View Full Version : Not the sharpest knife in the drawer
kayak karl
06-04-2009, 19:47
what do you use to sharpen your knives. especially the serrated ones.:confused:
do you carry anything on the trail?
inquiring mind needs to know:)
mister krabs
06-04-2009, 20:01
a set of ceramic sticks stuck in a v shape in a base. It works well.
If I had the money I'd get a big oil bath tristone like they have in professional kitchens.
nothing on the trail, a good sharpening lasts a good long time.
Feral Bill
06-04-2009, 20:02
I'm thinking of packing a bit of 600 grit sandpaper. Have not tried it as yet.
Hikes in Rain
06-04-2009, 20:03
At home, I use a professional sharpener, a Chef's Choice 300. I make sure my little swiss army knife is sharp enough to shave with before I leave, but don't carry anything to touch it up since all I can afford to be away for long enough to worry about it.
I've heard, but not tried, using a piece of sandpaper, small whetstone (sounds heavy), small steel (also heavy).
None of those would work on serrated blades, though. My electric sharpener above will do so, but you can't plug it into a tree. And it's heavy.
cavediver256
06-04-2009, 20:05
If you are going to carry a stone on the trail, I recommend one of these....small, light weight, and functional. I would start with a good sharp knife and use this to freshen the edge along the way....
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_store.html?ttl=Retractable%20Sharpeners&srch=eqKEYWORDdatarq%3Drod%26eqWWWCAT_1datarq%3Dsh arpen%26eqWWWCAT_3datarq%3Ddiamond
MintakaCat
06-04-2009, 20:22
what do you use to sharpen your knives. especially the serrated ones.
I've always used a diamond fish hook sharpener to sharpen serrated knives.
take-a-knee
06-04-2009, 20:33
what do you use to sharpen your knives. especially the serrated ones.:confused:
do you carry anything on the trail?
inquiring mind needs to know:)
The 3rd one down works well on serrated knives:
http://www.dmtsharp.com/products/diafold.htm
As a rule, I don't like serrations though. I don't see a need for them unless you work with a lot of rope under tension, nothing cuts rope like a sharp serrated blade.
Wise Old Owl
06-04-2009, 20:36
When its dull toss. Nothing lasts forever.
brooklynkayak
06-04-2009, 20:58
what do you use to sharpen your knives. especially the serrated ones.:confused:
do you carry anything on the trail?
inquiring mind needs to know:)
I don't carry anything serrated because they are a pain to keep sharp. For backpacking I try to sharpen my knife before I hit the trail and that is usually good enough.
On long paddle trips where I can carry a machete for cutting firewood, I'll bring a Double-Sided-Diafold, approx. 3 oz.
A sharp machete is a great camp tool, if you can keep it sharp. The extra weight of the machete is offset by the fact that I don't have to carry fuel,which can weigh a lot on multi week trips.
kayak karl
06-04-2009, 21:08
When its dull toss. Nothing lasts forever.
with that thinking i'd be a gelding :D
Wise Old Owl
06-04-2009, 21:12
with that thinking i'd be a gelding :D
No kidding..... Toss!
Think about a trophy wife..... Very temporary......(not my idea)
I'm thinking of packing a bit of 600 grit sandpaper. Have not tried it as yet.
I use sandpaper to sharpen all of my woodworking tools. There is a technique known as 'Scary Sharp' that explains it; working from 220 grit (or lower to renew a bevel) all the way through 2000 grit.
I'd pack a few strips of sandpaper.
TW
One of the many, not necessarily the best example:
http://dans-woodshop.blogspot.com/2009/01/sharpening-with-scary-sharp.html
non-hiking knife: (to many things that i do screw up my knives, so no more buying the expensive ones)
http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/820909/820909121251md.jpg
for hiking i use either this:
http://www.slipperybrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/swiss-army-collector.jpg
:eek::banana:eek:
or this: http://www.scienceboard.net/images/rewards/1393_t.jpg
:-?
kayak karl
06-04-2009, 21:44
non-hiking knife: (to many things that i do screw up my knives, so no more buying the expensive ones)
http://images.lowes.com/product/converted/820909/820909121251md.jpg
for hiking i use either this:
http://www.slipperybrick.com/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/swiss-army-collector.jpg
:eek::banana:eek:
or this: http://www.scienceboard.net/images/rewards/1393_t.jpg
:-?
LOL, but the Gerber knife that holds the utility blade was re-called. i can't hike with a utility knife, would seem to much like work:D
warraghiyagey
06-04-2009, 23:28
If you have any of these, when they go bad their filament (arc tube) is perfect for sharpening any knnife blade. . . I know it sounds bizarre. . . it's all I use, they work great. . .
https://www.stagelightingusa.com/image-website-size-250x250-product--HID+Bulbs--HPS-ED18.jpg
warraghiyagey
06-04-2009, 23:29
Of course you have to break the bulb to get te filament out. . .
warraghiyagey
06-04-2009, 23:35
http://sselectricalsupply.com/images/categories/High_Intensity_Discharge__HID__Lamps.jpg
Just the white (arc) tube -
Wise Old Owl
06-04-2009, 23:46
Somehow this isn't a very bright thread.
I use a 'Gerber steel' to sharpen my knives and carry a Leatherman Micra backpacking. No need for a Crocodile Dundee knife on the trail . . . too heavy and unnecessary.
Serrated knife. Patience and a chainsaw file.
The sandpaper idea is a good one. You can also find suitable stones in riverbeds, especially in places where they used to be ancient beaches, locked up into a conglomerate with sediment, and then released and polished once again through erosion. The beaches here are great for such stones. Not sure about the Appalachian Trail. I might not want to ruin a really good knife, not that I would really know how to sharpen one properly anyway, but the beach stones here do a near enough job for the girls I go out with.
Jayboflavin04
06-05-2009, 08:18
at Home, I Use A Professional Sharpener, A Chef's Choice 300. I Make Sure My Little Swiss Army Knife Is Sharp Enough To Shave With Before I Leave, But Don't Carry Anything To Touch It Up Since All I Can Afford To Be Away For Long Enough To Worry About It.
I've Heard, But Not Tried, Using A Piece Of Sandpaper, Small Whetstone (sounds Heavy), Small Steel (also Heavy).
None Of Those Would Work On Serrated Blades, Though. My Electric Sharpener Above Will Do So, But You Can't Plug It Into A Tree. And It's Heavy.
you Can't Plug Stuff Into Trees!!! I Quit:d
Jayboflavin04
06-05-2009, 08:25
On the serious side. I read on here. Use the bottom of a coffee cup where it is unglazed, you could do that every 5 diays or so on a thru hike. I have tried this and it works ok.
I found this little plastic knife sharpener at rei wts about 2-3oz does a great job
http://www.rei.com/product/708614
http://media.rei.com/media/708614_9996Lrg.jpg (http://www.rei.com/features/zoom.html?img440=/media/708614_9996Lrg%26style=708614%26sku=7086140014&imageServiceHost=http://www.rei.com/&productInfoServiceHost=http://www.rei.com/&TB_iframe=true&height=513&width=700)