I am not a beginner and a experienced machinist/ mechanic I am starting all over at 65 to be a better sharpener because of your videos. YOU ARE THE BEST ON KZread IMO !!

@OUTDOORS55

3 ай бұрын

Thanks! Really appreciate it🙏👍

@MrIgottap

3 ай бұрын

You’re right about these being the best sharpening reviews on KZread. Straight up honest opinions from a guy who’s actually using the products/techniques and paying for them out of his own pocket. Not some shill that’s getting a kickback for suckering people into buying junk they don’t want or need. I stumbled (and subbed) onto this channel a few months ago and have found lots of good content. He seems to actually read the comments and addresses points brought up there in his videos. I appreciate that he knows and shows what does AND doesn’t work and is willing to demonstrate and experiment. My own sharpening skills and tools (found out about dmt products here) have both benefited from watching him. If you need proof that he knows what he’s doing just check out the close ups, I wish I could view my own work like that.

@jamesbarisitz4794

3 ай бұрын

You'll find it a rewarding hobby/skill. Maintain the same angle for your passes would be my most important point. You'll get the knack quick and really appreciate the steels differences. It's kind of relaxing with time in on it.

@thorwaldjohanson2526

3 ай бұрын

I picked up the 400/1000 diamond and 1000 shapton because of you 2 weeks back, and I have some balsa wood and dmt 3 micron paste on order now. One thing you have not covered are flattening and dressing / cleaning stone. Any products there that you can recommend, especially for the shapton 1k and potentially 2k in the future?

@gatsbysgarage8389

3 ай бұрын

Fuck yeah dude. Before I started watching his stuff I was dulling knives on a stone instead of sharpening them, now I can get a real nice edge with diamond stones

I picked up the Koramaku 1000, 2000 and 5000 on your recommendation. I use them with my Japanese kitchen knives of various steels up to HAP40 and they do a great job. Thanks for your videos, they seem like good honest advice from someone who knows what they're talking about, and not just intended to sell a product.

@kristianandersen5732

3 ай бұрын

I got the 320, 1000 and 2000

@michaelwilliams5506

3 ай бұрын

​@@kristianandersen5732i went 320, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 12000. I'm really new to using whetstones, and for the knives i use, I'm pretty much going with the 1k or 2k to finish the edge. But in my job i use wood chisels, so the 5000 and 12k are nice to give it a super fine edge and that mirror look

A common mistake beginners make is pressing too hard while sharpening. This is most important when using diamond stones.

As a beginner my beginner advice would be: buy a course stone. I had recently bought the shapton koramaku 1000 as my first stone, mostly because of your recomendation. I started out on the dull kitchen knives I had because I didn't have any experience yet and didnt want to dull my knives that where decently sharp. Couldn't figure out why I could not get a burr to form. I thought I must be doing something wrong. Turns out my knives where just extremely dull and after two hours(!) of sharpening I finally got a burr and eventualy got it shaving sharp. The correct grit to start on probably would have been 100. I think a lot of beginners who have never sharpened before are likely to have extremely dull knives that they continue using until they decide to buy a new one and chuck the old one in the drawer.

@testboga5991

3 ай бұрын

The burr is the key. No burr, no sharp. Once people get a burr, the world will never be the same. I'd always get coarse diamond first, though, since they cut much faster.

