Free Hand Sharpening: My Edge Looks Good, But it's Not Sharp.....WHY? (viewer inquiry)

A viewer sent me a message asking why his edges aren't sharp despite having nice clean and polished bevels. I thought that the answers provided good info for the masses so I decided to make a video about it. Hopefully this gives some good info to you guys. If it didn't answer all of your questions then let me know and I will make another.
I greatly appreciate any amount of Paypal donations, and as always please do not feel obligated to do so:
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[@LIE4ME]

1. Microscope 2. Body control/position in relation to stone 3. Lock wrists and tighten elbows I couldn't consistently sharpen my blades until I took these seriously. The $40 USB microscope shows you what you're trying to feel literally.

[@saiiiiiii1]

Also thanks to your video I finally can produce the edges that please me. I really couldn't imagine before what "ultra light" passes meant, until someone from Bladeforums called it "brushing off the burr". Since I mostly learn on cheap, soft stainless knives the last touches to remove the burr have to be SO light, that you couldn't possibly go any lighter without the blade hovering above the stone. That's what did the trick for me finally. I hope there are new videos coming from you soon Jdavis882 ;-)

[@jdavis882]

Glad to hear you’re getting good results! And that’s a good way to put it. I now tell people to use no more pressure than you’d be comfortable applying to a babies cheek. Just a light touch does it!

[@TSGear]

These videos are excellent. Through watching your channel I have really improved my free hand sharpening dramatically. Thanks

[@ReticentSparrow]

Just wanted to say thanks for sharing the sharpening tips. Keep 'em coming.

[@eddy2561]

Excellent explanation why some knifes not really sharp....greatly appreciated!

[@jdavis882]

Awesome brother I'm glad it helped out!

[@bluehulk83]

thanks bro, great tips, and it really helped me just touch up my edc.

[@spyderg6509]

I had similar issue I did what you said is make sure I achieve the apex now my knives are sharp as hell thanks brother

[@cmonsterz]

Very helpful video john!

[@hoplahey]

Just to confirm on the advice given in this video. When I started sharpening it was a bit random, some of my knifes became very sharp, while others stayed quite dull. I even used a magnifying glass with 2-4x magnification. To me the edge looked polished. Then I got a 10x magnifier and noticed av very small line out on the edge (looked white compared to the polished blade). I realized that I never touched the actual edge hwile sharpening and then bought a cheap microscope to learn more. The knives are now razor sharp.

[@pfolvig]

Thanks for this. Helpful tips.

[@dfailsthemost]

Sometimes, for whatever reason, I end up with what seems to be a micro burr even after stropping. Try running the edge lightly down wood as though slicing it but only with the weight of the blade. That does it for me every time.

[@myvenusinuranus]

great advice. thanks

[@jdavis882]

Very true. Scales make the knife!

[@jdavis882]

Let me know how you like it!

[@stevenbusch9336]

This was a great video. Thanks!!!!!!!

[@jdavis882]

Yep! The Magpul cases are excellent. A steal at 10 bucks. :)

[@edcgirl1175]

I think ive been doing this... Thank you so much for explaining lol I actually understood too ha

[@jrocsa22]

Another great video. I have a question regarding the steel rods for the Sharpmaker that are coated with cubic boron nitride. Please tell me the pros and cons about these rods.and how do they compare with the diamond rods.

[@boombap420]

a burr is like the rolled over or 'smeared' edge on one side. After making a few passes there is some built up metal on the opposite side, if you can see and feel it like he shows there.... chances are you have hit the apex or that final little bevel at the very tip. So identifying that burr is a simple and fairly foolproof way to ensure you have actually been working the edge itself and not just part of the bevel or worse the shoulder of the blade ;)

[@RedneckInCarolina]

Good advice.

[@jdavis882]

Yep it looks like a cool little blade. You going to get one?

[@ratbyn]

Hey I just wanted to say THANK YOU! Finally I'm able to push cut paper. (Yeah I'm a bit behind on the sharpening thing)

[@racerx32]

Mr. jdavis, what are your thoughts on those plastic/steel, knife guides, or sharpening guides, do they help? or would it just be better to get the feel for free hand and stick with it. Have a good one.

[@ajopasoij9d00]

great video!! what I do is never go from coarse(240) to medium(600) grit if the knife is not as sharp as it gets with the coarse grit. I do the same with medium grit and then touch up with fine (1200) grit. All I use is sandpaper.

[@nathanstokes3931]

What model is that Benchmade? Awesome design.

[@lessismorrish]

hey man! i was wondering if you have any of those limited edition mini onslaughts left youd like to sell or trade? thanks for the great videos!

