http://www.instructables.com/id/Hand-made-Knife-Sharpening-Jig/

Home   Sign Up!   Browse   Community   Submit

   All     Art     Craft     Food     Games     Green     Home     Kids     Life     Music     Offbeat     Outdoors     Pets     Photo     Ride     Science     Tech

Hand made Knife Sharpening Jigby deebee2u on January 31, 2011

Table of Contents

Hand made Knife Sharpening Jig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro:   Hand made Knife Sharpening Jig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1:   Wooden Base Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2:   Metal Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Step 3:   Knife Placement, Use of the Rod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 4:   Placing and Using the File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Step 5:   Using the Jig 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 6:   Using the Jig 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 7:   Using the Jig 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 8:   Finish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

http://www.instructables.com/id/Hand-made-Knife-Sharpening-Jig/

Intro:  Hand made Knife Sharpening JigI have seen some jigs on the internet for giving a knife blank a "grind" or profile.  This is the step before the final edge that is used for cutting.   I have started to workscrap metal into knives, so I thought I would try my hand at making  one of these jigs.

I wanted it to 1)  fit my small work bench  / project  table,  2) be inexpensive, 3) be easy to construct, 4)  really work!

Step 1: Wooden Base AssemblyMy first step was to gather some scraps of wood.  I had oak  on hand.  I think anything would work as long as it is not warped.  Plywood would be fine, too.

I cut the pieces to form a "T".

I cut the long  piece  to fit across my work table, so I could clamp the finished "T"  top and bottom.

A board was placed across the top of the "T"  pilot holes drilled, then screwed together.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Hand-made-Knife-Sharpening-Jig/

Step 2: Metal MaterialsI had some old shelf brackets around.  I knew I could use these to brace the jig in its final form.  But I needed two pieces of "L" shaped utility steel.  Found them at Lowes.

I used small boltds and nuts to fasten the braces to the "L" steel.

The view from the back shows how this gives a "U" shaped profile if viewed from above.

I used clamps to hold the entire assembly to the table.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Hand-made-Knife-Sharpening-Jig/

Step 3: Knife Placement, Use of the RodI clamped a small portable vise over the long end of the wooden "T"  and over the table top to secure that end of the jig. 

Next, I screwed  my knife blank to a piece of wood, and placed this in the vise.

I used a 3/8" steel rod as the angle guide for the jig.

Place the rod in one of the jig holes and check for the desired grind angle.

Step 4: Placing and Using the FileTo use the jig, place a metal file under the rod and on top of the knife.

By changing the placement of the rod in the hole, you can change the angle of the file "grind"

http://www.instructables.com/id/Hand-made-Knife-Sharpening-Jig/

Step 5: Using the Jig 1I made a knife blank from a circular saw blade. I put a fairly fine edge on the blade with sandpaper sharpening. I don't mind the time it takes. But the blade still didn't cutthe way I wanted. The angle of the cutting edge and the over all profile of the blade edge didn't taper enough. The transition from edge to steel blade was too abrupt. Mygoal was to give the blade a more gradual transition. In my way of thinking about the blade, I needed to take some of the shoulder off the profile. First step was to markthe edge with marker. I didn't want to mess up the sharp edge that was already there.

I laid out the coarse and medium files I would be using.

I also added numbers to the holes in the jig so I could keep track of where I was in the sharpening steps.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Hand-made-Knife-Sharpening-Jig/

Step 6: Using the Jig 2I started in hole # 2 with the coarse file.

Someone asked if I taped the file to the rod.  No, I found that placing a hand on each end of the file was fine. 

In the next picture, I  hope you can see what the file was able to take away. The edge remains untouched.

Step 7: Using the Jig 3I moved the rod up to the next hole and kept using the coarse file. In these steps I counted 12 strokes for each level, all the way up to #10. I kept watching to make surethat I still had a slight indication of marker.

Then I switched to the medium file and repeated the steps above.

Next I switched to a sandpaper -covered block.

Step 8: FinishI could tell that it was working well as I repeated the steps with the sandpaper.

The blade was nicely reprofiled and ready for and sharpening for an even finer edge.

I could have also increased the grit and continued using the jig...

ALL THE BEST...

http://www.instructables.com/id/Hand-made-Knife-Sharpening-Jig/

Related Instructables

Sharpen A KnifeQuickly andEasily by Phil B

KnifeSharpeningTricks byTimAnderson Cleaning/Sharpening

A folding knife(video) by i makeshooting things

Tool Rest for aBelt Sander forSharpening(Photos) by ToolUsing Animal

QuicklySharpen aKnife...with aDremel! byTaylor G

A Simple HollowGrinding Jig(Photos) byBasta

Comments

18 comments Add Comment

 makingcustomknives says:  Feb 9, 2011. 1:41 PM  REPLYThis is an excellent idea for cutting a consistent bevel. Kudos.

