Welcome, Alex here, this channel started as an outdoor channel and grew into a knife making channel. I still do the occasional backpacking/ outdoors related videos but primarily this channel focuses on KNIVES, KNIFE MAKING, KNIFE SHARPENING, and just making stuff in general👊
www.outdoors55.com
This is a family friendly channel and everyone is welcome! I read and reply to almost every comment. If you have a question about anything don't hesitate to ask. Thanks for The support 👍
Due to the crazy amount of spam I get, I can no longer offer my email here. For sponsorship contact, please message me on instagram alexgarland_outdoors55 For general questions please comment below a video. I will see your comment there more easily. Sorry for the inconvenience.
For $60 bucks you get three stones that aren't as good as any one of the DMT or EZE-Lap of similar size. Go China! These would be fine for an EDC utility type knife. But if you have good knives or woodworking tools then you need better tools. The only China diamond plate I have liked is the one from James Berry which used to be sold under Trend, but now he sells them direct. It's not impossible that the Sharpal is made by the same factory. James does a little QA and weeds out any junk before it's shipped. I want quality for what I buy so prefer the American made stones or Atoma. A good 1k stone for me if you can tolerate a water stone is the King giant brick.
There is nothing wrong with made in China - the bad rep China gets is mostly due to western buyers cutting corners with their specs or QC in order to pad their profit margins. Any factory worth its salt is able to manufacture the requested level of quality. another reason is that China caters to the entire world markets; for instance, the Afghan, or Rwandan, or other exotic markets will not have the same level of requirements, but unscrupulous importers will sell products made for these countries to western markets.
Good video. Funny. I appreciate that you present the analysis, but then also tell us exactly what we should buy. (No sarcasm. I mean it.) I value your work. Keep going.
I began using gunny juice on cut hard wood blocks, i never have to worry about rounding the edge and it gives me the sharpest edges I've ever had, i tried leather, tool leather, but i have a heavy touch and was prone to edge rounding, but with hardwood it's not a problem, and like i said i get the sharpest edges I've ever had
Years back I literally took my knife from these stones to a concrete curb to refine the edge lol, granted it was a smooth curb, but a curb none the less
Believe it or not, James Wright tried a concrete block (I /think/, don't quote me). I've used 'smooth' concrete blocks to to flatten hand plane soles. Gives about a 200-220 grit finish. Try it, if you can sharpen you can make it work. Some guys sharpen on the edge of a car or truck window. My favorite substitute 'sharpener' is the bottom of a mug or saucer. China works too but it's mostly for a fine finish.
I helped some others learn to sharpen carving tools. They were using soft ark as their coarsest grit. I got them to starting with 325 or 400 grit diamond and using sharpies on the bevel. Problem with the Arks is they are so slow new sharpeners can't hold the angle or see what they are removing in a reasonable amount of time. With diamond a few strokes and review, remark with marker. Every stone has a reason for being used, but fine stones are not a spot to begin. Learning to sharpen? Find some knives you don't care about very much to start on. Hit the cutlery section at Goodwill. Even with carving tools that cost $40 - $60 per tool, eating one up to properly learn to sharpen carving gouges is cheap for the knowledge.
@outdoors55 Do you still recommend these Spyderco ceramic benchstones (Medium and Fine)? I've got the Sharpal Diamond stone, and a Shapton Pro 1000, but have always liked thought of these after using my Sharpmaker for so long. Has your opinion changed on these after all these years? Thanks man.
Thank you so much! My blade was getting duller from the cheap whetstones, I watched your video and bought a diamond stone and in one sitting my blade got deadly sharp! I can now enjoy a sharp blade and a passion to learn to be a better sharpener!🗡️
You need to have a set of carbide cutters with a relief angle at the rear of the feed direction. It will remove material with only the weight of the blade. Quality is the key
Seems a waste of time to have reviewed these stones once, much less a second time. For $13 what did you expect? Why not review Atoma beyond the 600 grit stone you’ve looked at, for example?
I wanted to see them under the microscope. I threw this together as a quick review to justify the time. I have other stuff coming no doubt. Just takes time to put these videos together.🙂
I believe you are the first person (that I've watched on YT) to mention the "softness" of the leather as a factor. I have struggled for awhile trying to get that perfect result and, I suspect, it was because I was pressing too hard on my strop. Now that I've lightened the pressure on my strokes, I'm getting better results. Thanks for sharing your expertise.
Well, amazon won't be raising the prices of these stones after this video! Usually, the price skyrockets and the product sells out quickly. Not these!!! THANKS for this video, Alex!
Hey BROTHER, I was wondering why did you stop making noise you but a really nice Grinder and you bought some heat treating oven You were really good inspiring, but somehow you stopped get yourself a CPM 90 V or 60 v Or maybe cpm 20 And make some 7 inch chef chef knife, 63 Rockwell After 40 hours of making it that thing becomes like a jewellery to you, you spend so much time in a tiny little details. This is awesome experience.
I bought a Vosteed Raccoon based on your video testing the blade from Kneeves Knives. I got the white G10 with black blade. That’s one smooth knife. My second raccoon will arrive before 10pm today. For $59 the Raccoon is double the knife that my first pocket knife in years was - the Sencut Sachse. That blade bounces out when flipping shut. Picked up a Civivi Vision FG after Kneeves slated it the one to buy. Love your channel, I’m enjoying my new budget steel and can’t wait to dull em down so I can sharpen my skills. (Undecided on pun intent at this time). Peace brother. Thanks for all you do.
