Rick Barter Posted June 3, 2005 Share Posted June 3, 2005 Well, I have a Kershaw knife. I bought it about 4 years ago and it's like a part of me (except in the airport...they're so touchy). However, one day I dropped it on a hard tile floor and the point was broke off. I put it on a grinder to try and re-point it. I did okay, but slipped on the grinder and took a hunk out of the blade. How can I repair this properly? I guess you need to use a slow-speed grinder for knife work? Any help is appreciated. I'm trying to get a picture, but I can't find the batteries for the digital camera :? rvb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Barter Posted June 5, 2005 Author Share Posted June 5, 2005 Here is a picture of the damage. Any advice is appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted June 5, 2005 Share Posted June 5, 2005 I would try to hone that out by hand with a carborundum stone. JPH may have better advice. Power tools are great but they can also get you in trouble quickly... :wink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Barter Posted June 5, 2005 Author Share Posted June 5, 2005 you mean just any stone? i don't know much about knife sharpening...as you can see by the damage done to my knife :roll: rvb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HWooldridge Posted June 5, 2005 Share Posted June 5, 2005 Yes, like a flat sharpening oilstone - maybe a medium grit. Put the stone in a vise at a comfortable height (about elbow), oil, press flat on the existing planes of the blades and hone the flats. You are trying to preserve the factory angles but hone enough away to get rid of the damage. Don't worry about sharpening the edge at this point, just get the lines back to normal, then sharpen the edge. Everybody has their own technique for sharpening but I butcher a lot of game and cut meat so I sharpen as follows: Hone on a fine oilstone at about 10 degrees on each side until I get a "wire edge", which is the metal thinned down to the thickness of foil. This will usually be evident only on one side of the blade. I then put it on a good kitchen steel to get rid of the burr and finally put it on a good leather barber's strop. When the knife stops cutting to my satisfaction, I put it on the steel again for a few swipes. I can sharpen a knife to a very fine edge in less than five minutes using this method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Plank Posted June 6, 2005 Share Posted June 6, 2005 If the blade isn't too hard, I've had pretty good luck with using a file to reshape the edge. I'd clamp the blade in the vice, using a wooden block on each side to protect the polish, and ( I know this goes way against the grain ) file the "sharp"edge down to where I have a smooth surface all the way up to the tip. Then if you can angle the vice some, or clamp the blade in sideways ( still between the wooden blocks ) then you can start working on sharpening the edge. I would try to match the angle of the rest of the blade, at least untill I started getting the wire edge thet HW talked about, and finnish the edge with a set of triangular ceramic sticks. I prefer the ceramic sticks to the flat stones simply because I find it easier to judge the angle they meet the edge and am more consistant than I am with a flat whet stone. This is just how I'd do it, take it for what it's worth ! ( grin ) Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Plank Posted June 6, 2005 Share Posted June 6, 2005 Sorry, I forgot to mention, I like a LOT of light on the blade when I'm filing on it. If you can't see what you're doing, stop. Ray Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Hale Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 It is difficult to see if that is a hollow ground blade or not, If it is useing a stone will not work real well. Try another method..take a popsicle stick and use it to push down lightly on wet or dry sandpaper,,you can get it at auto parts stores or home improvement centers. I would start with 120 grit,,,moisten with water as you sand lengthways down the blade,,,,do a little and look a lot in good light. When it looks as if you have an even finish go to a 220 grit. Next a 320 then a 400 last and 600 and you should see a big improvement. When the surface finish is what you like, sharpen with a stone...This will wrok if the blade is flat ground or hollow ground as the stick will countour itself as you work,,,keep it wet....Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Barter Posted June 9, 2005 Author Share Posted June 9, 2005 rich, hollow-ground blade meaning the i gouged it? because that's what i did with the grinder...i just took a big scallop out of it. i guess 'big' is a relative term. but, it looks like crap. after i get it fixed, is there any way to get it nice and black like it was before all this mess? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandpile Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 RICK every thing thing that RICH says is right. If I were fixing the point. GRIN... I would use the the stick and make sure all the stokes went from back to the front of the knife blade. You might get along using the ball of your finger. Use the flat of the stick and one thickness of 600 girt or so paper to dress the top edge back down. You are not going to be able to get the factory finish. If you have some lemon juice or vinegar to soak it in. Keep looking at it and quit when you are close enough to suit you. Wash real good and then oil with gun oil or three-in-one. You might be able to get close with BIRCH-WOOD CASEY BROWNING FLUID. From WALLY WORLD.GRIN If you happen to know a knifemaker in your area, it would help for him to coach you a little. :wink: Sandpile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Barter Posted June 9, 2005 Author Share Posted June 9, 2005 Thanks for the tips! Actually, one of my brothers-in-law said there's a pretty well-known bladesmith in my area here in Kentucky. But, I can't remember his name. Heck, I can barely remember my own sometimes. rvb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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