How I sharpen a knife. (Video Tutorials)
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Re: How I sharpen a knife. (Video Tutorials)
Hey Mark, thanks for posting these videos. When I added freehand sharpening to my EdgePro sharpening I wanted to do it ambidextrously, as per your video. With the EP I spent a long time training myself to use it ambidextrously ie checking out in detail how & what I did naturally, being right-handed, and then replicating it for my left side.
Moving to freehand I struggled to find pretty much anything that provided guidance on the "flipping" method and I wish your video had been around then, as it would have saved me a lot of experimenting haha. Have to say that I do enjoy working through things and I now freehand in pretty much the same way you do. The similarities surprised me in a couple of areas.
Firstly, when I'm holding the knife handle in my right hand, I can quite comfortably use & walk the fingers of my left hand along the blade. Also I don't need to position my left thumb on the spine of the knife to "hold my place". Secondly, flipping, to hold the handle in my left hand, I seem to struggle a bit with walking my RH fingers along the blade, even though I'm right handed. Also I have to use my thumb on the spine as a place holder. So I was really interested to see a lot of that's the same for you.
I had sort of rationalised it that my right hand could control & maintain the angle of the blade on the stone better than my left, and so provide a platform that didn't need any assistance from the hand not holding onto the handle. Not so when holding the knife in my left hand.
Any thoughts????
Moving to freehand I struggled to find pretty much anything that provided guidance on the "flipping" method and I wish your video had been around then, as it would have saved me a lot of experimenting haha. Have to say that I do enjoy working through things and I now freehand in pretty much the same way you do. The similarities surprised me in a couple of areas.
Firstly, when I'm holding the knife handle in my right hand, I can quite comfortably use & walk the fingers of my left hand along the blade. Also I don't need to position my left thumb on the spine of the knife to "hold my place". Secondly, flipping, to hold the handle in my left hand, I seem to struggle a bit with walking my RH fingers along the blade, even though I'm right handed. Also I have to use my thumb on the spine as a place holder. So I was really interested to see a lot of that's the same for you.
I had sort of rationalised it that my right hand could control & maintain the angle of the blade on the stone better than my left, and so provide a platform that didn't need any assistance from the hand not holding onto the handle. Not so when holding the knife in my left hand.
Any thoughts????
Cheers Grant
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Re: How I sharpen a knife. (Video Tutorials)
I wish you would too.I can't change hands like Mark or some other guys.I did however,watch your video and I think it was "getting started" or something like that where you sharpen with one hand only.I picked up on that and have been sharpening like you ever since and more or less holding the blade at like a 45 degree angle to the stone to cover more of the edge.It works for me.I wonder now,do you still use your one hand or did you change over like Mark ? Maybe you can throw in that video here so other's may see.These guys that can sharpen with their opposite hand are just plain weird.Peter Nowlan wrote: ↑Sat Aug 18, 2018 12:04 pm As cool as that sounds, it’s your show Mark, I’m not going to spoil it. It’s nice being in the audience actually.
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Re: How I sharpen a knife. (Video Tutorials)
I can do one for one handers. I occasionally practice this way just to keep me interested and it’s fun.
I think the next focus will be on burr discussion. It’s an important thing to understand when sharpening.
I think the next focus will be on burr discussion. It’s an important thing to understand when sharpening.
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Re: How I sharpen a knife. (Video Tutorials)
Old Onion, my sharpening journey started with one hand and it will end with one hand. I’ve tried using my left hand and it wasn’t to bad actually but I’m so comfortable the other way I plan to stick with it.
Burr Formation and Burr Removal is critical Mark and a great choice for your video. They are the Corner Stones of Knife sharpening. Forming a burr signals the start of a successful sharpening session and it’s the part of the sharpening process that demands focus, patience and persistence and, it can be very difficult or quite easy depending on the knife, the stone and skill level.
To think that I started sharpening before the burr was invented
Burr Formation and Burr Removal is critical Mark and a great choice for your video. They are the Corner Stones of Knife sharpening. Forming a burr signals the start of a successful sharpening session and it’s the part of the sharpening process that demands focus, patience and persistence and, it can be very difficult or quite easy depending on the knife, the stone and skill level.
