I'm curious about the best way to sharpen woodcarving knives, especially with a Spyderco Sharpmaker. Are these knives typically convex-ground? Is the 40° angle setting on the Sharpmaker suitable for them? I've heard that woodcarving knives often have a secondary bevel closer to 30°. I really want to restore some old knives to a very sharp edge, but I also want to respect the manufacturer's original edge angle. By the way, I'm not sure what brand my knives are.
2 Answers
The Sharpmaker is designed for standard knife angles, which might not suit woodcarving knives well. For softer woods like Basswood, you'd usually want a combined edge angle of about 22 to 24 degrees—so 11 to 12 degrees per side. Instead of the Sharpmaker, you might have better luck with a ceramic stone that's laid flat for sharpening. Also, check out the Sharpener's Edge for a versatile angle range; it really creates a nice edge!
Yeah, but the Sharpmaker does let you lay the ceramics flat, which could work if you freehand it. Just keep your angles steady!