Knife Sharpening with paper wheels

The Razor Sharp Edgemaking System consists of two compressed paper wheels that fit on a standard bench grinder or buffer. The sharpening or gritted wheel is coated with silicon carbide grit and is used to develop a burr or wire-edge. Conditioning wax (included) is applied to the gritted wheel to lubricate and cool the blade. The stropping wheel is uncoated and is used with the included rouge to remove burrs and polish or strop the edge. Slots cut in this wheel increase the air flow to help cool the blade. The gritted sharpening wheel will sharpen a couple hundred knives before it needs re-coating. Enough additional grit is provided with the kit to re-coat the grit wheel 10 to 12 times. Razor Sharp Edgemaking wheels are full 3/4 in. wide, trued and balanced. The product we call rouge for short is actually a white polishing compound for stainless steel that we have found to excel at burr removal. The high density paper we use assures well balanced wheels and the correct surface for grit or polishing compound.

Shaper Wheels are 1/4" wide plain wheels that can be shaped to fit small edges like gut hooks and knife serrations. They can then be gritted for sharpening or used with rouge for stropping. See Parts below to order.

Complete instructions are included in each kit. See my additional recommendations on using and re-gritting paper wheels Click for Instructions.

Wheels are available in 6", 8" and 10" diameters. 6" and 8" wheels have a 5/8 arbor hole with a 1/2 insert so you can use either size shaft. 10" wheels have a 3/4 arbor hole with a 5/8" bushing. If you're using a 6" bench grinder or buffer you want the 8" Deluxe Kit 8X75X625KWB, our best seller. This gives you enough clearance between the edge of the wheel and the motor to accommodate the knife and your fingers. The 8" kit is also available in a 1" width 8X1X625KWB. If you are using an 8" buffer you want a 10" kit.

If a grinder is used the guards are removed to accommodate larger wheels. A buffer is preferred because there is no need to remove and discard guards and grinding wheels. Using larger wheels gives enough clearance to allow long knives to pass over the grinder body when sharpening. The grinder or buffer speed should be 3000 rpm min; either a 3500 rpm model or an adjustable at its highest speed. If you wish to use a 1750 rpm buffer then the wax on the gritted wheel needs to be softer than our standard wax. See Low Temp Wax in the condiments section below.

The 6" Deluxe kit 6X75X625KWB works best on a belt-driven mandrel. The 10" kit comes in either 1" width 10X1X625KWB or 1 1/4" width 10X125X625KWB. We recommend using these kits on an 8" grinder or buffer. All 10" wheels come with a 3/4" arbor hole and a 5/8 bushing. These are special order and take a few weeks longer.

While the paper wheels are sold as a complete system, I recommend their use after using a wet grinder or a belt sander to grind the initial bevels on a knife. This takes advantage of the strong points of both systems, speeds up the sharpening, and extends the life of the abrasive paper wheel.

This photo illustrates how to hold a knife horizontally while contacting the wheel about 20 degrees from the top to achieve a 20 degree bevel. Keeping the blade horizontal, move the blade up the wheel for a smaller, sharper edge and down the wheel for a stronger edge. Note the direction of rotation. More details on use at paperinst.htm

No, I do not normally sharpen with one hand, but I had the camera in my other hand. I would normally be standing to the left in front of the grinder with the knife handle in my right hand and fingers of my left hand on the blade. Reverse for the other side. You can see why you want to a grinder or buffer 2" smaller than the wheels for hand clearance over the motor. I really like using a 6" buffer. See bottom of this page for the buffer we use. Slim motor and long shafts give you plenty of finger room, easily reversed, no guards or wheels to remove and throw away. Just nearly perfect.

CAUTION: Safety glasses and other protective equipment should always be worn when using any high-speed sharpening equipment.

Other paper wheel kits available, contact me for details Shipped anywhere in the USA Allow 3 to 4 weeks for delivery

Model #8X1X625KWB, (8"X1", 5/8" hole, 1/2" bushing) $99.00

Model #10X1Kit, (10"X1"), $120.00
Model #10x125Kit (10"X1 1/4"), $144.00
All above kits include a gritted wheel and a slotted wheel, plus the complete condiment package

Paper sharpening wheel parts and supplies

CONDIMENTS:
Grit 3-OZG $12.00
Wax 1-WAX $12.00
Rouge 1-RGE $12.00 Above 3 items (complete condiment package) 3GRPK $32.00

Wax, low temp for 1750 buffer/grinder 1-LoWax $10.00

Jackson Lea C5 Stainless Steel polishing compound, equivalent to 12 pieces BRK-Rouge $40

Single Wheels

8"x3/4" wheel, plain, gritted or slotted $42.00 8"x1" wheel, plain, gritted or slotted $44.00 8"x1 1/4" wheel, plain, gritted or slotted $46.00 10"x1" wheel, plain, gritted or slotted $56.00 10"x1 1/4" wheel, plain, gritted or slotted $62.00

NOTES: $9.95 per order shipping for up to 3 items, $19 for 4 or more items
All 8" wheels come with a 5/8" arbor hole with a removable 1/2" bushing
All 10" wheels come with 3/4 arbor hole with a 5/8" bushing.
10" wheels and 1 1/4" wheels are made to order. Allow 3 to 4 weeks for delivery.

The product we call Rouge is actually a white polishing compound for stainless steel that we have found to excel at burr removal.
The high density paper we use assures well balanced wheels and the correct surface for grit or polishing compound.

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To pay by check or money order please contact me by e-mail.
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Our best selling 8" Deluxe Paper Wheel Sharpening Kit 8X75X625KWB $ 84.95

Check below for the 6" or 10" kits or the 1" wide kits. These are shipped from the factory in California and take a few weeks for delivery.

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