Almost every person in life is faced with the question of sharpening knives. After all, any knife, regardless of its quality, sooner or later becomes dull. Therefore, the blade must be carefully maintained.
In stores today you can choose any sharpener from a huge variety.
What types of sharpening stones are there?
In general, there are several main types of such devices. Namely:
Oil-based, on the surface of which there is oil, specifically to save material.
Water, similar to the previous one, but water is used here.
Natural, industrially processed.
Artificial, made from non-natural materials.
Rubber, extremely rare. Completely inconvenient to use.
Nuances in the matter of sharpening
Every knife sharpening has its moments.
For example, Japanese independent type requires sharpening special attention quite an experienced specialist, since the Japanese type of steel is quite fragile. To sharpen them, manufacturers recommend using different water stones with different grain sizes.
Housewives use store-bought sharpeners for sharpening. When using several knives, their sharpness remains longer.
But this is very important, even though it takes a lot of time and effort.
How to sharpen knives correctly?
To do this you need to create special conditions. Thanks to them, the knife will remain sharp for a very long time.
Therefore, it is important to choose the right angle at which you will sharpen your knives. According to the basic rule in this matter, the smaller the angle at which the knife is sharpened, the stronger the cutting edge will be.
It is important not to forget that the next sharpening depends on the maximum sharpness. The sharper the knife, the faster you will have to sharpen it. At the same time, making it “workable” again will be much more difficult.
Why do they sharpen knives?
The purpose of sharpening is to restore the sharpness of the blade. To do this, take care of the correct sharpening angle. That is, it is necessary to restore the previously specified angle, which complies with the standards from a technological point of view.
To check how well the sharpening is done, cut the material that is cut by the blade of this particular knife. If the material is cut simply, you will do everything absolutely correctly.
Possible problems during the sharpening process
In order to choose the right angle correctly, it is important to have some experience, without which it is quite difficult to cope with this issue. And even more so if there is no special equipment for this.
After all, if you hold a knife with your hands during the sharpening process, it is quite difficult to achieve its ideal “sharpness” as a result.
How do you sharpen knives at home?
Sometimes it happens that the knife needs to be sharpened quickly. A block of wood, a hacksaw, sandpaper, a ceramic plate, a chisel, etc. may come in handy here.
And there are even those who can sharpen them on a foundation made of cement and sand. But this method is not recommended at all. After all, there are a lot of other and more proven ones!
The best of all is to make homemade device. This is not only convenient, but also hardly distinguishable from the factory one.
How to sharpen a planer knife
Knives of this type can be handled by an experienced professional craftsman who has not only knowledge, but also skills in this matter. The process is actually quite complicated.
At the same time, it is quite difficult to find equipment for sharpening such a knife in a simple store. You should know what will help here modern instrument, in which you can set low speed with water cooling.
You need to use a new stone with a smooth surface. The best will be aquatic view stone
In addition, if you do not have specific experience and skills in sharpening planing knives, you can also contact a service station, which probably has equipment such as a sharpener.
The problem of dull knives is familiar firsthand to many owners who are forced to constantly hand over kitchen utensils to craftsmen for sharpening. Meanwhile, solving it is much easier than it seems, because you can make a knife sharpener with your own hands, using the available tools. This will save money on the purchase of a ready-made device or the services of professional workshops.
All about knife sharpeners
The easiest way to help owners get rid of the hassle associated with handing over knives to workshops is to purchase a sharpening stone. However, this option can only become optimal if it is possible to select a timber with the “correct” abrasiveness. To do this, you need to familiarize yourself with the main characteristics of the selected materials.
Choosing a quality stone
Sharpening stones, more often referred to as stones, have their own classification, familiarization with which will help you choose the most suitable material. And if the owner manages to avoid the most common mistakes, then it can be used in the future both independently and as the main component of a homemade grinding machine. So, The following gradations of grain size are distinguished:
Another distinctive feature of sharpening stones is their color, because the darker the shade of the selected stone, the greater the level of abrasiveness it will have and, conversely, light colors indicate the fine grain of the coating and its domestic purpose. It is worth noting that the performance of sharpening done with your own hands directly depends on the choice of this element.
It is recommended to pay attention to the quality of the selected material, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. So, they distinguish timber natural origin from slate and corundum rocks, as well as stone for turning diamond and ceramic types. Among the disadvantages of the first option, it is worth highlighting the high grain size and rapid wear due to the need to constantly wet the surface of the stone to form special staff, which automatically increases the abrasive qualities of the device.
That is why it is better to leave your choice to artificial stone for sharpening, the length of which will exceed the length of the cutter blade, which greatly facilitates the processing procedure. In addition, you can choose a beam whose ribs will have varying degrees of abrasiveness, which will allow you to carry out the procedure for basic and final sharpening at home.
