge on kardas. Getting closer and better, but is sure does take time!
 
Besides my flat rock, only in jest.

I have been most successful in varying degrees of wet/dry sanding paper,up to 2000 grit, on a large rubber pad and mouse pad on top of that.

I also have or use for the frustrating blades.

DMT Duofold, fine, medium, coarse

ceramic rods

India stones, Yvsa recommended. Haven't had to resort to them, as yet.

Couple of arkansas stones left me by my Dad.

EZ lap diamond hone

a couple of Nickolsen Files 6,8, 10 inch

A set of Nickolsen hobby files. Comes in handy in the cho area for cleaning them up.

Come to think of it, I also have a upright belt sander with side sanding disk attached. Given to me by my son, years ago. It is somewhat buried in my garage, when I moved alot of Mom's stuff in the garage, when I moved her out here with me. I used it for some wood projects, sometime ago. When the weather gets warmer and other cirumstances permit, I have to go out and rearrange the garage, so I can use it again.

Edit: Haven't had too much success with the Chakmas. Will have to take Sarge's advice, and look for some old files at garage sales, when I get the chance
 
For sharpening:
1. Ceramic rod
2. Arkansas stone
3. Tool and Die 2-sided sharpening stone, both coarse and medium

For burnishing:
1.Chakmak
2.Other available knife or steel thing
3. glass or quartz, something smooth that rates a 7 or better on Moh's Hardness Scale

Keith
 
Ok, I live in the sticks cuz no one knows what I'm talking about when I ask about an India Stone. Where did you all get yours?

bt
 
Thanks so much. I appreciate it.

Is it hard to develop a convex edge using stones and rods? I don't want to scrap up the surface of the blades.


bt
 
btice-- here's Buzzbait's Page on convex grinds. It has instructions for sharpening both with hard surfaces (stones,etc.) and soft surfaces (strops, mousepad with sandpaper) I think both have the potential to scratch your blade. I think you might be able to minimize scratching with masking tape on the blade. I don't know for sure though. I'm too lazy; I just live with scratches on my blades. They get scratched when you use them anyway.
--Josh
 
Originally posted by btice
Thanks so much. I appreciate it.

Is it hard to develop a convex edge using stones and rods? I don't want to scrap up the surface of the blades.

bt
Click to expand...

Ben you can also check out the "Tutorials and FAQ's" at the top of this or any bladeforums.com page.
There's lots of info on the various edge types.

You can also put on a convex edge using one of the fancy sharpeing systems, one that lets you change the angles.
You start with like a 15*, then a 25* and etc until you have a series of very fine angles all along the edge, pretty complicated on a whole khuk blade, but not too awfully bad along the sweet spot.
After acheiving the series of angles all you have to to then is use a hand held hone and blend them together.
Lots of work.....:(

Like I've told Munk and others here "..anyone left alone without any sharpening experience is going to get a convex edge just from the fact that it's so very difficult to hold an exact angle each and every time by hand. The most important thing is to get a burr all along one edge before moving to the other side. After a burr is achieved on the opposite side then all one has to do is strop the burr off."
A line drawn along the edge with a dark Magic Marker helps as you can tell exactly where the hone or strop is working on the edge by the wear it shows.

And as Josh has said, "I think you might be able to minimize scratching with masking tape on the blade."
I have been known to do that, especially if I'm sharpening someone else's knife.;)

Now!!!! What are you calling an "India Stone?":confused:
 
I use the following:

1. Diamond rod
2. Ceramic rod

If it's real dull I use:

1. 8" Bastard file
2. A "Puck" stone
3. Diamond rod
4. Ceramic rod

I generally sharpen my Khukuris like I do my axes only sharper :). I've tried the strop thing but I guess I don't have the patience for it :(. I can usually still take hair off my arms with my Khuks thu ;).

Mike
 
Josh and Yvsa, thanks for the tips. I tried to run the videos posted from Langolier (spelling?) the other day, but couldn't get them to run on my computer.

bt
 
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