How Often Should I Sharpen My Carving Knife?
Asked by CuriousCrafter92
I've just started woodcarving a couple of weeks ago and am trying to figure out the best schedule for sharpening my knife. I've looked at the wiki, but it doesn't really say how often I should be sharpening. Any advice on this would be appreciated!
Answers
You're mixing two things up: sharpening and stropping. After you sharpen on a stone, you shouldn't need to touch it for quite a while unless you chip it. I strop before using and every 15–20 minutes while working. It only takes a few seconds and you can’t really overdo it!
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If your knife feels blunt, that's usually a sign it’s time to sharpen. Personally, I find that I need to sharpen every 20 minutes or so, depending on the wood I'm using. Just stay on top of it—better safe than sorry!
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NewbieNerd: Ohhh, okay! That really clarifies things for me. Thank you! :D