There are several types of manual knife sharpeners with your own hands with different designs and degrees of difficulty in manufacturing. Naturally, the simpler the arrangement of such a home appliance, the less comfortable its use in everyday life will be, and vice versa, a large number of components allows you to create very comfortable models sharpeners, which greatly facilitate the process of sharpening the blade.
This point should also be taken into account when determining the optimal design of the device. It is strongly recommended to take into account this important indicator, as the amount of work, because if the owner needs to process only a few kitchen cutters, then it hardly makes sense to choose a professional knife sharpener with drawings and three-dimensional modeling to make it yourself.
To make a knife sharpener with your own hands, You can take the following popular models as a basis:
Particularly popular is a knife sharpener that is quite easy to make with your own hands, the drawings with dimensions of which were developed by the famous Lansky company. And this option is optimal for independent design and further use at home.
Making a simple model yourself
The principle of operation of the device according to Lansky’s design boils down to the fact that the processing of a securely fixed blade is carried out at a strictly defined angle using replaceable sharpening stone attachments with different grain sizes, as a result of which it is possible to obtain a very sharp edge of the cutting element. The finished device costs about 1,500 thousand Russian rubles, but the ease of its manufacture and the minimum set necessary details inspires craftsmen to create more budget-friendly homemade analogues from available means.
Step-by-step master class
To choose necessary materials It’s worth starting after preparing the dimensions and drawings necessary for making a homemade knife sharpener. To make the task as easy as possible, it is recommended to use finished projects, which can be found on almost any network resource. An example is Assembly drawing, according to which you can independently make a Lansky-type sharpening machine.
In order to assemble such a structure, The master will have to prepare the following materials:
- A metal rod that can be used to make studs marked M-6 of non-standard length.
- An electrode of any brand intended for use in electric welding work. It is from this element that the corner guides are made after complete cleaning of flux and burrs, which is carried out using grained emery.
- Carbon stainless steel with an average thickness of 3-5 millimeters, from which clamps with through holes It is worth noting that to make such holes you will need machine oil, which can be removed later by treating with a concentrated soap solution.
- Metal corners of medium size (9 by 9 by 0.6 centimeters).
In addition, you will need nuts and other fasteners, the recommended markings of which can be found in the presented drawing. As for the processing of elements and their assembly into a single structure, this procedure involves performing the following algorithm of actions:
There are often cases when, during operation, certain imperfections of a homemade sharpener are revealed, although this is not a reason for frustration, because you can always make a correction, maximally optimizing the operation of the device and adjusting it to individual needs.
There are several important rules sharpening of knives, which must be observed regardless of how exactly this procedure will be carried out. This means the following subtleties and nuances:
- Perpendicular placement of the blade in the direction of the whetstone while maintaining an angle equal to 1/2 of the sharpening value (the last condition is not mandatory).
- The sharpening angle should vary from 20 to 25 degrees.
- Start processing from the beginning of the blade, from its most blunt part. In this case, the edge can be painted black so as not to protrude beyond its limits when sharpening the blade.
During the turning process, characteristic transverse grooves tend to form on the edge of the blade. Their position relative to the base line of the cutting part must be perpendicular, because only then can it be said that the turning procedure was carried out correctly.
The knife is dangerous, but useful item. It is impossible to do without it in the kitchen, on a hike, while hunting, when working different machines with cutting elements. Any knife must be looked after so that it does not lose its sharpness. That is why it is necessary to have on hand reliable device for sharpening knives. Craftsmen sharpen them on a factory-made sharpening machine, but the simplest device can be made independently. The main thing is to know the specifics of sharpening cutting tools so as not to make mistakes in the calculations.
Even housewives have several knives for different purposes. One device is used to cut bread and baked goods, another to cut meat, and a third to chop cartilage and bones. There are hunting and fishing knives. Each of them differs from the other by its individual sharpening angle. This concept defines the purpose of the cutting object.
Manual sharpening of cutting tools is a painstaking task that requires strict adherence to the angle. Factory machines make this task easier, but are very expensive - from 20,000 rubles and more. If you are a fan of homemade crafts, you can make a device for sharpening knives with your own hands, and if you need drawings, you can always find them on the Internet. It will take time, but it won't cost that much. It is known that homemade devices are no worse than factory ones and serve for many years.
The concept of sharpening angle
Its size is different for one type of blade or another. The angle dimensions for different cutting tools look like this:
- 8-12 degrees for straight razors;
- 10-15 degrees for fillet knives;
- 15-20 degrees for household tools;
- 20-25 degrees for knives for fishing and hunting purposes. Depending on the needs of the hunter or fisherman, the angle can be greater - up to 40 degrees;
- 30-50 degrees for blades special application(for example, for a machete, which is used for cutting and chopping bamboo, vines and tree trunks).