@benjamin3615

3 ай бұрын

When I started out, I did not take the advance of buying just a single 1000 grit stone. I'm pretty familiar with abrasives due to my experience in different trades, mostly sandpaper, files, scotch pads, and cutting compound. Nobody goes out and buys 1000 grit sandpaper and uses it for every job out there. Giving the advice to only buy a 1000 grit whetstone and use it to sharpen every knife you have is like telling someone to buy a spade and use that to dig every hole you need. Or to buy a single general purpose hammer and use it for every job that needs a hammer. Some jobs need a drilling hammer or a sledge, and some jobs need a ditch witch or an excavator. A lot of people also recommend buying cheap whetstones like Kings, which wear fast and dish, and then move to a better quality. That doesn't make sense to me; why spend $30 on a whetstone, only to replace it when you wear through with another higher quality stone that costs $50. You just spent $70 when you could have just bought the quality stone at $50, learned to care for it and benefited from the higher quality, the harder wearing, the feedback and the better performance. So, I think the most appropriate advice to give to a beginner is to buy a set of quality whetstones to start. Buy a coarse, a finer grit and something in between. I've had luck with 320, 500, and 2000 on the Shapton Rock Star line. Shapton Kuromaku 220 or 320, 1000 and the 2000 are a good set. Naniwa S2 Advance 220, 400 and 1000 are another. These are great because you can repair a damaged knife and set a new bevel with the 220/320 grit stones, or quickly sharpen a very dull knife with the 400, 500, and sharpen to a good cutting edge with the 1000/2000. If you have to start at the 220/320, it's good to have an intermediate step to make it to the end. Some knives don't need 320 and can benefit by starting with 400/500 or even 1000. Some of these stones are also not truly at their marked grit and may be more or less coarse/fine. I would also encourage beginners to buy a bunch of cheap knives from websites or at sporting good stores to practice technique before sharpening or repairing good, expensive knives.

@MaxFeken

3 ай бұрын

Definitely get the diamond cheap stone he recommended. I also have the 1000 stone and the cheap whet stones. I got a burr so fast with the diamond, it really was an eye opener. He's totally right that that's the stone to learn from starting out. Now i have a strop and need to work on getting hair shaving results.

@imgadgetmanjim

3 ай бұрын

Good that you didn’t give up. Get the Alex recommended diamond plates and it will be fast. I have used mine at a family member’s house who wrecks knives and it cuts well. I want to get the dmt. Good luck.

@Polet1908

3 ай бұрын

@@testboga5991You dont need a burr to get a knive sharp. You need to align two bevels at the apex, not to overgrind them making a burr which youll have to remove later.

Would you mind making a video focused on kitchen knife sharpening (not only on what setup to use, but what angle favours secondary geometry and edge retention and how to homogenously sharpen a long blade)

Hello from France, images with the microscope are better than a big speech. Thank you for your super technical videos

I wish I knew this 15 years ago. I had to learn the expensive way. Great information.

@BCDJbunnylover

2 ай бұрын

Same here!! Learn from expensive way!!!!!!

This was an awesome "decision making selection" video, honest and without the prejudice of sponsorship. Best wishes from here in the UK.

@-IE_it_yourself

3 ай бұрын

i like two how he showed different brands

Ive been sharpening by hand since around 2005 and ive owned and used all kinds of stones. I once thought that DMT was the best until i got an Atoma diamond stone. Nothing compares. Nothing. Its the best. I got a 140 and a 600 grit and within no time you can slap an edge on anything. Then i got to a 1200 grit diamond very quickly and lightly and then a 5000 grit whetstone to polish and a very light pass on a strop afterwards. Hair whittling stuff within a few minutes. Just dont make a burr with the first two diamond stones. Take it very very close tho

I've made all of the mistakes you've said to avoid and this advice rings very true and accurate. I still make the jump from the 1000 Shapton Kuromaku to the 5000, but I agree that an in-between stone would make the 5000 much easier. I've been looking to replace my very cheap and messy coarse stone and you've convinced me to go with a diamond plate. Awesome video. Thank you!

@antlerman7644

3 ай бұрын

Naniwa pro 3k is amazing stone. Smooth, lots of feedback, slow wearing, fast to make a burr. It's really good.

Thank you for your videos! I have been sharpening knives all my life. At first a little carborundum stone and a strop loaded with jewlers rouge. With my father's instruction circa 1972. Moved to moon stick and then later diamond stones. A couple of months ago I purchased Koramaku 1000 and 5000 stones. Holy smokes they work better than anything I have ever used. I just ordered a 2000 grit. Should be here next week. BTW the diamond paste strop is working great for me as well !

Thanks for the honest talk. You are awesome.

This is exactly what I was looking for! Thank you!

Great video and sage advice!

Awesome advice as always! I'll check em out!

Thanks for these excellent suggestions!

Thank you for the great information.

Thanks for your advices 👍🏻

Great video. Thanks for sharing 👍🏼

Good practical advice, thanks

Excellent stuff - highly appreciated. Thank you.

