How do you get a 25degree angle and maintain it with this method?
With a jig. The secret is creating a very fine & straight burr, then honing it off. The finer the wheel the finer the burr. It doesn't have to be 25 degrees to be shaving sharp.
Search "sharpening" herein for unlimited info.
Try this to get you in the right direction.
http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=062836
straitera,
how steep can the angle be and still get sharp? I have some home made trades that are at about 40 degrees and I'm wondering if I need to take them down.....?
thanks,
Steveb
The finer the angle the easier it bends. Not good necessarily. 25 degrees + or - is a good start & knife industry standard. I free hand so don't really exact an angle. Mine is from years of experience however sharpening surgical instruments. Most good knife or BH sharpeners use jigs to hold the knife or BH to exact dimensions everytime somewhere within this 25 degree parameter. The more consistent your angle the easier it is to maintain.
Takes little effort to generate fine burrs with a flat diamond stone. Hone away the burr with another small effort (cardboard or cotton wheel for ex.) & you're hair shaving. Possible pitfalls; curved edges, serrated edges, trashed or ragged edge to begin with (in which case another new edge will need to be recut with usually heavier coarser abrasive), bad steel, & bad tempering. Similar application for wheel grinders. PM for more.
I've never tried it w/jig and was unsuccessful without. It's why I went to the Tru-Angle system. It gave me consistency and an edge I could touch up in the field. Easy to pack in the truck too. I do a lot of camping w/out electric power.
I like a shallow angle which makes it easy to resharpen in the field by touching up the edge to a somewhat steeper angle.
Ok thanks. I'll try the diamond at the angle they are at then lessen a little at a time until sharp............