Whetstone and its features
The process of sharpening knives is impossible without a sharpening stone. Like emery, it has different degrees of grain size - fine, medium or coarse. This division is conditional for different countries. An approximate gradation of a sharpening stone looks like this:
- from 200 to 250 - extra-coarse fraction, which is not used for sharpening;
- from 300 to 350 - rough. This sharpener is used to process blades that are damaged or severely dull. Also, the coarse fraction is used if you plan to change the sharpening angle;
- from 400 to 500 - average. It is rarely found in retail sales because craftsmen rarely use it;
- from 600 to 700 - small. These bars are universal and suitable for most knives;
- from 1000 to 1200 - extra fine. With its help, you can give the blade the same shine as a mirror.
There are whetstones made from diamonds, ceramics or slate rocks. They can be natural or artificial. Bars of natural origin wear out faster than artificial ones. Among them, small-fraction products are rarely found.
Before use, you need to treat the bars with water. As liquid is absorbed and sharpened, the abrasive particles turn into a thick paste. The paste promotes high quality sharpening. For greater effectiveness, you can use soap mixed with water.
When choosing a bar, you need to take into account its shape and length. The length of the sharpener should be longer than the blade. It is most convenient to work with a double-sided sharpener , when on one side of the bar there is a fine-grained abrasive, and on the other there is a coarse-grained material.
Rules for manual sharpening of knives
Handle the machine without skills manual sharpening impossible. If you are new to this business, you first need to learn how to sharpen blades using a whetstone. Knives sharpened by hand have no worse cutting quality. The algorithm of actions when working with a bar looks like this:
- Place the block on a flat surface. Use a medium- or coarse-grit whetstone;
- secure it so that it does not fall off the table while working;
- determine the sharpening angle (its number will be equal to half the angle that is selected);
- hold the blade at this angle;
- all movements must be consistent: do not put pressure on the sharpener;
- start sharpening in the opposite direction from you;
- Make sure that during one pass the blade passes the entire area of the block. This can be achieved by gently turning the handle of the knife as the blade approaches the rounded edge of the whetstone;
- After each movement, try to keep the blade on the surface of the stone. Do not let it break, so as not to dull the knife and damage it on the side;
- Make all movements back and forth consistently, slowly.
During the process, monitor the changes on inside blades. A hangnail should appear on it. It looks like a thin edge. The hangnail is carefully felt. At the same time, you cannot place your finger along the blade. Place your finger perpendicular to the position of the blade on the block: this will help avoid injury. After finding the edge, start sharpening the knife on the other side so that the burr transfers to it and becomes smaller.
After finishing sharpening, replace the medium-grained whetstone with a fine-grained sharpener. This will help grind off any remaining edges and smooth out the surface of the blade. You can polish a knife so that it shines like a mirror. To do this, use a fine-grained block, and make movements only in one direction, away from you.
Making homemade devices
For working with knives there is different models“device” and full-fledged manual machines. If desired, any of these devices for sharpening knives can be made with your own hands. Sometimes scrap materials left over after home renovations and spare parts from old devices help out. Thanks to imagination and ingenuity, craftsmen make both simple and complex devices:
- sharpener "House";
- electric household knife;
- sharpener LM;
- manual device made of an angular frame and a whetstone;
- for planing knives;
- for linear machining with a block;
- For jointing knives;
- for sharpening ice drill blades;
- sharpener on wheels.
Sharpener "Domik"
A simple but effective sharpening device. You need to take a small block with an upper edge shaped like gable roof. Each edge should be inclined at an angle of 20 to 25 degrees. The blade of the knife is tightly fixed to the ridge of the “roof”, and its other side is processed with a block or a circle in the horizontal direction. Thanks to the roof-shaped beam, the angle of inclination always remains unchanged.
Electric household knife
If you improve the power machine that you already have at home, you can get an improved device. With standard electric sharpening, problems arise with uniform pressure on the blade. To ensure uniform pressure, it is necessary to supplement the design of the machine with a guide mechanism. You will need:
- wooden blocks;
- 4 bolts or the same number of studs (M8 thread);
- 4 clamping nuts;
- dowels for working with wood.
The guide should be located opposite the electric sharpener. The slider moves along it evenly. Place where the guide is fixed: a workbench or a pre-made bed. A groove is cut in the longitudinal direction in the frame for its mobility, and the tripod is fixed with two pins. Side holes are drilled in two blocks, then one pin is inserted into them and tightened with clamping nuts.
Fixing devices are attached on both sides of the movable carriage. When sharpening, the carriage is set at the desired height, securing it with clamping nuts. The tripod is adjusted depending on the size cutting tool, which is moved along both guides in the process.
