*** please note some dispute the coffee mug way. "Rough stone or ceramic surfaces can produce a ragged, uneven edge" 7 Unusual Ways to Sharpen a Knife 7 Unusual Ways to Sharpen a Knife | All That Humains This is how I picture @sec_monkey sharpening his blade- What are the unusual ways you have sharpened a blade?
I hang all my blades in the center of a PYRAMID.... and psychic forces just KEEP them sharp... JUST KIDDING-
Pond stones can work, not perfectly, but well enough to gut and clean fish. I've also used flat sand stones when in the desert years ago.
A buffing wheel on a bench grinder, will put an edge on, sharp enough to cut a passing thought in Twain.
If you're just trying to hone your edge, the ceramic bottom of a mug or the edge of a car window can work. If you're trying to sharpen a dull edge, or re-profile, a smooth river rock like Ghrit mentioned will work. I've used all sorts of materials to hone, mostly to experiment. Cardboard, newspaper, flooring tiles, counter tops, blue jeans, even dried bark and hardened tree resin. Many surfaces can help hone the edge of a blade in a pinch, but never forget the superior and tested ways -using leather and strop with compound effectively. Sharpening and re-profiling an edge takes more time and patience, and it requires proper materials with a smooth, hard surface (sharpening) and an abrasive surface (of varying degrees) to re-profile. In the wilderness, stones of various qualities can serve this function well enough. And nothing beats a quality whetstone or Japanese water stones and the skill to master them...
I do drywall finishing and all of my float knives are like razor blades, from polishing them on the paper as I use them. I saw a video where they sharpen knives with a buffer and compound. I think that would work very well, my drywall mud is probably acting as a polishing compound, and the paper is the buffing surface.
Blue Jeans? and how did these things do? I think I have been programmed to think harder surfaces only. @Gopherman That is really interesting. I will try to locate a video or two.
