Book Reccomendation

[markd85]

Hi All
Which one of these books would be the best for a newbie just starting out in the sharpening world?
The Razor Edge Book of Sharpening by John Juranitch or
The Complete Guide to Sharpening by Leonard Lee
Or, is there another you would reccomend? Thanks.
Mark

[bigcat]

I would recommend the Spyderco Sharpmaker and the video that comes with it. It may be all you will ever need.

BigCat

After reading on down the forum page I noticed your had allready posted that you have a Sharpmaker. Good for you.

[bubbamets5505]

I definitely second the recommendation above!:eek: :D

[Capt. Carl]

thirded!


:)

[markd85]

Sharpmaker should have arrived by the time I get home from work:D Just thought maybe one of these books would be good too. Thanks yall.
mark

[bh49]

Watch DVD couple times, practice, search our Forum and BF, ask questions and you will be OK.

[bubbamets5505]

I have to say, once you get used to the Sharpmaker it will become fun to sharpen. I can now sharpen just about any knife with a blade under 7" in 30 minutes or less. The sharp maker is awesome. By the way I also have a Edgepro Apex, and most of the time I gravitate toward the Sharpmaker. The Edgepro is good for large Fixed Blades and kitchen knives, but the sharpmaker is good for just about everything. And it's easier to clean up too.:D

Jonny

[JD Spydo]

I have both of those books you mentioned. There is even a third one I like a lot called "Sharpening: The Complete Guide by Jim Kingshott. PM me if you want the ISBN number. Actually everything else the guys told you is all good sound advice. Now the Razor edge book is great to get you oriented on the Primary and Secondary bevels which are essential for "Reprofiling" which is the utmost of importance in any knife sharpening venture.

The Leonard Lee sharpening book is excellent as well and it really goes into finite detail on several woodworking tools as well as knife sharpening. However keep in mind you will find about as many methods for sharpening as there are guys who have written books on the subject.

Now there is one other book that I picked up last summer that I was really impressed with entitled "Sharpening With Waterstones" by Ian Kirby. Definitely get a Spyderco 204 Sharpmaker with the video/DVD and watch it at least 2 to 3 times and read the booklet that comes with it a couple of times and that will arm you with the information you need to put razor edges on your folders and fixed blades. The 204 Sharpmaker is truly worth what you pay for it. It is an investment that will pay for itself many times over. I hope I didn't throw too much at you at once :o

[markd85]

Thanks Jd
I'm really anxious to learn so thanks for the info. I like reading so I'll probably just get all of those books eventually. I think I'll start on The Complete Guide to Sharpening and go from there. Also, I was able to find the Jim Kingshott book. Thanks for the tips everybody.
Mark

[JD Spydo]

Thanks Jd
I'm really anxious to learn so thanks for the info. I like reading so I'll probably just get all of those books eventually. I think I'll start on The Complete Guide to Sharpening and go from there. Also, I was able to find the Jim Kingshott book. Thanks for the tips everybody.
Mark

Well "markd85" if you're like me you tend to learn better by cross referencing and by taking a serious look at more than one method of executing a skill such as sharpening. All of these guys have done years of work in different areas of working with edged tools and we can learn a lot from them.

It kind of blows me away that as important of a skill as "SHARPENING" is it just seems kind of weird that there had not been a lot written on the subject till John Juranitch wrote his book sometime in the mid 80s. And there really hasn't been a great deal done on the subject since then. I think a lot of the master craftsmen who learned the skill by trial and error are very reluctant for what ever reason to share it with anyone else. It also blows my mind how many useless and ineffective sharpening tools there are out there in the hardware stores; and it amazes me how many people have drawers full of the useless, crappy sharpening tools that don't work :confused: . OH Well I guess P. T. Barnum had them pegged :rolleyes: .

[kbuzbee]

It also blows my mind how many useless and ineffective sharpening tools there are out there in the hardware stores; and it amazes me how many people have drawers full of the useless, crappy sharpening tools that don't work :confused: . OH Well I guess P. T. Barnum had them pegged :rolleyes: .

I'm not sure I agree with you here, JD. I will agree that some tools work better than others for certain jobs and the Sharpmaker is at the top of the heap, for me, to get a get V grind.

But I don't think "most" of that stuff is "useless or crappy". You can use almost anything and get a great edge, but you need the right skills. The strength of the Sharpmaker (again, to me) is how amazingly easy it is to get a great V edge.

I know folks who can pick up a rock and get a great edge but not everyone is willing to develop that level of skill. Even one of those cheap composit stones can be used to get a GREAT convex edge (you know, when they get 'wallowed out"?) but not every knife (or every user) wants a convex edge. It just depends.... on you, on the knife, on the application....

I guess I'm picking nits here (kind of) but I don't think blanket dismissals are as helpful as specific benefits.... If that makes sense??

Ken

[Darkfin]

Speaking of book recommendations (?), can anyone recommend a book that has values for knife brands other than case and buck? Particularly Spyderco? Gracias!