Preface: I apprenticed to do by hand, before I was allowed to use a powered tool.
Let us take a 3" blade, it does not matter the steel, nor if a fixed or folding blade knife.
Just the blade, blank, it does not even have a "rough" edge, not even a hint, of blade geometry.
Re: Modern Tools.
Fine.
Let us set the various Norton, Arkansas, Belgium, and Scottish stones aside.
As one trick still used today by top mfgs and makers, is to sharpen a blade edge first - then only sharpen spine first, this is not stropping, though it resembles stropping.
Let us set aside the various strops, wood, metal, leathers, canvas, muslin, and other hand held - "hand tools".
Set aside the tool steel gravers, and burnishers one uses to work an edge.
Power only, modern tools only.
Dremel tool : Take a sledgehammer and bust it, then toss it on the trash.
We don't want that item, breathing our air, or taking up space.
[Note, we did not have Dremels, and when they came out, we never used one, and to this day, I never have]
Optivisor [tm] loupe, with the additional fold down magifier.
Bausch & Lomb hand held 10x loupe.
Microscope, such as a Gemologist uses.
Set it at 10x, but we are gonna bump it up to a greater magnification.
We are going to do the work, in both natural North Daylight, and use Man-Made lighting that replicates this light.
This costs some money,both the room the lights, and maintaining that Natural North Daylight
Modern, hi-tech, here we go!
Foredom Flexshaft, , set on variable speed, and the rheostat that is slipper shape, with carbon contacts.
In other words, not the new solid state rheostat.
Baldor electric "buffing machine"
Pay attention here.
One regular "buffer" with two speeds, 3450/1725 RPM
Another that has been "geared" to run 1725/ 862.5.
Another that has been "geared to run 862.5/ 431.25.
One more, specially geared to run 215
Custom made diamond impregnated attachments to work in Foredom.
These are expensive, because these do not break down as the regular ones on the market that require water, or oil, to prevent heat build up, which breaks them down.
Bees Wax, that has been hit with a Hoke Torch, to soften, then the wax is rolled around in a ash tray, and floor sweeps to become "less sticky"
Apply this to the blank.
Next, we dust the blank with Talcum Powder.
Use our breath to remove any residual dust.
Engravers' Ball is a bit bulky - remember the Rule:
Bring the work to you - never go to the work. - Mentors
Wooden ring clamp with leather padded jaws, with genuine chamois leather added.
The blade is inserted, edge up, insert the wooden wedge, and hit it against
the bench to tighten.
Two benches side by side, a third is to your left tools are are on both
Behind you are the buffers, set and ready to go.
One the end of the line of buffers, are two sinks, two L&R Ultrasonic cleaners, and two Steam cleaners, one gas, one electric.
Coffee is on benches, and elsewhere...
Pack of smokes are there too with Zippos.
Lit cigarettes are burning in the ashtray.
It is 1971.
You have 11 minutes and 35 seconds, to sharpen that blade.
Mentors have a stop watch....the receiver is ready, the turntable too, so are the Cerwin Vega Speakers.
Serious Fun, and that new Album by Traffic with the corners clipped, named
The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys is on the turntable.
That song is 11 minutes and 35 long .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVlbgqmxXNY
You hear the first sound from the Cerwin Vegas, you start!
First step is to take the shaft of a Busch Burr, and remove the most fine line of bees wax and talc.
Lining out the work.
The music plays, you are in constant motion, rolling a chair from modern equip to another, chuck keys are everywhere, and one is worn the neck.
You have a need for speed, can you sharpen, and get a polished edge before the song ends?
You end with a homemade tool, then roll to the L&R, then jump up insert blade, hit it with the steam cleaner...
The song is still playing...
Under the Microscope...you see what hand held skills can translate to powered tools.
You are still an apprentice, and will always be one.
One Mentor has 51 years of experience and he is still learning.
This day, the good looking honey with the '68 Chevy Muscle Car with racing stripes, Cragar Mags, Hurst 4 spd shifter, and tosses you the keys...
You are legal to drive that car...
"You kids, oh never mind, it would not do any good to tell you to be careful, and we know you will have fun".
You leave your Case knife on a bench...you do not have a sharp knife, but hey, you can snag a Imperial somewhere along the way, 'sides the gal has a sharp knife.
Who cares?
We gots muscle car and good looking honey, and the rest of the day off!
*typical 16 y/o southern boy*
*grin*
But spirit is something that
No one destroys- Traffic