8x3" UF Spyderco Benchstone

[cziv]

I need some expert advice. I am getting the best edges ever with my new DMT benchstones and the UF 8" x3" Spyderco benchstone as a finishing stone before stropping.

I can't whittle hair yet but I'm getting some full sheet of copy paper push cuts which is encouraging.

My question:

When I finish on the UF ceramic stone, I keep getting little swirls at the heel of my blades, It looks very unsightly compared to a glowing bevel for 90% of he rest of it.

I've tried back and forth linear strokes, but mainly the full blade from heel to tip on each pass. I'm wondering if these swirls (((((((( are from bringing the blade down and then pivoting it and getting the marks? Am I using too much pressure? Do I have a bad stone? They don't affect cutting - well at this stage anyway and they won't strop out either. The fingernail or magnification finds no grooves o anything just the pattern.

Anyone ever see this before? Thanks

 

[David Martin]

Yes, I think thats what is going on, 'the pivot'. Mine after stropping can pass the hanging hair test. Just keep working with it, breaking it in and getting experience with it and you'll see better edges. DM

 

[cziv]

Yes, I think thats what is going on, 'the pivot'. Mine after stropping can pass the hanging hair test. Just keep working with it, breaking it in and getting experience with it and you'll see better edges. DM

On a positive note, I just whittled a hair from the wife's noggin which I plucked as she walked by. I couldn't do it hanging free but held out by by my fingers I was able to it. :thumbup:

 

[Jason B.]

Any time you stop and change direction you create a "J" scratch that sticks out like a sore thumb, most common in the heel area (for me at least). Use lighter pressure and more fluid strokes.

Pressure is not something you should be using.

Hair splitting can be had from the UF ceramic but I wouldn't shoot for that each time, its not as easy as it looks.

 

[cziv]

Any time you stop and change direction you create a "J" scratch that sticks out like a sore thumb, most common in the heel area (for me at least). Use lighter pressure and more fluid strokes.

Pressure is not something you should be using.

Hair splitting can be had from the UF ceramic but I wouldn't shoot for that each time, its not as easy as it looks.

So from watching videos on YT I've been setting my blade at the end with the heel butted up to the stone and then make a full sweep across and to the other end - ending at the tip. I thought that was right? I have been pushing down fairly hard though.

About 2 minutes 30 sec9nds in is how I sweep my blade across.

[YouTube]tKDbIeJmLXQ[/YouTube]

As far as hair splitting, I only got one other blade to shave a curl from a hair and that was my old Benchmade 940 in S30V which you gave me so much advice on a couple of years ago. Oddly enough this one today that did it was a Spyderco Military (both knives in S30V). I think that steel is good for me. :thumbup:

I'm having no luck with my XM-18 in DT 20CV which I can sharpen to really sharp but it get 1/2 way through some copy paper and tears. There's no burrs, soft and shiny like a wet baby's bottom. I think I've sharpend away the edge and don't have anything but wide, heavy shoulders and a tiny edge on it left.

 

[Jason B.]

I dont want to critique the vid because I see several things that could be adjusted, but if you are using that stroke style then you are going to find odd scratch marks at the heel. To completely avoid it you would need to make one for one strokes with a push or pull stroke only but not both together. Lighter pressure and more fluidity of movement like mentioned before can help greatly without changing stroke technique.

 

[cziv]

I dont want to critique the vid because I see several things that could be adjusted, but if you are using that stroke style then you are going to find odd scratch marks at the heel. To completely avoid it you would need to make one for one strokes with a push or pull stroke only but not both together. Lighter pressure and more fluidity of movement like mentioned before can help greatly without changing stroke technique.

Thanks, I'll lighten it up. That's a member's video (you probably know) and he seemed to get really fluid at 2:30 of the video and then banshee wild in others? Maybe too much caffeine that day.

PS: I have my lucky hair saved with the big long shaving hanging off of it to remind me of what I'm shooting for.....lol