 Pokololo says:  Feb 6, 2011. 1:43 PM  REPLYI can see how confusing it may be as I wondered the same thing, I think what sawtooth1953 is asking is do you use the file under the rod like a pendulemgoing along the knife edge? or do you use the file like a hacksaw useing the full lenth of the file?

If I may paraphrase, sawtooth1953 it would be more like your just using the file to sharpen the knife on it's own holding the file at each end like a motorcyclehandlebar, and the rod is just a guide to keep you steady on the angle

I hope this helps

 deebee2u says:  Feb 7, 2011. 5:52 AM  REPLYI wear protective gloves, hold the file with two hands one at each end of the file. The rod stabilizes the grip and keeps the file aligned. I only push the filefrom the edge toward the spine. Never "saw" with a file. The pendulum idea will not work.

 bradster2256 says:  Feb 6, 2011. 9:04 PM  REPLYI learned from my grandpa when I was young to use a stone by hand...not to be mean or anything but what if you need to sharpen your knives somewhereother than your workshop...I'd recommend buying some cheap knives dulling the hell out of them then learn to sharpen your knives on a stone by hand. It's agood skill to have. some interesting things you can use to sharpen your knives car Windows , the cocking serations on your glock ( the Austrian army does itall the time ) , ceramic pottery , and the bottom of certain glass bottles.

 deebee2u says:  Feb 7, 2011. 5:49 AM  REPLYThanks for your reply... I agree with you.

However I made the jig to profile the blade of hand made knives. This is sharpening in the most general sense. Not the final steps with I like to do byhand as you can read in the last photo of the Instructable: "Ready for hand sharpening / strop."

http://www.instructables.com/id/Hand-made-Knife-Sharpening-Jig/

 earlye says:  Feb 7, 2011. 5:17 AM  REPLYThis isn't about putting a final edge on the blade, but about getting a profile ready for final sharpening. See his last step...

 maxman says:  Feb 6, 2011. 2:11 PM  REPLYDo you work down one side of the blade then flip it over and do the other side? If so, how do you make sure you are working eachside equally?

 deebee2u says:  Feb 7, 2011. 5:46 AM  REPLYGood QuestionYes. I can realign the blade after flip over by keeping the blade parallel to the edge of the block of wood. I eye ball the parallel aliignment.

 Topcat2021 says:  Feb 3, 2011. 10:05 PM  REPLYGood Job your jig looks very useful, I think that I'll make one of these myself as I have a few good candidates in the shop that need some attention.Keep up the good workDan

 Phil B says:  Feb 1, 2011. 8:37 AM  REPLYThis is a nice home adaptation of the Lansky knife sharpening system. I had thought about how to do an adaptation of their system, but yours is a better,more versatile system than anything I had imagined for myself.

 deebee2u says:  Feb 3, 2011. 4:43 AM  REPLYI've never seen a "Lansky system"...??

 Phil B says:  Feb 3, 2011. 5:22 AM  REPLY

Here is a photo of the Lansky knife sharpening system in use.  Here is a link to buy one.  They have different models at different prices, depending onhow many stones come with the set and whether they are a common abrasive or diamond. 

 deebee2u says:  Feb 1, 2011. 9:39 AM  REPLYThanks

 Foxtrot70 says:  Feb 4, 2011. 7:05 AM  REPLYAfter looking at this it appears that this could be scaled up to handle axes of any size. A really nice finished edge is accomplished with this. GreatInstructable!

 sawtooth1953 says:  Feb 2, 2011. 7:58 PM  REPLYCreative, indeed!You wrote: "To use the jig, place a metal file under the rod and on top of the knife." and "By changing the placement of the rod in the hole, you can changethe angle of the file "grind"."

I was wondering how long the file should sit under the rod and on top of the knife in order for the knife to become sharp. Just kidding... there has to be sometechnique of holding the flat file against the round rod, no? It seems like the file would slip easily unless taped to the rod, no? Maybe a pic or two showing aknife being sharpened?

Thanks,Spence

 deebee2u says:  Feb 3, 2011. 3:42 AM  REPLYI have found that all I need to do is hold the file with two hands - one at either end of the file. The file does not slip. Hand grip alone has worked very well.I too thought that I would have to tape the file in place. Perhaps this would work if you wanted to only use one hand.

 Mr. Bricoleur says:  Feb 2, 2011. 11:04 PM  REPLYwow, very useful.

 theouro says:  Jan 31, 2011. 8:06 PM  REPLYThats amazing! very creative!