26
Got into a huge fight with my uncle about sharpening stones at his cabin in the Catskills
We were up there for a long weekend and I brought my wood carving tools to work on a spoon. He saw me using my 1000/6000 grit combination water stone and just shook his head. He pulled out this old, smooth river rock from his shed, spat on it, and started sharpening his old pocket knife on it. He said 'All that fancy stuff is for people who like buying gear, not using it.' I argued that a consistent grit and a soaking routine gives a better, more reliable edge for fine work. But he got that knife shaving sharp in about two minutes on a literal rock he found. It made me question if I've been overcomplicating a basic skill with all my specific stones and strops. Has anyone else had a moment that made you totally rethink your approach to a core part of your hobby?
3 comments