How to sharpen a blade in the field
  • 1. What is the primary purpose of sharpening a blade in the field?
A) Increasing its value
B) Maintaining cutting efficiency
C) Making it look new
D) Adding weight
  • 2. Which of these is NOT a common field sharpening tool?
A) Ceramic rod
B) Diamond hone
C) Pocket stone
D) Bench grinder
  • 3. What angle is generally recommended for a general-purpose knife edge?
A) 20-25 degrees
B) 45-50 degrees
C) 70-75 degrees
D) 5-10 degrees
  • 4. What is the first step in sharpening with a whetstone or pocket stone?
A) Find the burr
B) Start with the finest grit
C) Lubricate the stone
D) Apply pressure
  • 5. What does 'creating a burr' refer to in sharpening?
A) A smooth, polished edge
B) A rough patch on the stone
C) A thin wire edge formed on the opposite side
D) A chipped section of the blade
  • 6. How do you remove the burr?
A) Heavy pressure on one side
B) Alternating strokes, lighter pressure
C) Ignoring it
D) Scraping it off
  • 7. What is the primary benefit of using a strop?
A) Removing rust
B) Strengthening the blade
C) Sharpening the edge
D) Polishing the edge
  • 8. When using a sharpening steel, what is the correct motion?
A) Holding the blade still and moving the steel
B) Striking the blade against the steel
C) Pressing hard and sawing back and forth
D) Drawing the blade across at a consistent angle
  • 9. What type of lubrication is best for a sharpening stone?
A) Honing oil or water
B) Cooking oil
C) No lubrication
D) Motor oil
  • 10. What is the 'paper test' used for?
A) Lubricating the stone
B) Cleaning the blade
C) Measuring the angle
D) Checking sharpness
  • 11. If you're using a two-sided stone, which grit do you start with for a dull blade?
A) Doesn't matter
B) Fine grit
C) Medium grit
D) Coarse grit
  • 12. What is the best way to clean a sharpening stone?
A) With a metal scraper
B) With water and a brush
C) Just wipe it off
D) With sandpaper
  • 13. What should you do after sharpening to maintain the edge?
A) Hit it against something hard
B) Strop the blade
C) Nothing
D) Store it wet
  • 14. What is the advantage of a diamond sharpening stone?
A) They sharpen very quickly
B) They never wear down
C) They are very inexpensive
D) They are self-lubricating
  • 15. When is it appropriate to use a ceramic rod?
A) For removing rust
B) For rough sharpening
C) For honing and maintaining an edge
D) For reprofiling a blade
  • 16. What does 'honing' primarily do?
A) Straightens and refines the edge.
B) Changes the blade's overall angle.
C) Adds a protective coating to the blade.
D) Removes large chips from the blade.
  • 17. What is a good safety practice when sharpening a knife?
A) Keep fingers away from the blade's path
B) Use excessive force
C) Sharpen quickly
D) Sharpen while distracted
  • 18. How does the hardness of the steel affect sharpening?
A) Harder steel is easier to sharpen
B) Hardness doesn't affect sharpening
C) Softer steel holds an edge longer
D) Harder steel takes longer to sharpen
  • 19. What should you do if your sharpening stone becomes clogged with metal filings?
A) Use sandpaper
B) Throw it away
C) Ignore it
D) Clean it with oil and a brush
  • 20. What is the purpose of using a guide when sharpening?
A) Cleaning the blade
B) Making the blade stronger
C) Maintaining a consistent angle
D) Speeding up the process
  • 21. Which of the following describes a convex edge?
A) Serrated edge
B) Rounded profile from spine to edge
C) Flat grind with a sharp angle
D) Concave or hollow grind
  • 22. What is the main advantage of a serrated blade?
A) Holds an edge longer than a plain blade
B) Easy to sharpen
C) Ideal for carving wood
D) Good for cutting fibrous materials
  • 23. How do you sharpen a serrated blade?
A) Using a strop
B) Using a conical or triangular file
C) Using a flat sharpening stone
D) Using a sharpening steel
  • 24. What is a common sign that a blade needs sharpening?
A) It feels warm to the touch
B) It is shiny and reflective
C) It slips or requires excessive force to cut
D) It is perfectly straight
  • 25. What does 'reprofiling' a blade mean?
A) Changing the angle of the cutting edge
B) Polishing the blade
C) Cleaning the blade
D) Straightening a bent blade
  • 26. What is the correct direction to move the blade across the sharpening stone?
A) Away from the edge
B) Towards the edge
C) In a circular motion
D) Back and forth
  • 27. What does TPI stand for concerning saws and files?
A) Thickness per inch
B) Teeth per inch
C) Turns per inch
D) Tension per inch
  • 28. Which of the following is best for creating a razor sharp edge?
A) Using only the coarsest grit
B) Applying excessive pressure
C) Using progressively finer grits
D) Skipping grits
  • 29. What is the recommended pressure to use when sharpening?
A) Pressure that bends the blade
B) Very heavy pressure
C) No pressure at all
D) Light to moderate pressure
  • 30. After sharpening a knife, what is the best way to store it?
A) In a sheath or block
B) With the blade exposed
C) Soaked in water
D) Loose in a drawer
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