How to Sharpen your Chip Carving Knife: Simple, Easy & Cheap.

[@frankharless1484]

Thank you so much for this video! I've read so many books and struggled to get a razor-sharp edge on my knives with the direction from the books. Not one of them mentions sweeping up to the 8-10° bevel. With your instruction, my knives are cutting through the wood like butter again.

[@cstoffet]

Say there is no noticable damage to the knife edge, how would you notice the need to sharpen instead of stropping the knife? Do you sharpen it regularely or only when the need arises, and use stropping to keep it sharp instead? Thank you in advance!

[@WoodBernCarvings]

Hi there! Sorry that I didn't see this comment before. I don't sharpen my knives very often. I sharpen them once, and then maintain them by stropping with leather and polishing compound. By experience and by trying different knives and sharpening methods I already know when my knives need sharpening. I compare my sharpening to other knife makers by using their knives and testing theirs and mine. That's why when I make a cut I know if the knife need sharpening. The knife should be able to cut and slide through wood without applying excessive force. Also you should look at your cuts, if they are not clean enough but your carving technique is right, you should sharpen them probably. Sharpening is a whole world and I'm sorry I cannot answer your questions specifically like a Yes or No! If you still have doubts let me know.

[@cstoffet]

@@WoodBernCarvings Thank you for replying, that makes sense :-) I have not sharpened my Klotzli after recieving it but if i understand your videos and Domestika Course im guessing i should?

[@Leo.nardo.392]

Ciao, siccome non parlo inglese , non ho capito per quale motivo il filo deve avere quella forma piuttosto che una forma dritta?

[@WoodBernCarvings]

The knife needs a bullet shape because we are inserting and pushing the knife into the wood. If it has a straight shape, the tip of the knife is going to be so thin, that even with the proper technique, the tip will either bend or break. The bullet shape provides a thicker blade at the tip and therefore much more strength when carving. It will avoid the tip of the knife to break or bend.