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Post by kasim18 on Apr 22, 2012 18:39:23 GMT
hey, got my first katana and i was wondering about sharpening. it has a hamon and is nice and sharp, but i have been cutting paper with and drawing it frequently and it doesn't feel as scary sharp. could either of those dull the blade at all in like two weeks? i'd assume it is just my imagination, but for when i need to, what is the absolute simplest,, quickest,easiest, laziest way to sharpen it properly? i know, accusharp is the tool of satan :twisted: , but i don't have the tools or time for even the sandpaper on wood block think, i think TomK made that video, could be mistaken. is there anything that does not require abandoning schoolwork for an entire afternoon? and please tell me that it could not already be getting duller
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Post by william m on Apr 22, 2012 19:06:02 GMT
Do you have a kitchen steel? I have one and its pretty handy for larger objects that need an edge too. Not the best for getting a perfect edge as due to the extra length of a sword, your hand will wobble slightly giving an un-even sharpness.
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Post by ineffableone on Apr 22, 2012 19:24:31 GMT
The easiest best fastest way to get good quality sharp blade would probably be belt sander.
You can get something like the Harbor Freight 1 inch belt sander for around $40-$50 or there is the Work Sharp knife and tool sharpener for around $60.
Both are the basic belt sander principal of flexing a bit to allow for convex edges.
Any cutting will dull your blade. Cutting paper, cutting bottles, any cutting. You don't necessarily need a scary sharp blade. Sharper your sword is easier it is to dull and easier it is to damage. A scary sharp blade has less material to protect that edge. This is why convex edges are preferred, they provide more material on the edge for protecting that edge.
It is possible all your blade needs is a quick hone rather than a sharpen. A simple stropping on a leather strop, or even using some denim. Yes denim like in jeans can be used to strop/hone an edge. Though it is not the most effective or consistent many people do use this method to field hone hunting knives.
However only you can say if your edge is getting duller. With out actually being there, and testing before and after it would be difficult to say. You might have been drawing it improperly and run the edge on the inside of the saya and dulled it? The cutting of paper if your just cutting one sheet at a time should be able to cut for months with out much of a noticeable difference, however if your cutting rolled newspaper then it would dull much quicker.
Katana maintenance is something that does take time and often some money to do. The oil, the sandpaper, the wet stones, the belt sander and belts. How ever you decide to sharpen there will be an investment in products, and then again investment of time. Belt sanders seem to be the simplest way for people, and fastest for people not wanting to spend hours and even days sharpening and polishing a blade. The 1 inch belt sander from Harbor Freight is a decent deal price wise and has a large amount of available belts you can buy for it. That would be my recommendation for the best bang for your buck sharpening tool.
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Post by Kumdoalan on Apr 22, 2012 20:35:32 GMT
I would be scared to tell anyone to use a power belt sander. I know firsthand how fast you can really screw up a blade.
Oh it works to be sure but you have to really know what you are doing or you can burn the steel in seconds. I made a 1070 katana one time and was working with a block sander when I decided to speed things up with my belt sander. took only seconds for the heat to cause cracks and color on the blade.
So be careful!
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Post by ineffableone on Apr 22, 2012 21:59:19 GMT
Belt sander sharpening is one of the recommended ways to sharpen swords. However yes, be careful of heat and the potential of ruining your temper. If someone wants to use a belt sander to sharpen you should visit the sharpening tutorial thread. Tom K's sharpening tutorial thread. forum.sword-buyers-guide.com/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=84
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Post by willhart on Apr 23, 2012 6:19:21 GMT
I'm not an expert with metals and sharpening, but I've hotten the blade too hot to touch on a belt sander, but the metal has never cracked or anything like that. Can't imagine how hot you would have to get a good heat treated blade for it to crack.
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