Not a lot has changed in technology over the years with how to sharpen a blade. It continues to entail a blade contacting and moving across an abrasive surface at an angle to make both sides of the blade meet at a very fine point, creating a a sharp edge. At SamSharp we take a practical approach to sharpening your knife by taking into account how you use it. A kitchen knife should not be sharpened the same as an everyday carry pocket knife, or an axe or a machete. The edge on a very sharp knife will not last long in the woods clearing a walking path or cutting a tree limb. Likewise, an axe will not cut a tomato very well. Although the concept of sharpening a piece of metal is the same, it’s really about edge geometry. Whether it’s a single sided bevel or two bevels that meet with an apex, keeping a consistent angle while sharpening is critical for obtaining a fine edge. It’s extremely hard to keep a consistent angle when sharpening freehand, and for that reason, we use fixed angle clamps to hold knives when sharpening on any medium. This prevents convex angles that can misguide your cuts even if your edge is sharp. We primarily use a belt sander designed specifically for sharpening knives. Belt sanders generate heat. High temperatures can be bad for knives so our machines turn slower than a typical hardware store variety belt sander. We also use a succession of grits to create the edge we want slowly, thereby reducing the heat buildup. We also have a Swiss made slow speed wet stone grinder for work that requires a more delicate touch. This sharpener uses a combination of diamond, natural and the latest Cubic Boron Nitride compound abrasives to customize and ensure your tool gets the best edge it can. Our last step includes stropping, or swiping, your edge to remove the final traces of the sharpening burr and allowing the fresh apex of the edge to be exposed. We use natural leather or a dense felt compound for this final step depending on the type of blade steel. We hope you will give us the opportunity to sharpen your tools and we look forward to conversation with you to learn how you use your tools so we can provide the best edge that works the way YOU work. |