Sharpening of the garden-variety?
Posted: Sat May 21, 2016 6:00 pm
It seems the topic of sharpening is something I consider on almost a daily basis. Perhaps it's because it's actually quite difficult to get out there and try all the different media and all the varieties within each type. It also doesn't help that I'm currently making do with a Sigma 1k, which I do enjoy, a 6k Sigma Jinzo-renge-suita, which is in two halves, and what I believe to be a 10k sold as a 13k. The 6k/13k was a dual sided stone which delaminated from each other a few months into use. Although not in great condition, I've managed just fine, but naturally I was looking for replacements.
Now I'm sure this is the part where most will consider me bonkers, but I decided to try the whatever was lying around in the garden with a beat up chisel. I wasn't expecting to find anything useable, simply a childish experiment. I did come across a slate which was there as a decorative feature. I decided to to flatten a section of it and 'see what happens'. I managed to bring up a slurry after flattening, and I proceeded to sharpen. I was quite surprised to see some cutting action. After a few minutes, I noticed a hazy bevel. I figured this was at best between 1-2k, until I did the usual arm hair shave, and found it popped a hair off with no pressure! I know very little about natural stones, clearly, and so was left a little confused by the finish and it's corresponding sharpness. I went on to try a japanese marking knife and then one of my kanna blades. This time, I sharpened for much longer, to see if this hazy finish would change, it didn't. However, when I looked through a loupe, I noticed unlike the bright mirror like finish, which usually has a few larger scratches from the sigma finishing stone, this was a very consistent haze, with no larger scratches.
I'm sure some of you with natural stones may have some more insight into what I have here, but so far I'm extremely pleased with the results. It's perhaps placebo, but it does seem like the edge is longer lasting.
Anyway, here are some pics, and even a video!
Very difficult to photograph, but there's a nice distinction between the steel layers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZze5KFW44g
Now I'm sure this is the part where most will consider me bonkers, but I decided to try the whatever was lying around in the garden with a beat up chisel. I wasn't expecting to find anything useable, simply a childish experiment. I did come across a slate which was there as a decorative feature. I decided to to flatten a section of it and 'see what happens'. I managed to bring up a slurry after flattening, and I proceeded to sharpen. I was quite surprised to see some cutting action. After a few minutes, I noticed a hazy bevel. I figured this was at best between 1-2k, until I did the usual arm hair shave, and found it popped a hair off with no pressure! I know very little about natural stones, clearly, and so was left a little confused by the finish and it's corresponding sharpness. I went on to try a japanese marking knife and then one of my kanna blades. This time, I sharpened for much longer, to see if this hazy finish would change, it didn't. However, when I looked through a loupe, I noticed unlike the bright mirror like finish, which usually has a few larger scratches from the sigma finishing stone, this was a very consistent haze, with no larger scratches.
I'm sure some of you with natural stones may have some more insight into what I have here, but so far I'm extremely pleased with the results. It's perhaps placebo, but it does seem like the edge is longer lasting.
Anyway, here are some pics, and even a video!
Very difficult to photograph, but there's a nice distinction between the steel layers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZze5KFW44g