Back bevel sharpening

[Karl]

Just thought i'd share this cunning little discovery with you all.

What you are looking at is a blade with two (yes, two) honing guides attached - one to each side of the blade.

First I attach the Eclipse style guide in its position to hone the "normal" microbevel. I then attach a second guide behind it, with the wheel operating on the opposite face. The two guides are then used alternately through the various grits of your chosen sharpening method to create a nice polished microbevel & back bevel. In my case this is Trend fine stone, green honing soap, white honing soap.

Here is the back bevel being created on the trend stone.

And being polished on the honing soap

The resultant microbevel

Result - a nice sharp edge!

Cheers

Karl

 

[Paul Chapman]

Great idea, Karl =D>

I recognise the Eclipse honing guide - what make is the other one?

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Philly]

Love it - very sneaky!
Philly

 

[Karl]

Hi Paul - the second jig is a cheap Axminster jig i've had for a few years now. I haven't used it really - got the Eclipse instead. But its fine for this application - gives really good results.

Cheers

Karl

 

[Anonymous]

What angle is your back bevel?

 

[Karl]

Roger

I didn't actually "measure" the back bevel angle. I'd guess around 20-25 degrees, giving an EP of 65-70 degrees. Obviously the angle of this back bevel could be reduced by moving the second honing guide towards the rear of the blade. You can't go any higher (not that I think you'd need too) cos the first jig is in the way.

Forgot to mention the reason why I thought of this. I always prepare my bevel down blades with a small back bevel - approx 5 deg's. It's a variation on the "ruler trick". I do this simply using my fingers as a registration point for the various sharpening stages. But as this back bevel angle increases it is hard to maintain a constant angle, so I popped a spare jig on the back of the blade and Hey Presto!

Cheers

Karl

 

[lurker]

I've got one of those Ax guides - they are absolute rubbish!

 

[Paul Chapman]

I've got one of those Ax guides - they are absolute rubbish!

But they clearly work in this application :wink: What's good is that you can register it off the Eclipse jig and thereby keep the roller square to the edge of the blade, or pop in a parallel-sided spacer if you need to set the roller further back from the edge.

I think Karl has hit on a brilliant idea with this one.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[lurker]

I would not argue with that.
As you say, the eclipse keeps it square in this instance.

As a guide on its own the Ax will not keep a blade clamped true no matter how much you tighten the nuts.
Eclipse clones are about half the cost too.

 

[Karl]

I think Karl has hit on a brilliant idea with this one.

Paul - you do flatter

Now, which mag offers the best prize for readers tips.... :lol:

Cheers

Karl

 

[Karl]

I've got one of those Ax guides - they are absolute rubbish!

Totally agree - I bought the eclipse about a week after the Axminster guide. Like you say, it is almost impossible to get a good square registration on the guide.

Mine sat on the shelf for a few years unused.

Cheers

Karl