[@boombap420]

thats dope, iv rocked the phone 'naked' for a few years now and yea, for 10 bucks it was a no brainer. Cant wait for it to arrive, im gonna be taking dynamic phonecalls from now on. hopefully the case won't impede my ability to clear sim card malfunctions lol (they actually happen) ;)

[@racerx32]

Cool,, thanks :)

[@saiiiiiii1]

I have two questions: Let's say I'm finishing with ultra light alternating passes, can I actually oversharpen like this? Or do I just cut off any excessive burr with the next alternating pass and be good again? The problem I'm getting most is that one side shaves better than the other, indicating a burr. Even on the Spyderco fine it seems like one full pass over the stone with a featherlight touch is enough to create a new burr on the other side. If I microbevel very high to cut a possible burr off (which I can't feel or see under magnification tbh) and then continue with alternating passses, I quickly reach the point again where the same scenario starts over again. At first I thought I was just flipping the burr back and forth, but it really doesn't matter which steel it is, even steels which are not prone to stubborn burrs. I can rebevel knives with very flat looking bevels, so my angles can't be all that bad, but man apexing makes me go crazy sometimes.

[@jdavis882]

It can be frustrating if you’re chasing the bleeding edge of sharpness. Are you free handing? I suggest getting to the point you are at, refining the edge using ultra light alternating passes. When you get to the point that you think you’re finished, raise the edge up a few degrees and do some ULTRA light alternating passes at a slightly higher angle - ensuring you’re hitting the apex on both sides. Do a few alternating passes like that, like 4. Then raise the angle just a touch and do a few ultra light alternating passes, but edge trailing. Like a stropping motion. That should weaken any burr left over enough that just a touch on the strop breaks it off. If you’re using a very fine stone the increase in angle won’t affect the edge geometry at all, since the stone cuts very slowly. But it’ll be enough to hit the very apex of the edge and knock the burr off - or at least weaken it significantly. Hope this helps!

[@saiiiiiii1]

@@jdavis882 I'v been free handing until this week. I bought a TSProf, because I'm pretty frustrated at times. lol. Especially my Chosera 400 makes me go crazy. Since seeing Cliff Stamp putting on clean edges with a 36 grit stone, I kind of made it my own challenge to get a decently shaving edge off my Chosera 400. But it's like impossible for me, I've tried for 2 hours straight on the same edge. What I didn't try is to deburr with edge-trailing strokes. I'll give that a go. I got a small pocket microscope and when I look at the edge, I can see the apex doesn't look right from above (although the edge looks great when viewed from the sides), but I actually don't know what I'm seeing. It doesn't look fully apexed and/or bend over metal flakes are attached. I can't really tell. For me it's hard to believe I don't hit the apex, because once I've raised the angle every 10 strokes until I ended up at like 25° and still the very apex looked the same. Maybe I'll need to get something with more magnification. Oh and I'm getting a Chosera 400 for the TSProf this week. So I'll be comparing the edges freehand vs the jig system. I'm super curious about that.

[@meuberepic]

can you do a ZT 0561 vs 0300 comparison?

[@DeanO]

Great video jdavis882

[@BT_360]

For me the best way to sharpen is to form a burr every time i sharpen one Side. When i've formed a burr, i sharpen to the other side until the burr forms again on the side i've sharpened first. After that i weaken the burr and either change to a higher grit or strop thr edge to remove the rest of the burr. Big Brown Bear has a great video on sharpening.

[@jdavis882]

That’s really the only fool proof way. Sometimes if you don’t form a burr you’ll think you’re getting a sharp edge, but you’ll be just ever so slightly short of actually apexing the edge. Sometimes I can hit it just right and get a screaming sharp edge without forming a burr...but forming a burr is a more consistent technique IMO.

[@christapherdane]

I've tried to go through all your videos... I was just wondering if you have ever tried a belt sander to sharpen you knives?

[@beanosmeanos8650]

hehe work sharp

[@LIE4ME]

I read a little about what happened a few years ago with your knife making situation. I hope everyone is repaid. I have a savings account that I Give a Duck from and the ballance is 0. You may be received like Pete Rose at a Hall of Fame induction ceremony but the videos you post will once again better the knife community. 2020 is waiting on your return boss. Be there! You're an interesting and maybe controversial dude whose bigger than the change you've gone through. The new you is better for it so show us!

[@bamafaninky861]

Please! You are in my top two sharpeners.

[@funky3ddy]

Of course they help.. :)

[@Brewhahh]

Completely new the lingo, what do you mean by toothy?

[@pornchaidamrongthaveesak2581]

It's easy to clear all the sharpie What difficult is Consistency

[@jdavis882]

Definitely! Consistency takes time and practice.

[@BananaBoat629]

what does 'forming a burr' mean?

[@Tcm0240]

magpul iphone case, fuck yeah! i have the same one

[@gavinreddig3969]

I free hand and it is really sharp

[@Brewhahh]

if you google knife burr there are some pretty good pictures of what he's talking about.

[@ColossalSwordFormAndTechnique]

Sometimes a dual puck sharpens a stainless steel knife much faster

[@JSMcustoms]

For practice knives, they have these cheep $1 knives at Walmart that are perfect for this.