Thank you for this video! Very helpful.

Man I've been watching you for years and I just gotta say that your videos have come a really long way. As far as communication, production quality , and just everything in general. Good job on always improving yourself and your product

Thanks for the advise.

Great advice.

Found your channel a week ago, And I have to say I just love your videos man

Just wanted to say thanks for the videos! I've learned a lot from you. Keep it up!

Incredible! Love your videos, man, hilarious delivery!

Your channel is by far the very definition of essential, clear and honest information on sharpening. Simply put, you made a very saturated topic abundantly clear for this viewer and you've gotten yourself another subscriber. Keep it up and power through

Alex really good video thanks for sharing it’s really appreciated

Excellent summation. I couldn't agree more. Well done.

👍👍 Excellent advice and very clear explanation. Thanks !!

Thanks for the tips

Just subscribed! Was going down the rabbit hole for knife sharpening stones and your content was so helpful. Thank you! I know what to buy first :)

Man, I’ve just found you like a week ago. You, Sir, are a gem, when it comes to quality info about sharpening. If or whenever you’ll get all the scratch marks out of this topic , just keep the attitude in whichever endeavours you choose next. I wish you well.

Thank you so much! This is extremely helpful! I'm only beginning to learn to sharpen and your videos have been great for trying to get oriented.

Holy shit Alex! Another gem to the knife-sharpening community! Super straight to the point, easy to understand and as always incredibly good advice.. Please keep blessing us with your knowledge/experience!

Such a great channel

Thank you for this video. Very interesting and informative. I especially appreciated the microphotographs.

Exactly what people starting out need😊

great video! helps a lot

Arguably, your most helpful video.

Great video, good advice.

Your channel is great and has been super inspiring in educating myself on sharpening. Also love your approach for giving advice and testing products, including clever DIY and budget options.

Very very good information!!! Could not agree more.

Thanks! Great info. I have the stuff and now I just need to practice until I'm good.

I bought the 400/1000 yesterday and is arriving tomorrow can’t wait to take my first step into sharpening! all thanks to your videos 🤩

@BloodSprite-tan

3 ай бұрын

I really believe that the strop is necessary you should take the next step soon.

@nicosalfos

3 ай бұрын

@@BloodSprite-tan YES! im having a hard time finding a diamond compound paste like used in the videos in Amazon UK. not sure what micron should i buy first as my first paste?

@BloodSprite-tan

3 ай бұрын

@@nicosalfos like the video suggest you should look for 6 micron diamond, it doesn't have to be paste you could get it from any available source. like spray powder etc. If you can't find anything you could always just use the green chromium oxide, but I wouldn't bother with a nice strop if you do so. you could just put green compound on mdf or other porous soft wood surfaces. since it needs to be scrapped off and replaced more often.

@MortalMayonnaise

3 ай бұрын

i had the 400/1000 in my cart yesterday and now it’s sold out lol

@justinprice7484

3 ай бұрын

@@MortalMayonnaise It sold out after his video lol, but the American one that costs 2x more is in stock so ima prob get that.

I really enjoy watching your videos very informative. Thank you so much.

It certainly feels like there is a big interest in the community for this knowledge - myself included! Love the videos and this exact one is a must watch. I was just about to order some stuff based on your other videos and this just made the decision process so much easier. Thank you. Seriously.

This is the best sharpening advice on the internet!

As usual, Outdoors55 never fails to deliver a super entertaining, informative, useful and detailed video.👍🏻

Best video so far.

Thank you for your video i never thought about knife sharpening until i saw a couple of your vids and im become more and more interested in it as a skill to have thanks to you

Great advice, clearly and logically presented. Thank you, Sir! Refreshing and honest which is why I always view all of Outdoors55 videos. Keep up the great work. (Love your 'under the microscope' shots)

Great video

Thank you so much! I'm trying to learn and take better care of my equipment myself.

This is gold! Very informative! I know what I am buying now without a doubt. Thank you!

Your videos showed up in my algorithm and now I have another high precision craft/hobby to get into...

Very good information.

Good video!