Sharpener LM
The Lansky Metabo sharpener is difficult to make. Most often, professional sharpeners work with it. To work with such a project you will need drawings. It is designed in such a way that the sharpening angle can be changed depending on the type of cutting tool. Its clamps are designed in such a way that when the root part of the blade is fixed in them, the maximum sharpening angle can be achieved. The LM sharpener is often used for sharpening jointing knives and cutting elements thicknesser, and the clamps are made from blocks or metal corners.
Information!
At self-assembly There are many difficulties with such a design - due to large number complex elements.
Manual device made from an angle frame and a whetstone
It’s better not to try to assemble a complex machine straight away, but to stick with a simple tool. Using improvised means, you can make a kind of corner structure with a touchstone built into it. When adding a carriage to the device, there is no need to constantly maintain the sharpening angle manually. For the carriage you need a triangular block and a magnet that will attract the metal blade to itself.
Sharpening planing knives
A device for sharpening planing knives is a rare occurrence. It is almost impossible to buy such a machine, so craftsmen are engaged in improving the machines that were originally available. To create a “planing” device, you will need a regular low-speed water-cooled sharpener. Fresh, unused coarse material with a smooth surface is used as a grinding stone.
Linear machining device
A device for linear machining with a block is a complex machine model that can be handled by a person with experience in carpentry. Have to take:
- plywood or chipboard covered with laminate;
- a steel pin with a “long” thread (pin diameter from 6 to 8 mm);
- textolite or ebonite block (or wood, oak or beech);
- aluminum plate (plate thickness from 3 to 5 mm);
- fastening nuts;
- Neodymium magnet.
We assemble the base of the machine from plywood. We install the bed on legs. You need to screw a long hairpin into the lower part, and carefully cut off the rest. We fix the aluminum plate in the middle. A groove must be made in it, the diameter of which corresponds to the bolt. Aluminum is a soft metal that will not harm the blade, so using any other material is not recommended.
The emery or sharpening stone must be attached to the machine using a lever. It can be made from the part of the hairpin that remains. The devices that fix the block are cut out of textolite, and the stop is fixed with a nut. Where the handle is located, it is better to immediately spring the block. This mechanism will make it easier to replace an old sharpener with a new one. After springing the block onto the aluminum plate, glue the sandpaper or sharpener. Depending on the working surface area, the number of sharpeners of different fractions can be from 2 to 3.
The advantage of this machine is the movable hinge, which has two degrees of freedom. It is assembled from two textolite bars same size. The first block is placed on a pin located vertically. This is necessary to create a horizontal axis when turning the blade, and also to adjust the height of the lever. This design always provides correct angle sharpening.
A hole is made in the second textolite block in the horizontal direction for a lever. After this, the second block is screwed to the first, and the lever will move freely vertically. When sharpening the knife, clamp it with a plate or use a neodymium magnet.
Device for jointer knives
A device for sharpening jointer knives is installed on milling machine vertical type. The device is made of two plates. The first is located at the bottom, the second at the top. The holder in which the cutting tool blade is placed is located on the top plate. To fix the bottom plate to the base of the milling machine, use a clamp and metal corners.
For the jointer knife holder you will need clamps and a metal corner (50x50 mm). It is cut to a sharpening angle of 40 degrees. The edge of the jointing knives should be strong, and the sharpener should be lowered to a shallow depth (about 10 microns) so as not to damage it during operation. The upper plate of the device is lifted by a mechanism that includes a wedge, lead screw and stop plates. As the handle rotates, the lead screw and wedge begin to move: you can raise the top plate or lower it down.
How can you sharpen ice drill knives?
A device for sharpening ice drill knives can also be made at home. You need to take two strips of steel, each of which has the following dimensions:
- thickness - from 3 to 4 mm;
- width - from 50 to 60 mm;
- length - from 160 to 200 mm.
The strips are needed to make the body of the device. One of them is bent in an arched manner. This is necessary for correct position knife bevels. They must be in the same plane. In this position, the sharpening angle of all knives sharpened at the same time will be the same. After making the body arc, a plate is made from the second strip, which is needed to fix the cutting tools.
Next, you need to drill a hole in the plate and in the body. We insert bolts with M12 or M14 threads into each hole. Using a bolt and nut, fix the plate to the body. Now you need to try to clamp the knives between the body and the plate and check their fit. The fit of the blades to the end surface must be precise and tight. If the chamfers do not fit tightly enough to the abrasive “sharpener,” the sharpening angle will be incorrect. To correct it, the body arch is “adjusted”, slightly bending it in in the right direction. If everything is done correctly, you need to disassemble the structure and weld two stiffening ribs (one on each side) to the body arch.
It is better to sharpen knives for ice drills on an abrasive wheel that rotates in a horizontal direction. When the knives are moistened with water, in this position the liquid will stay on the wheel longer. This technology helps preserve abrasive wheel and helps cool the blade steel.
