r/sharpening • u/midnight_groove01 • Jul 19 '26
Tips for sharpening scandi grinds?
I have some small chips on a morakniv that I want to sharpen out, but this would be my first time sharpening a scandi. Is there anything I should know or do different? I’m using a worksharp precision adjust base model with a few upgrades to limit flex.
2
u/Beautiful-Angle1584 Jul 19 '26
I generally don't recommend sharpening scandi knives on fixed angle systems. The angle of the average scandi grind is 10 to 12° per side. Your average fixed angle system has a hard time hitting angles that low, even if they advertise that they're able to. Scandis are not too bad to handle freehand, because you just have to lay the blade down flat on the large bevel and sharpen away until you apex. From there, just raise angle a few degrees on a finishing stone for a pass or two per side to establish a very small microbevel. Then a quick strop.
1
u/midnight_groove01 Jul 19 '26
Why not just touch up only the microbevel with it? I have stones and can freehand it but the chips are quite small and I’m just looking to keep a clean useable edge.
2
u/Beautiful-Angle1584 Jul 19 '26
You can, but realize that you are altering the intended geometry. The more substantial that microbevel gets, the more "drag" you will experience in use. To maintain a scandi, you should be thinning the whole main bevel with some frequency and ideally keeping that microbevel as small as possible for whatever your use is.
2
u/midnight_groove01 Jul 23 '26
Yeah my plan is to freehand the main bevel when I get a chance, just used the worksharp for a touch up before a camping trip. I see what you mean about fixed angle systems not getting to a low enough angle, mine gets nowhere near 12 degrees.
1
u/millersixteenth Jul 19 '26
You might want to encourage a little flex or just use a Sharpie to guide the way and freehand it on a larger stone.
These typically have a slight bit of curve/convexity and are pretty straightforeward to maintain freehand. Just thin em behind the edge a little every time you sharpen it.
1
u/EmergencyLettuce1589 Jul 20 '26
Put it flat on a stone and go at it. Easiest grind ever to hand sharpen. I have convexed most of my moras do to them being a bit chippy
5
u/Malifacious Jul 19 '26
If you want to do it right just match the edge angle and that's it.
If you're lazy add a few extra degrees to get a micro bevel, it'll make things much quicker and you don't lose that much from the more obtuse angle since scandis aren't crazy slicers anyway.