A KME "problem" Help/advice please.

RayseM · Oct 13, 2016

Here are 3 views of the same knife blade after sharpening on the KME. As you can see in the 1st and 2nd photo - one side to the tip has a pretty decent even edge grind. The other side - at the tip especially - has an uneven/exaggerated grind. SEE LAST PHOTO.

Set up was - of course - not changed throughout the sharpening of this knife. (Its first sharpening - if that might make a difference.)) I ran a marker line down the very edge and sharpened with two grits watching the red line disappear with each grit. Sharpening to make the red disappear on the tip in question led to this.

Should I have stopped sooner than the disappearing red? Could the blade have been that asymmetrical and will get better with more sharpenings?

This is NOT the first of my knives sharpened on the KME that I have seen this. Not the case with all my blades but enough to be frustrating me and so my question today.

Thanks for any and all help.

Ray

bodog · Oct 13, 2016

Either the grind is a little off at the tip which isn't uncommon, the flats aren't quite straight where you're clamping, or you're simply rounding a little when you come to the tip on that one side, which isn't uncommon either, or you spent more time at the tip on that one side. Personally I'd put it on the grind being just a little off at the tip. You probably won't really notice it after a couple of sharpenings after things even out.

If you do then maybe the knife isn't clamped quite straight or you need to spend a little more time on the other side to even it up.

RayseM · Oct 13, 2016

bodog said:
Either the grind is a little off at the tip which isn't uncommon, the flats aren't quite straight where you're clamping, or you're simply rounding a little when you come to the tip on that one side, which isn't uncommon either, or you spent more time at the tip on that one side. Personally I'd put it on the grind being just a little off at the tip. You probably won't really notice it after a couple of sharpenings after things even out.

If you do then maybe the knife isn't clamped quite straight or you need to spend a little more time on the other side to even it up.

Yes - I certainly did spend more time on that side as it took to remove the thin line of the marker. The swage no longer flows nicely to the point on that side either. I hope it is just an issue with the blade shape to begin with but no question I might be introducing some operator error. BUT - as I wrote the knife never changed position from the clamp set up from beginning to end so I'm a bit stumped as to the look of the 2 sides.

Thanks for the reply.

lawp · Oct 13, 2016

A collection knife is not sharpened. The only criteria for a using knife is to be sharp enough for its intended purpose.

RayseM · Oct 13, 2016

lawp said:
A collection knife is not sharpened. The only criteria for a using knife is to be sharp enough for its intended purpose.

I use this knife every day - stripped wire with it yesterday (solid 10 gauge copper - about 18") - thus the sharpening - and was unpacking boxes and feathering some wood trim today. This is not a collection knife.

No matter, I'm trying to determine why the edge is now uneven as my set up on the KME was maintained through the sharpening of this one blade. User or collector I'd rather a sharp knife and I prefer even grinds on my rotation knives as well as I would on a collector (if I owned one).

Still hoping for some useful feedback. Thanks.

Ray

1Fatty · Oct 13, 2016

Following

MichaelMyers · Oct 14, 2016

Due to thicker steel behind the edge on that side. Poor or inconsistent grinding of the primary bevel.

RayseM · Oct 14, 2016

Is this ^ the last word on the subject? The knife came that way and I will just get it more even the more I sharpen? Just wonderin'.

Ray

cbwx34 · Oct 15, 2016

RayseM said:
Is this ^ the last word on the subject? The knife came that way and I will just get it more even the more I sharpen? Just wonderin'.

Ray

It probably was the knife... as others have said, most come with uneven grinds. I've said it before, sharpening with a guided device often reveals how poorly ground many knives actually are. They're made to "look even" on both sides... but can be wildly off. Add to that, many are often deburred at an even higher angle on one side, which can add to the problem.

If you look down at the tip from the spine side, you can usually see how uneven the grind is.

Just to make sure, if you have a digital angle cube, (or another method to check angles), you can check the angles when you flip the knife over, to make sure they're consistent... and something isn't off with the KME itself. Also, double check to make sure the knife is clamped correctly. But more than likely... an uneven grind that over time, you can straighten out. Just work the opposite side a little extra each time you sharpen, until it's even.