If you’re looking for a new knife to keep on hand, consider one with a razor blade. These are often very sharp and useful for a variety of uses, from opening boxes to cleaning paint spatters off windows.
Typically, they aren’t as strong as a traditional tactical knife. However, they’re often cheaper and can be a good choice for people who need to carry a handy tool that will also hold up well in the event of a self-defense situation.
Use a sharpening stone
A sharpening stone is a flat block that can be used to create a sharp edge on a knife or other bladed object. These stones are available in natural and synthetic materials and come in different grits to suit your needs.
The first step is to choose the correct stone for your needs. There are many types of sharpening stones, and they are all designed for specific purposes.
Start by choosing a stone with a coarse grit that you are comfortable using. You can also use a double-sided stone with one side being finer and the other coarse.
Place the knife on top of the stone at a 20-degree angle. Apply light pressure to the knife’s edge and move it down and across the stone in a semi-circular motion. Repeat this motion 10 to 15 times until a burr develops on one side of the blade.
This is a visual cue that the edge is thin enough on one side. Once you have raised a burr, you can switch to a finer stone and continue sharpening your knife.
Make a bevel
A razor is a grooming tool used for shaving. It consists of a handle and a head that further divides into a cap and base plate.
It is often described as a “safety razor” because it has one blade. It is usually made of stainless steel and can be found in department stores and online for around $40 to $50.
Bevel is a company that offers an end to end system for reducing irritation and bumps when shaving. Its product line includes the safety razor, brush, shave cream, primer oil, and restoring balm.
Bevel’s double-edged safety razor blades are designed to glide across the skin and cut at skin level preventing bumps. They are also polished to perfection and handle the coarsest of hairs while reducing nicks and tugs.
Make a micro-bevel
A micro-bevel is a secondary bevel that is created by sharpening the edge of a blade at a higher angle than the primary bevel. This allows for a marginally wider edge, increasing overall cutting edge strength.
A razor blade is a great tool to use when making a micro-bevel. This method is very quick and effective, allowing you to keep your knives and tools sharp without worrying about rolled edges or dents.
To make a micro-bevel with a razor blade, first decide on the desired sharpening angle for your knife. Western knives typically require an angle of 10 degrees on each side, while Japanese blades have a slightly lower angle.
Then, start sharpening the blade along a coarse stone (about 220-350 grit is fine). During this process, the razor blade should be tilted so that only a narrow band of the blade is worked against the stone. This will avoid thinning the blade and removing large amounts of steel.
Make a strop
Strops are a tool that barbers and blade smiths use to re-align the thin edges of their razor blades. The act of stropping forces the rough burrs on the blade to align into a nearly perfect state, which helps keep your edge sharp for longer and reduces the need for regular sharpening.
To strop a straight razor, grip it on the sides of the tang with your thumb on top and pull it taut with one hand. Lay the straight razor flat on the strop with the cutting edge facing toward you and drag it across the leather (with the cutting edge trailing away from you).
Some strops come with a fabric strip, which can be used to remove rust and get rid of any dirt before bringing the blade to the leather side. Some also include a non-leather side for honing compounds or other pastes that enhance the polishing effect of the leather.