Pocket Knife Sharpener

You have already bought a folding knife or multitul and of course you want it to serve your for a time.

Probably each of us once in our life has heard a story about a knife with miracle-steel, which does not need any is sharpening and its owner does not care fot it for decades but it still can cut oak logs and rails. These stories will live forever, and one thing which unites them – is entirely implausible.

In the real world, any blade becomes blunt even if it just rests on a shelf (due to steel corrosion of cutting edge – absolutely stainless steel does not exist in nature). In everyday use blade blunts very quickly – it can take from several days to several months, depending on the quality of steel and the purpose.

Of course, the razor sharpness of the blade is not always needed and not for everyone. Many fears that you can cut yourself with this knife badly, and this is partly true – but do not forget that the chance to jump off the object.

Stages sharpening pocket knife

Sharpening of the pocket knife –is not very simple process and has some stages (not all of them will carry out each time). Each stage requires different approaches and its tools, so let’s stop on them in details:

Regrinding – the process of significant change in the geometry of the blade. Examples – changing the angle while sharpening the knife, eliminating the chipping on the cutting edge (removal of steel with all edges to align). At this stage, it is recommended to use coarse abrasives.

Sharpening – actually restoring the cutting properties of the blade. Producing as a rule, medium and high abrasives grain. After sharpening the blade will leave micro-scratches from abrasive particles. In some cases, there is sense to stop at this point– these scratches form “micropyle”, and the knife cuts very aggressively. However, the wear of the cutting edge will also be quite quick.

Lapping – the process of finishing grinding and polishing abrasives edge of a very high granularity. Scratches become invisible (it is possible to achieve even a mirror effect), cutting aggressiveness is somewhat reduced, but significantly increases the duration of sharpening.

What pocket knife sharpener is it better tochoose?

Visually sharpeners are absolutely different from each other, they are also used for different purposes, but at the heart of devices grindstones always lie. Although they have different characteristics. Not properly chosen knife sharpener can lead to a rough grinding and final polishing of the blades. Let’s start by breaking down stereotypes, from complex to simple ones.

Electric sharpeners

Their designs are different: ranging from the production of bulky devices with impressive size wheels which equipped with electric drive and ending with neat little machines. They are designed for frequent use and are able to cope even with badly damaged knives, including the options of hard steel. Such a device has several recesses or grooves, through which knife blade is carried out for several times.

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Electric sharpener example:    >> see here

Mechanical sharpener

Never ended mechanism. It will be helpful to you always and everywhere, it does not depend on the presence of the power supply and any other factors. This setting is usually fixed and has broad capabilities:folowing the correct angle for sharpening, choose from a set of desired grinding stone fixed in a certain position or blade sharpening stone, and much more. Such mechanical devices are considered to be professional, allow to carry out all stages of sharpening and require certain skills and experience. This mechanism is universal itself and quite easy to use. Choosing mechanical type of a sharpener, you will need some time for learning how to deal with it. Getting more experience in the sharpening business and advertise acquisition –you can expect to numerous requests to grind anything from your near and distant surroundings.

mechanical-sharpener

Mechanical sharpener example:  >> see here

Sharpening stones

Oddly enough, but the most primitive and simple device for sharpening knives, which came to us from distant ancestors, a grindstone. Mostly it has the shape of the bar, cylinder, disc, rod or rectangle – it depends on producer’s imagination. It may have the handle, and a wooden or plastic housing. There are two-way models with different abrasives. Depending on the device size for sharpening a knife is a convenient, mobile and unpretentious. Its quality depends entirely on the user’s skills and professionalism. Stone, it is object which does not require anything and can cope with a dull knife in any conditions and in relatively short time. And to maintain a sharp condition of kitchen knives.

pocketknifeinfo-sharpening-stone

Sharpening stone example:  >> see here

Flip-type sharpeners “balisong”

This beautiful name was given to this knife sharpener thanks to the place where they were firstncreated. In the province of Batangas in the Philippines, there is an area balisong. It was there that came up with the folding knives, the blade of which was hidden behind folding handles, and they, as a fan, opens 180 °, exposing the blade, add up to a comfortable handle. We open these knives very impressive, reminding flapping of butterfly wings,because of which it received the second name: the Butterfly knife. Sharpeners have the same design. They are rectangular, rod-shaped, and allow shilopodobnymi sharpen knives with different blade. This Butterfly sharpener demands at rest, in a hike or a trip. Compact dimensions, a good level of sharpening and easy to use, can quickly resume the knife sharpness.

pocketknifeinfo-flip-type-sharpeners

Balisong sharpener example:  >> see here

Portable or Pocket knife sharpeners

This is the most mobile model knife sharpeners. Their variations are offered by manufacturers for every “taste”, color, shape and size. They are easy to carry anywhere, at anytime. Especially valuable these grinding keychains hiking, hunting or fishing, and there where it is constantly needed. The range of these accessories is distinguished by originality and design approach. Elegant folding keychain, a small pocket sharpener leather on the basis of, or in the form of a credit card or a nail file becomes necessary companion at any jouney.

pocketknifeinfo-portable-or-pocket-knife-sharpeners

Portable sharpener example:  >> see here

So now we know the main types of sharpeners available at the market today. But our main goal is to choose a pocket knife sharpener.

We do not recommend sharpening pocket knife with electric sharpeners and grindstones, especially if you want to hone your first pocket knife.

For sharpening pocket knives, we recommend to use the mechanical sharpener, most of them custom designed in such a way that will help you to avoid mistakes in your pocket knife sharpening.