The device for sharpening ice drill knives is ready. To avoid overheating of the metal during work, you need to immerse the knives in water more often.
Device on wheels
A simple device on wheels is a structure that consists of a stationary block and a cart with wheels. During the sharpening process, the knife blade is moved by the master manually, and the sharpening angle is determined by the height at which the block is located in relation to the working platform. The blade is placed on the platform and fixed. The device on wheels is used only on a flat surface.
Since we are talking about a simple device, the sharpening angle may vary slightly during operation. The device is designed to work with household kitchen knives, so changing the angle in this case is not fatal. If you improve the design with two or three holders, the angle will be almost perfect.
By using simple elements Any sharpening device can be made from wood and metal kitchen knives. Most often, for home needs there is no need to design complex machines, but if you have a ready-made milling machine at hand, craftsmen can adapt it to work with more complex cutting tools.
We will send the material to you by e-mail
Regardless of what guarantee the knife manufacturer gives that they will not require sharpening during use, sooner or later this question will still arise before the user. It doesn’t matter whether this applies to kitchen utensils or camping accessories, because... sharp knife– this is the key to success in fishing and hunting, while traveling and when cooking. Devices for sharpening knives - types and rules of use, as well as how to make them yourself - this is the topic of today’s review by the site’s editors.
The simplest device for sharpening a cutting tool is a block, and the device for its use is a clamp for the angle of the surface being sharpened
Knives can be classified according to the following indicators:
Whetstones and whetstones
Bar ( grindstone) is an abrasive tool used to sharpen cutting edges household appliances and kitchen utensils, carpentry and plumbing tools.
The industry produces four types of stones for sharpening knives:
- natural– novaculite and Japanese water stone are different at a high price and difficulty of use;
- diamond– most popular view products are distinguished by a variety of both geometric dimensions and grain size. They are characterized by wear resistance and efficiency of use, as well as low cost;
- ceramic– a modern type of sharpening tool, characterized by its combination positive qualities natural and diamond analogues;
- artificial– everyone known species electrocorundum or carbide, they are low in cost, but during use they crumble and are not suitable for finishing cutting edges.
Hand tools
- Must for sharpening knives.
Almost everyone knows what musat is, but many don’t even suspect that this is the name of this product. The reason for this is that musat, as a rule, comes with sets of knives offered for sale through trade organizations.
Musat is a rod made of various materials, equipped with a handle and characterized by the roughness of the working surface.
The roughness of the drawing is the size of the notch applied to the rod, and it is this that determines the degree of roughness of the cutting surface of the knife after processing. The musat is equipped with a rod that has a certain degree of magnetization, which ensures that metal particles formed during use reach food and kitchen utensils. Musats are classified according to:
- rod shape– round and oval, flat and tetrahedral;
- materials used– ceramics and metal, diamond and mixed designs.
Each type has certain advantages and disadvantages that determine the possibilities of using the device and its purpose.
- Manual machines.
Household manual sharpening machines for sharpening knives vary in their design, but in any of them a whetstone or whetstone acts as the main element. The impact of the abrasive tool on the cutting surface is carried out using the efforts exerted by the user. The main task performed manual machine, is the creation and maintenance of an optimal sharpening angle of cutting edges for the entire period of work, which is achieved by rigidly fixing the knife in a given plane. Produced by industry various models similar equipment, differing in size and methods of fastening abrasives and knives being processed, as well as the materials used and cost.
Household electric sharpeners do not take up much space and are very functional, because... their design, as a rule, provides various fixed sharpening angles for different types knives and other cutting tools (scissors, screwdrivers, etc.). The ability to quickly and efficiently sharpen the cutting edges of knives is very important for catering establishments, where the speed and quality of cooking depends on sharpening. Professional knife sharpening machines are functional devices equipped with high-quality abrasive tools that allow not only rough sharpening, but also fine-tuning the cutting edges of knives for various purposes.
Professional models, in addition, as a rule, have several operating modes that allow sharpening with different efficiency, necessary for knives made by them. various metal or ceramics.
How to properly sharpen a knife at home
Everyone knows that a knife must be sharp, and for this it needs to be sharpened, but how to do it correctly is often not known to every user. It should immediately be noted that for correct execution work required:
- Know the sharpening angles for each type of knives and other cutting tools.
- Be able to work on a variety of equipment or using available tools.
Sharpening angle of knives for various purposes
For knives used in for various purposes, the sharpening angles of the cutting edges are different, which is determined by their purpose and nature of use.
This value is for:
- table knives - 55–60˚, because ready-made dishes are quite soft and cut easily; moreover, with a smaller sharpening angle, there is a possibility of damaging the dishes during eating;
- hunting and folding models – 40−45˚, which is explained by their versatility;
- kitchen knives – 30−35˚;
- used for professional cutting of vegetables - 35˚;
- used for professional cutting and deboning of meat – 25−30˚;
- used for professional fish cutting - 25˚.