Thanks for video

I just got the DMT extra course off the back of one of your other videos. Absolute n00b beginner here. Excited to give it a try when it arrives. Thanks so much for your help, you are a fantastic educator and your knowledge is the best kind, that gained through trial and error.

I was so nervous when I saw this video because I just got a stone I ordered yesterday, but then it was the one you said you recommend buying first and I was relieved! I am pretty good at sharpening, I was raised doing it, but I really don't know much about stones. Love your videos!

Great video. Thank you my young friend.

Just had 0.5 and 0.1 micron paste arrive yesterday, in the process of making 2 better strops than my last strop. your advice and macro lens closeups are amazing, and I also picked up that jewellers' loupe a couple years back too! You're a legend

I have DMT and Arkansas stones, and man I still love the Arkansas stone feel and edge it creates. Not quite as fast but man it feels good...

@mikafoxx2717

3 ай бұрын

DMT coarse, plus an Arkansas to do the fine work, that's a good combo.

as others have mentioned, appreciate your help, I'm struggling to hold the angle and did watch your video on locking your wrists, keeping at it

Solid advice. The Koramaku set with an original Outdoors55 strop, my knife game is strong....lol. Thanks for showing the ol dog new tricks.

Thanks again

You are responsible for my most recent $100 Amazon order! Thanks for your awesome, technical, in depth videos. I know it takes a lot of time to produce something of this quality!

It's nice to see a more comprehensive video about stones Burrfection recommended years ago.

Some good reccomendations. A good strop is absolutely critical to getting a keen edge that lasts.

Thank you

I've bought all your recommendations, up to Number 3! Also made my own strop. I don't use high end steels, mainly basic carbon steel. I am bringing all my knives, including kitchen knives, up to an enjoyable sharpness. Thanks for all your advice! Take care, Eddie.

THANK you, Alex, for this series of sharpening videos! Although I use a KME, I find your videos to be incredibly informative, well structured, and very well presented. I ALWAYS learn new things when I watch your videos. Plus, they are entertaining, as well!!

You are becoming the best knife channel. Congratulations! Suggestion: edge geometry, thickness behind the edge, practical uses of either...

Just good old fashion common sense No BS. Thank you, sir!

I got the double sided near perfect Sharpal you recently recommended and I am very happy and amazed with the results I'm getting as a beginner. The key has been locking my wrists and turning with my body as you have demonstrated. Thanks!

Alex you are the real deal! I wish I could trust other channels half as much. I bought the S SATC stone, made a strop out of some belt leather, and use some polishing compound on it. That and your tips on keeping the wrists locked have made so much difference in my sharpening ability. I was hardly ever able to get shaving sharp after a ton of work, but now I've been able to sharpen most of my knifes to shaving sharp in a few minutes. My next investment is definitely going to be the diamond compound.

@OUTDOORS55

3 ай бұрын

Awesome! Glad to hear 👍👍

Always love your advice sir, it's the best out there. Diamond and homemade strope all the way for me...I have yet to find a reson to go beyond those two.

Great job, again, thank you. Short yet detailed, to the point but thoroughly explained. Much appreciated. Here is an idea, you made diy strop video, what about strop maintenance one? Cleaning, reapplying, when to do so, how, why... ?

SOOOOO helpful!

hearing how important a strop is was the gold i needed from this

Sharpening stones can be a rabbit hole. I learned how to sharpen on a little pocket stone. I have many stones, even one I found on the ground I flattened it and it works great on the small Texas toothpicks and similar sized blades. Cool video!

Great recommendations! Spyderco 400/800 CBN bench stone is also a good one and done (with a strop of course:)

I just bought the 240 grit Shapton glass stone and I was not disappointed. I also put some lapping film on the glass and bam, I got a lapping plate!

Appreciate your advice. I bought the DMT course and a strop a while back on your recommendation. Took a while to get the hang of it. Can’t say I’ve got it down, but our kitchen knives can cut again! It was long over due. Thanks for the helpful info. I still need more practice to get shaving sharp though! Not quite there yet.