To think that I started sharpening before the burr was invented
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Re: How I sharpen a knife. (Video Tutorials)
Hey Old Onion, I'll take that as a compliment Like sharpening, it's largely about muscle memory, which means practice, practice, practice! If you want a laugh, try brushing your teeth tonight with your other hand. I still struggle with that one
Cheers Grant
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Re: How I sharpen a knife. (Video Tutorials)
I don't think so.I only have 6 teeth left as it is.
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Re: How I sharpen a knife. (Video Tutorials)
Is that bottle just a small pressurized bottle for fertilizer etc?
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Re: How I sharpen a knife. (Video Tutorials)
Yeah it’s just a regular pump spray bottle. It’s really not necessary but when you sharpen a lot it keeps me from filling up the pond with water over the course of the day.Seattle_Ben wrote: ↑Sun Aug 19, 2018 9:27 pm Is that bottle just a small pressurized bottle for fertilizer etc?
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Re: How I sharpen a knife. (Video Tutorials)
I read an article a few months ago that said they had done studies on learning a skill and found that changing practice routines make you learn better and more quickly. So brush your teeth with your opposite hand!
To apply this to sharpening I think alternating hands, varying stroke length, sharpening different types of knives, using different stone combinations and of course watching different people sharpen, would be things that would stimulate your mind and keep it interesting and hopefully help you learn better. Every time I go to Japan I ask for sharpening lessons if possible and it’s invaluable experience to watch other guys apply their techniques to the same task.
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Re: How I sharpen a knife. (Video Tutorials)
Mark,ChefKnivesToGo wrote: ↑Mon Aug 20, 2018 8:03 amI read an article a few months ago that said they had done studies on learning a skill and found that changing practice routines make you learn better and more quickly. So brush your teeth with your opposite hand!
To apply this to sharpening I think alternating hands, varying stroke length, sharpening different types of knives, using different stone combinations and of course watching different people sharpen, would be things that would stimulate your mind and keep it interesting and hopefully help you learn better. Every time I go to Japan I ask for sharpening lessons if possible and it’s invaluable experience to watch other guys apply their techniques to the same task.
The article you read probably involved smart people.I'm not very smart.Being an old fart probably doesn't help either.
Anyhow,kidding aside,I have been practicing changing hands.My first attempt was with my 240 mm Gyuto and I found that to be to difficult to hold a consistent angle unless I went really slow and studied what and how I was doing it.When I changed to sharpening a 165 mm knife,technique got better and things started to click a little.Now I am more determined to learn the hand changing technique even more.Oh and I am finding the same problem with my right hand in trying to move the fingers along the blade to hold pressure.Those buggers just don't want to move unless I crack them with my horse's lunge whip.
I am glad you made that video Mark.It is helping me for sure.Thanks again.
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Re: How I sharpen a knife. (Video Tutorials)
I tried flipping the phone over for more video real estate on a computer.
I also thought I would give a shout out to the customer that ordered the knife. I might do this going forward since it gives me a chance to talk about the knife for a few seconds.
I'm going to keep practicing these until I get better at them. It may take a while. hahahah
I also thought I would give a shout out to the customer that ordered the knife. I might do this going forward since it gives me a chance to talk about the knife for a few seconds.
I'm going to keep practicing these until I get better at them. It may take a while. hahahah
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Re: How I sharpen a knife. (Video Tutorials)
Ooh, I got a request to finish sharpen an Anryu by one of our members.
I’ll do this today for you Bob. Maybe I’ll break out a new stone for the occasion.
I’ll do this today for you Bob. Maybe I’ll break out a new stone for the occasion.
Re: How I sharpen a knife. (Video Tutorials)
---ChefKnivesToGo wrote: ↑Wed Aug 22, 2018 8:20 am Ooh, I got a request to finish sharpen an Anryu by one of our members.
I’ll do this today for you Bob. Maybe I’ll break out a new stone for the occasion.
How about a natural stone finish? Okudo??
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Re: How I sharpen a knife. (Video Tutorials)
Hi Mark
Thanks for sharing the videos. Out of interest do you use the same 3 stone combination on all steel and knife varieties?
Best
Gareth
Thanks for sharing the videos. Out of interest do you use the same 3 stone combination on all steel and knife varieties?
Best
Gareth