Some types of knives are sharpened with different sharpening angles, such as those intended for slicing bread (the angle is 15˚), but this is a narrowly targeted use in which sharpening must be done quite often, because with a decrease in this indicator, the durability of the cutting edges decreases.
How to sharpen a knife at home with a whetstone
In order to properly sharpen a knife using a whetstone, you must follow several rules for performing the work:
- must be selected optimal angle sharpening corresponding to the purpose of the knife;
- the blade must be positioned in relation to the plane of the block strictly within the specified sharpening angle parameters for the entire period of work;
- Sharp and jerky movements should not be allowed, they should be smooth and sliding;
- When performing work, the block should be moistened generously with water diluted with soap or detergent.
How to sharpen using musat
The process of sharpening a knife using musat is shown in the following figure.
The work is carried out as follows:
- The musat is installed on a flat surface strictly in a vertical plane;
- the upper part of the device is combined with the sharpened edge of the knife near its handle, after which the knife moves along the rod of the grinder in an arcuate movement directed from top to bottom;
- the movements are repeated several times on both edges of the knife.
I would like to note that experienced users can perform this operation in weight, without rigidly fixing the rod of the device used.
How to properly sharpen a knife on an electric sharpener
When using models equipped electric drive, basic requirements for the performance of work that allows correct sharpening, are the same as in the case of using a whetstone or whetstone.
But, besides this, there are additional requirements that can be formulated as follows:
- It is not the abrasive that should be moistened with water, but the surface of the knife being processed, which is explained by the fact that water is not retained on a rapidly rotating wheel;
- the blade must not be allowed to overheat, which can lead to its damage, which occurs when the edges being processed are strongly pressed against the abrasive surface;
- can be used to rigidly fix the sharpening angle additional accessories, mounted rigidly to the body of the sharpening machine or in the hands of the user;
- When working on industrial sharpening machines, it is necessary to use personal protective equipment, such as gloves and safety glasses.
When using small devices intended for home use, the main requirement for sharpening is the time it takes to complete the operation; all the rest (fixation of the sharpening angle, protection, etc.) are performed by the machine itself, according to its design.
Typical mistakes when doing DIY work
When sharpening knives on their own, many users allow typical mistakes, which can be formulated as follows:
- Creating an incorrect sharpening angle prevents the knife from being used for its intended purpose or reduces its functionality.
- Excessive pressure when working on electric models or incorrect direction and nature of movements when using a whetstone or sharpening stone contribute to damage to the surface of the knife and destruction of its edge.
- Sharpening the cutting surface without first cleaning it from dirt and foreign substances leads to the abrasive becoming washed out and damaged.
- Using only one grinding stone when sharpening cutting edges. This device is intended only for finishing or straightening knife blades; it is not intended for basic sharpening.
- Failure to complete the sharpening operation again leads to rapid dulling of the cutting edges.
- Using an abrasive (whet stone or whetstone) of only one grit size.
Making a machine for sharpening knives with your own hands
Although nowadays you can easily buy necessary equipment and equipment designed for sharpening knives and other cutting tools, however, handicraft citizens continue to make knives with their own hands in their free time. When making a knife sharpener with your own hands, you need to decide on its type (manual or electric) and the type of abrasive materials used (block, wheel, sanding belt), as well as the available materials that will be used to make the body of the assembled device and its frame. Let's consider the option of a manual sharpener using an abrasive stone and plywood as a structure frame. Appearance The assembled device is shown in the following figure.
Every man in the house would benefit from a convenient sharpening machine. After all, the owner is often judged by how sharp this kitchen tool is.
There are many techniques for sharpening knife blades. For example, for a process carried out at home, only a turning block or ready-made devices with an angular gap shape will be sufficient.
For trimming expensive hunter knives European manufacturers They produce devices in the form of solid bars, the basis of which is a high-strength alloy.
This article will describe how to make a machine for sharpening knives with your own hands.
Why do knives get dull?
What is the reason why a knife becomes dull when cutting? This can be explained by the fact that the cutting edge is negatively affected by abrasive particles that are present in the material being cut. For example, they are present on vegetables and paper. Speaking in simple language, the blade is subject to gradual wear.
The next reason is the inability to hold the blade in the desired position all the time. Any trembling of the hand causes the knife to tilt, which entails a lateral load.
Sharpening technique
The sharpening technique consists of unified, but at the same time quite labor-intensive methods. The main task is to eliminate damage to the blade. It should be noted that for many, such a procedure as sharpening knives provides good location spirit and peace.
The main rule in this process is to maintain a precisely specified constant angle. No force required here. The main thing is that the block and blade meet at a certain angle. This is the basic rule of the sharpening technique.
What needs to be done to maintain a constant angle?
