This is how my dad and granddad taught me to sharpen knives, like you were trying to cut a thin layer off the stone. I still use the stones my grandad passed down and I'm 68 years old!
Given the popularity of Japanese waterstones and the frequency of ABS smiths to use Norton India and Arkansas stones, it would be interesting to hear them talk about why they use one and not the other.
Cliff Stamp water stones wear down fast, require constant dressing, and are very messy I've got a set of very high end ones, which quite literally haven't been used in 5 years or more. I hardly used them before going back to Arkansas stones. I personally feel the water stones are popular because they are Japanese, and everyone talks about them. It pretty well every meaningful way the Arkansas stones are better
@@geoffflato6065 i like western stones and learned to sharpen on them, and i still maintain a small collection that sees occasional use, including some verry nice, verry old norton hard arkansas stones. however the speed, finish and consistancy achevable by waterstones, especially when your getting into the finer grits, really cant be equalled by traditinal western stones. I keep the stones perma soaking and sharpen over the sink, the convienience and mess is a non issue for me.
Probably because that's the tool they're most familiarized with and it supports the local economy and it's traditional. Probably other reasons that I'm unfamiliar with too.
@@shonuffisthemaster IDK know about that I just think with artificial whetstones you get more consistent products. You still get people who use coticules or surgical black Arkansas stones for finer work like Razor honing.
Burgess Forge - I'm wondering if his comment was referring to Mr Cook saying that he sharpens the blade first and then hand sands the blade, which I agree can be dangerous, especially if you don't have your blade properly mounted and secured while hand sanding (e.g with the cutting edge hanging far over the edge of the flat surface the blade is clamped on while sanding and/or the tip sticking further over the end of it). If this was what he was referring to, I just take a piece of high grit sandpaper on a flat surface and run the edge over it a few time to get rid of the very apex. This way the edge has already been flattened on the stone prior to hand sanding and it will then be quick to re-establish the edge apex, but it's not quite as dangerous. If this isn't what he's was referring to, then I'm lost. ;)
no disrespect to the obviously skilled bladesmith, but sharpening has come a long way in matereals and techniques from what he is demonstrating. I too was tought to sharpen this way by my dad, with a norton medium india, who learned it from an old greek wood carver in the 1960's. it works, you can get a useable edge, but if you want to persue the ultimate edge there are much better matereals and more consistant techniques you can use. Id also say if you want to stick with traditional western techniques and matereals, a hard translucent arkansas is in order after the india, before the strop. also he should specify what norton stone he is using, because they make quite a few different stones......
This is how my dad and granddad taught me to sharpen knives, like you were trying to cut a thin layer off the stone. I still use the stones my grandad passed down and I'm 68 years old!
Hey Cookie took your class in 2000 I think you were the best. Keep up the good work.
blade sharpening is a true art...keep up the great work
Very good sharpening technique. Thanks for sharing!
The stone that Master Smith JR Cook is using in the video is the Norton medium grit.
Given the popularity of Japanese waterstones and the frequency of ABS smiths to use Norton India and Arkansas stones, it would be interesting to hear them talk about why they use one and not the other.
Cliff Stamp water stones wear down fast, require constant dressing, and are very messy
I've got a set of very high end ones, which quite literally haven't been used in 5 years or more. I hardly used them before going back to Arkansas stones.
I personally feel the water stones are popular because they are Japanese, and everyone talks about them. It pretty well every meaningful way the Arkansas stones are better
@@geoffflato6065 i like western stones and learned to sharpen on them, and i still maintain a small collection that sees occasional use, including some verry nice, verry old norton hard arkansas stones. however the speed, finish and consistancy achevable by waterstones, especially when your getting into the finer grits, really cant be equalled by traditinal western stones.
I keep the stones perma soaking and sharpen over the sink, the convienience and mess is a non issue for me.
Probably because that's the tool they're most familiarized with and it supports the local economy and it's traditional. Probably other reasons that I'm unfamiliar with too.
@@shonuffisthemaster IDK know about that I just think with artificial whetstones you get more consistent products. You still get people who use coticules or surgical black Arkansas stones for finer work like Razor honing.
Is your Norton stone similar to the stone they use in their professional tri-hone? Thanks for sharing!
This guy's got a really dangerous technique. I can understand the theory, but a great many people would be openeing themselves up using this method.
Monolith Preacher if people can't handle pulling a sharp blade towards them they probably shouldn't have knifes
Nerf the world
Burgess Forge - I'm wondering if his comment was referring to Mr Cook saying that he sharpens the blade first and then hand sands the blade, which I agree can be dangerous, especially if you don't have your blade properly mounted and secured while hand sanding (e.g with the cutting edge hanging far over the edge of the flat surface the blade is clamped on while sanding and/or the tip sticking further over the end of it). If this was what he was referring to, I just take a piece of high grit sandpaper on a flat surface and run the edge over it a few time to get rid of the very apex. This way the edge has already been flattened on the stone prior to hand sanding and it will then be quick to re-establish the edge apex, but it's not quite as dangerous.
If this isn't what he's was referring to, then I'm lost. ;)
lol you people
Not enough people talking in back ground need 5 more then it wound drowned out the teacher completely
no disrespect to the obviously skilled bladesmith, but sharpening has come a long way in matereals and techniques from what he is demonstrating.
I too was tought to sharpen this way by my dad, with a norton medium india, who learned it from an old greek wood carver in the 1960's. it works, you can get a useable edge, but if you want to persue the ultimate edge there are much better matereals and more consistant techniques you can use. Id also say if you want to stick with traditional western techniques and matereals, a hard translucent arkansas is in order after the india, before the strop.
also he should specify what norton stone he is using, because they make quite a few different stones......
He's also not using proper technique. A true sharpening enthusiast would probably consider that knife dull. Especially the tip with how he's lifting.
There is no such thing as an "ultimate edge." There are different edges required depending the purpose of your tool and what you want to do with it.
@@gazay7777 Okay buddy I'm sure you know a lot more about sharpening knives than a ABS certified master bladesmith.