[@EODReddFox]

Dude this totally helped me out along with some of your other videos thank god there is someone on youtube is as informative as you

[@boombap420]

yo is that a field case you got on ur iphone? I just ordered one for my 3g

[@memphis024]

It's the result of good apexing the edge....

[@jacksquat2067]

Sounds goofy, but I do this in two stages: First is a stone, and second (and people laugh when I tell them this, but....) is the underside of a coffee mug. That unfinished ceramic ring puts a hell of an edge on a knife if you do it right.

[@MrMZaccone]

Are you sure there aren't ceramic stones that will do as good a job as the bottom of a coffee mug? And it doesn't sound "goofy" it just sounds like maybe there's a better idea out there, ya think?

[@jacksquat2067]

+Edmond Dantez Although I'm sure there are plenty of other ways, the best option will always be whatever works best for you. Plus it costs only $1. Most of the time, if I don't dull the blade too much, all I have to use is the cup.

[@MrMZaccone]

Ian Snyder I'm sure there are things that will work better than the bottom of a coffee mug, even for you. Of course, I'm someone who expects literally hair splitting performance out of my knives. So, for me, unless there's nothing else available ... No coffee mugs, thanks.

[@jacksquat2067]

Edmond Dantez I don't really need anything sharper than a knife that easily passes the "paper test." I don't shave with them. I do have other means of sharpening, including three different stones and a fixed angle system, but unless I'm working with a high-end knife, I don't really mess with them. I just don't understand why my preference seems to bother you so much. lol

[@MrMZaccone]

Ian Snyder Because I actually like precision edges. Like I said, I can see using the bottom of a mug or a rock in a pinch but I'd rather treat my knives properly when I can.

[@rustytygart405]

Stroping on wood with diamond is where it’s at

[@jdavis882]

I prefer hard kangaroo leather with diamond emulsions. So many people comment on these videos asking why I’m using this, instead of the latest and greatest. I have to remind them that many of my videos are a decade old and their favorite product didn’t exist back then. Haha.

[@jdavis882]

Lol. Oh noes!

[@phillipzz1]

Off topic, can you do a detail sharping video of a Cold Steel KUKri Machete.

[@funky3ddy]

Yeah, I also think he's going over angle.

[@MrVegaslive]

NO BURR!!!

[@nickcase2635]

Can you please give some sort of response to the knife community on the allegations that they are throwing your way? If we get all that crap cleared up you can start making very helpful videos again. I look forward to hearing from you.

[@jdavis882]

Hey man, I am paying back the last of the people I owe now, but after it's all taken care of I most likely won't be making any more videos. I still love knives, but my life is so drastically different (In a good way) that I'm not sure I'd be much of an asset to the community. Not to mention I'd be vilified with every step that I took, which I understand completely. I contemplated just taking this whole channel down, but if these videos continue to help people then I will leave them up. :)

[@nickcase2635]

As a career soldier and a small business owner I can tell you that we all make mistakes. Luckily the only mistake that is definitive is death, all others can be overcome. I'm glad to hear you are doing well and I am proud of you for handling your obligations in any way that you can. Never let a mistake define you. Mistakes are actually the only way to learn and they are good for us, because after them we are older, wiser, and better for them. Keep on plugging and thanks for all the videos, hopefully someday you will make your way back. My favorite quote on this theme is: "If you hear people of my past speak of me, keep in mind that they are speaking of a person that they don't even know anymore, for success is how high you bounce when you hit rock bottom, and I have bounced."

[@jdavis882]

***** Thanks man, I appreciate the kind words. If I ever do start making videos again, I'll post something on this channel letting everyone know. There's a lot of new stuff in the knife community to talk about, that's for sure!

[@dfailsthemost]

jdavis882 Please don't take the channel down. I've learned a bachelor's degree worth of craft from these videos. I'm freehanding now, and I owe it 100% to you.

[@DanielWorkshop]

For me a strop makes a huge difference: kzbin.info/aero/PLhXX0-9Qh-JOfRCWOyMJYSKFxC_FRYMBD

[@SA-fx4id]

His bevel must not have been set. Get the sharpness at the low levels and then polish. Sound advice.

[@SA-fx4id]

When tf did I watch this!

[@Daninja42]

Now I can hack your IPhone !

[@jdavis882]

LMAO

[@chzuniga1]

mucho mamblejumble y poca accion, mal

[@Awesome6717]

lol, 3,2,1,9 is your passcode

[@brianminkc]

Is this dude in prison for fraud?

[@Mrsingingdude1]

I don't know that he's in prison but he probably should be. I understand, the hardest part of being an adult is being responsible for your own mistakes

[@1ohtaf1]

Why

[@anthonyb2990]

Mrsingingdude1 How'd it happen??

[@technologylover9183]

I heard he started a knife company and took money from investors then didn't deliver the knives. Went south with the money I guess. I heard he was in big trouble not sure what the disposition is now.

[@anthonyb2990]

technologylover wow that's a shame:/ his videos are great

[@mathiassrensen4764]

Thank you captain obvious.

[@myvenusinuranus]

great advice. thanks