I just graduated from an Idahone-V sharpener to a Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker and I am curious as to which angle I should use to sharpen my Cold Steel AK-47 to a shaving edge (30 or 40 degrees). The knife is sharp to the touch and slices paper fairly well, but the edge is pretty thick and it bites enough to just pull the hair on my arm out instead of shaving it off after sharpening it at 40 degrees. Should I progress to 30 degrees for a nice razor edge? I am still getting the hang of this thing, and I am even having trouble with getting the blade and the tip to the same degree of sharpness.

i decided to make my own straight razor but i don’t really know how to put on a razor edge or what would be the best metal to use. i thought a hack saw blade cut to the shape of a straight razor with a dremmel and than quenching it in water would be a good idea as because it is a very good metal for blades and the quenching to keep its temper but than i read an artical on midle eastern knifes saying that their blades though they arent crafted well are made of the best metal u can get. that metal being demascus steel. now im wondering if i should use demascus steel instead of carbon steel. and im also wondering where to get it. and despite choosing the best metal to use i don’t know how to put such an edge on a piece of un sharpened metal. i know its possible to do because i saw a bearded man sharpen a common house hold knife into a razor blade which he domonstraited its sharpness by shaving off his beard. he said that good knife sharpening consists of 99% skill and 1% equipment. right now im at 10% skill and 0% equipment. could somone tell me what equipment to use to achieve such an edge and where to get it as well as teach me how to sharpen the knife to achieve a razor edge. i know that learning such a skill takes a large deal practice and study to master the skill so i dont expect to learn anything major from yahoo answers so a book recomindation might help. it also would be of great help to know how to polish and preserve the blade. i dont have much money because i spent it on the hacksaw blade and dremmel cutting wheels which i might not even use for the blade so it would be of great help if we could keep the equipment costs low. however i do know the importance of knowledge so i wont mind spending alot of a good book on the subject. best wishes