In order for the angle to have a constant indicator, there are two ways. The first is to acquire the sharpening skill. The angle indicator can be controlled using a regular marker. They should paint over the connections and, after several sharpening cycles, see how well the paint is preserved. If it is worn unevenly, then the blade is not processed well.
If the knife being sharpened is decorative, then you should seal the blade with tape so that only the cutting edge remains open. Even if you misdirect your hand, there will be no scratches on the blade.
An important point is that the direction of the blade along the block is perpendicular to the edge at the points of contact. This is actually quite difficult to do. It is acceptable for the angle between the edge and the blade to be less than 90 degrees. But when directed along cutting edge this indicator is not suitable.
The abrasive particles of the stone can leave grooves on the blade that will never be sharpened, but will play a positive role when cutting. If the grooves are oriented along the cutting edge, then they will be of no use during cutting. The worst thing is that the cutting edge may break off altogether.
It is important that the bar is long. It should be one and a half or two lengths of the blade. It is allowed for the diamond block to be somewhat shorter, as it grinds faster and better. Its width does not play a significant role. If it is wider, then it is more convenient to work on it and there is less chance of the blade moving beyond the limits of the device. It might damage him lateral surface or a blade.
Homemade knife sharpening devices come in different designs. All that is required from the manufacturer is availability the required material and tool skills.
The principle of operation of such a device as a manual machine for sharpening knives with your own hands is to hold the knife blade in a vertical position and drive it along a block fixed at the desired angle. This is much easier than placing the sharpening stone horizontally and holding the knife at the desired angle.
In order to make a machine for sharpening knives with your own hands, you need a piece of laminate, a wooden strip, sandpaper and a couple of bots with lambs. Chipboard or plywood can serve as a replacement for laminate.
To make a knife holder, you need to cut off some of the material. To prevent the block from touching the holder when sharpening, you should sand its edge at an angle using sandpaper.
It is necessary to mark and cut off the top vertical stand, which will serve as a support for the block. The angle chosen is half that at which the knife will be sharpened. For kitchen knives, it is recommended to take an angle of 10-15 degrees.
A machine for sharpening knives with your own hands, the drawings of which are prepared in advance, requires the correct calculation of the length of the base of the racks. Please note that the height indicator will be affected by the subsequent installation of the transverse support. After this, all parts are trimmed and the edges are cleaned.
Holes are marked and drilled in the base and plate for pressing the bolts that secure the blade. When marking, the distance of the holes from the edge of the base is maintained. This is necessary for the versatility of the device, since all knives have their own width. The pressure plate is secured with bolts.
Vertical posts are secured with screws. It is also taken into account that the load on the bottom is small. In this case, it is better to resort to using thermal glue. The horizontal crossbar is attached in exactly this way. The sharpening device is almost ready. All that remains is to make the block.
To make it, a strip of the required length is cut. Sandpaper with the required abrasive size is glued to one edge. To optimize the result, you can resort to making several bars with different grain sizes. The range P600 - P2000 is considered the best. To protect your hands from cuts, you need to screw the handle on the top side of the rail.
The result is a homemade machine for sharpening knives with your own hands, characterized by high functionality and practicality. When working, the device rests against the edge of the table, which is quite comfortable when using it.
There are also other types of machine for sharpening knives with your own hands. In this case, it is based on an M8 threaded rod. Two large washers and nuts are used, which serve to hold a bar 200 mm long.
Covers the thread. A pair of paper clips serve to secure the guide stand at the desired height. This ensures smooth adjustment of the sharpening angle. The base is made of timber, the thickness of which is 40 mm. It is supported by hand.
How to sharpen jointing knives with your own hands
Every owner who has a plane or jointer, I've probably encountered the problem of sharpening their knives. It is expensive to purchase new ones periodically. Knives can be easily sharpened with your own hands. In this case, specialized machines are used, or if it is used constantly, it would be better to make a machine for sharpening knives with your own hands.
Do-it-yourself machine for sharpening a jointer knife
To sharpen a jointer knife, special sharpening equipment is used. The machine for sharpening knives with your own hands has a compact size. It can be installed in a garage or on a personal plot.
Many people are interested in how to make a knife sharpening machine with their own hands. To make a device you need to find certain parts. Perhaps similar spare parts are lying around in your barn or garage. They can also be purchased via the Internet.
A machine for sharpening jointing knives with your own hands consists of:
- faceplates;
- table;
- engine;
- vacuum cleaner;
- casing.
The first thing you should do is find the faceplate. This is the most important component of future equipment. She is the one responsible for the sharpening process. The jointer knives are narrow, and the faceplate guarantees complete and safe sharpening. You will have to buy this part new, but the rest can be used even as old ones.
It is better to purchase faceplates of German or American production. average cost parts is 25,000 rubles.
