I'm trying to keep my whittling tools in great shape, especially my Beaver Craft and Flexcut knives. I currently use a leather strop and a whetstone, but I'd love some advice on the best practices to maintain a sharp edge. What techniques should I use?
3 Answers
Stropping is a great way to maintain your knife's edge! Just make sure you match the cutting edge with the strop surface carefully. Don't press too hard or roll the angle to avoid damaging the blade.
A good trick is to use a magic marker on your knife's cutting edge first. When you pass it over the whetstone, the correct angle will remove the marker in one smooth stroke!
When using a whetstone, match it to the angle of the existing bevel on your knife. Keep honing until you can feel a burr along the entire edge. It's all about that consistent angle!