Magnifier for hook and knife sharpening:

[REW]

Sometimes, it is not a bad idea to take a close look at the points of hooks or the edges of knives - before as well as after a sharpening job.

A few tools that you might check out for this process:

http://cgi.ebay.com/4-10X-Silver-Gold-Loupe-Coin-Inspection-Precious-Metal_W0QQitemZ360073197147QQihZ023QQcategoryZ3408 4QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD9VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1 638Q2em125

http://cgi.ebay.com/2in1-Jewelers-Loupe-10x-20x-Magnifier-Dual-Lenses-MG_W0QQitemZ120287176211QQihZ002QQcategoryZ34084QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Combo-Illuminated-Bino-Head-Magnifier-20X-Dual-Loupe_W0QQitemZ220261418028QQihZ012QQcategoryZ3947 8QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Pocket-Size-20X-Blue-Microscope-Magnifier_W0QQitemZ300244018147QQihZ020QQcategoryZ 31744QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Note:
The last item would be suitable for putting on a neck lanyard - aka - line cutter; for convenient use in the field.

Check some of these items out - you may find that they help you maintain your knives and hooks in a better way.

Take care
REW

[REW]

p.s.
When doing some of your sharpening jobs - use the inspection magnifier, both before and after sharpening - as well as to inspect new knives and hooks to verify the differences and to learn techniques for sharpening that work well for you.

With the aid of the magnifier, you can more easily see the effects of your sharpening processes.

p.p.s.
When you get an edge or a hook point that really works for you - you can inspect it to know what that sort of edge looks like.

For example, some folks put an edge on a fillet knife that will slice paper, but mayby find that it really isn't the best edge to clean fish.

Conversely, some of the folks that put an edge on a knife that won't slice paper, but with a slight sawtooth edge, really clean fish better.

In the same light, some hook sharpeners that put a round very sharp point on the end of a hook may not really be the best point. However, a point that isn't round - but rather triangular with three sharp cutting edges, may actually a better job .

Bottom line - inspect the knife edges, and hook points for those knives and hooks that work for you = and only you == then duplicate them.

Take care
REW