The next step is to find a motor whose power should be 1-1.5 kW. There is no need to buy it. Anyone will do, even old ones washing machine. But everyone probably has a table, a casing and a vacuum cleaner.
Main stages of device manufacturing
When the table is selected, the engine is fixed directly under it. A faceplate is attached to the moving part. The engine must initially be equipped with a button that turns the unit on and off. It should be conveniently located.
For reliable protection, the faceplate is covered with a casing square shape with one corner cut out. It is this area that needs to be sharpened.
A hole of the same diameter as the vacuum cleaner hose is made on the lower surface of the table in the sharpening area. The presence of a vacuum cleaner is not essential, but it is advisable to install it. It removes unnecessary dirt from blade processing.
What do you need to know?
The engine mount under the base of the faceplate is not prerequisite. You can make sure that the parts are connected using a belt. In this case, the design will be more complex.
A do-it-yourself jointer knife sharpening machine is also suitable for saws and axes.
Ice screw sharpening
The sharp knives of the ice drill enable the fisherman to quickly make holes in the ice of reservoirs. However, over time, any cutting tools become dull and require sharpening.
For fishermen, a high-quality ice auger is a great source of pride. Often, true competitions on the speed of drilling ice holes are held on reservoirs. And victory does not always smile on young and strong fishermen who are armed with imported equipment. There are times when experienced fishermen, equipped with simple Soviet-made tools, emerge as winners in the competition. The reason for the high hole drilling speed lies in the good sharpening of the knives and the correct settings of the device. Beginner fishermen, having bought new Swedish devices, do not even have time to blink an eye before their knives become dull. Tiny grains of sand and pebbles in the ice contribute to the formation of chips and gouges on the blade.
Sharpening of devices is carried out in a variety of ways. Many of our ancestors did not even know what professional sharpening was. In most cases, sharpening was performed using hand-made devices.
Homemade ice drill machine: what will you need to make it?
To make a device such as a knife sharpening machine, you will need two strips of steel, the thickness of which is 4 mm, the width is 60 mm, and the length is 200 mm. A spring from a car is often used as a strip. But it is very difficult to bend.
Progress
First you need to make the device case. The steel strips are bent in such a way that the chamfers of the knives pressed to the ends of the arc are not only parallel, but also in the same plane.
After making an arc from the same steel strip, a pressure plate is bent, which serves as a clamp for the knives being sharpened
Holes for M12 or M14 bolts are drilled in the body and pressure plate. Having tightened the body and the pressure plate using a bolt and nut, we clamp the knives between them and check the strength of their adherence to the surface of the end of the emery circle.
If the knives are not located at the required angle (the chamfers do not fit exactly to the circle), then the device is modified by bending the body arc to the appropriate level. If the knives are positioned correctly, then the structure is disassembled, and stiffeners are welded to the body arc on both sides.
Sharpening knives is best done on a knife that rotates horizontally. In this case, when wetting the knives with water, the latter remains on the blade and stone longer, ensuring their safety. Dip knives in water frequently. This will help prevent the steel from overheating.
Disadvantage of the device
The disadvantages of the device include the impossibility of sharpening knives with different angles cutting chamfer. But each ice drill manufacturer offers its own models. In this case, a universal device is suitable.
Making a universal device for sharpening an ice drill
Design universal purpose allows you to sharpen knives at any angle of the cutting edge. By smoothly changing the angle between the arms of the unit, on which the knives are fastened with screws, you can fix the desired position of the knives in relation to the plane of the grindstone.
To make this device, you need to find a door hinge with minimal play, as well as an M8 or M10 screw with its own nut. Holes are drilled in the canopy arms. Their diameter is 6-7 mm (for attaching knives to them with screws).
A fixing plate with a slot for a fastening screw is made from a steel strip, the thickness of which is 3 mm. The plate and screw are welded to the canopy arms.
It happens that knives are sharpened, the location of the holes does not correspond to the holes in the canopy. In this case, the shoulders are drilled additional holes for knives of non-standard type. In this case, the device has greater versatility.
How are planer knives sharpened?
Devices such as planers and surface planers can often be seen in country houses. Through them, raw lumber is brought to the desired state. The knives of these devices, like any other, become dull. If you use them often, then the best solution would be to sharpen the knives for planer with your own hands. To make sharpening equipment at home, you will need various materials: metal, aluminum or wood.
A knife holder can be made from wooden block. Made through circular saw cuts at 45 degrees, you can sharpen knives with a belt grinder or a large block. If the latter is not available, then sandpaper is attached to a smooth surface made of metal, wood, chipboard or glass.
Knife holders can be made from scrap materials. The optimal solution would be to use metal corners that have an angle of 90 degrees. When placing two knives on the sides, the sharpening angle of each will be 45 degrees. Using screws, you can secure the knives with a second corner.