I went backwards a bit as i bought the DMT Fine plate before i purchased the DMT extra coarse plate. I am still breaking in the extra coarse plate, but I am really liking how fast I can get a burr i can feel with the extra coarse plate. I also found one of your older videos on cleaning strops so I cleaned all the gunked up green compound off the strop, gave it a quick sand with 150grit sandpaper and loaded it with 6 micron DMT diamond paste. That old strop works so well that i almost cant believe it.

You made me finally achieve a hair whittling edge. I watched you videos on strops and said ok you talked me into it. I got 6 and 1 micron diamond powder so I cleaned my strops and took the time to do it. I got it to cut and whittle hair but not with the ease you show. So I went back and watched a few more of your videos. I didn't bother to follow my scratch patterns so ill be doing that next. Your dragging me into the hair whittling sharp realm. My hair is pretty short. My niece was over who has long red hair...😅

Great! Thank you. 👍

I picked up that course diamond stone you recommended. It's literally night and day. I would spend an hour sharpening my knives before, and never realised that having a good course stone to apex first was key. I spent about a minute and got hair whittling results. That's really what I wanted, something to quickly get a good edge and do some cooking. Thank you for making this great content

This is a great video for anyone who is starting out... I remember when I was learning how to sharpen I would frequently end up with a beautiful mirror-polished bevel on a knife that wasn't properly apexed so it was still rather dull.

I've been trying to learn how to sharpen my own kitchen knives instead of paying other people to do it, and your videos have been very educational. Thank you for your hard work.

The shapton 1000 has been awesome. Ive only ran 3 knives on it and loved it. My shapton 2000 i got hasnt been tried yet.

The Glass Stones are being phased out by Shapton because the Japanese consumer believes that the Glass Stone is too thin and poor value. It makes sense because why would you wanna spend the same amount for a Glass Stone that's only 5mm thick vs. the Kuromaku line which comes with 4x the stone as the Glass Stone does? The Kuromaku is a better value in terms of stone x price than the Glass Stones are. Shapton is replacing the Glass Stone with the "Rock Star" line, which are great, hard wearing stones. Most of my stones are Shapton Rock Stars, I have a 320, a 500, a 2000, a 4000, an 8000 and I have a 1000 coming to replace my Suehiro 1K/6K stone. They are hard wearing, splash and go, give great feedback and are 10mm instead of 5mm. They are a better value than the Glass Stone.

@twatmunro

3 ай бұрын

How many knives do you need to sharpen to wear out a Shapton glass. I've had mine a couple of years now but there's no discernable wear that I can see.

@BloodSprite-tan

3 ай бұрын

the whole point of the glass stones is that they are thin and so hard as to not dish or wear out.

@benjamin3615

3 ай бұрын

@@twatmunro Apparently the binder Shapton uses for the Glass Stones doesn't play well the thinner the stone gets, and results in the stone itself breaking. This is why it's adhered to a glass base and not a standalone stone. I've the same experience with the Rock Stars. I was sharpening a friend's half serrated knife and caught the edge of my Rock Star with one of the teeth. I thought for sure I had gouged it, but once I cleaned it up and let it dry, there was no evidence it ever happened.

You briefly mention clogging. Can you do a refresher on de-clogging and also on flattening? Love your content. Thanks.

@silvermediastudio

2 ай бұрын

Rinse with water and give it some random passes with the diamond plate. Use a pencil to scribble the top, run the plate over it, and you'll see if it's flat or not. Too easy.

@solosamuraiz1526

2 ай бұрын

​@@silvermediastudio Most ppl starting out & in general don't own a diamond plate tho, they are really expensive for just flattening & are hard to rationalize buying when u can get multiple whetstones for the same price. I've been buying knives for year and don't have one. it's not needed

@silvermediastudio

2 ай бұрын

@@solosamuraiz1526 SATC Diamond Sharpening Stone 2 Side Grit 400/1000 Diamond Plate is $22 on Amazon. Stop making excuses. Your comment is the only thing not needed here.

Great info! I bought Norton wet stones years ago. They will work, but at not worth the headache… I will be getting the diamond you recommend!

Brilliant advice, I havebeen that person who thought better stones would produce better results, rather than better technique !!

Than you!

Love your videos! Do you by chance ever show how to sharpen woodcarving knives with more of a flat bevel? Would love to see your method.