Another sharpening question from a newbie

[awblaze]

Hello guys and sorry if this has been addressed elsewhere . I am new to knife sharpening and have been reading alot about it over the past weeks. I recently got a Lansky 4 rod turn box sharpening system and a Spyderco Tenacious. As far as I know the Tenacious is ground at a 15 degrees per side from the factory. I used the Lansky to put a 40 degree inclusive micro bevel on the knife.

My question is whether or not to keep touching up the knife at 40 inclusive and occasionally re-profile the 30 inclusive or if i could only do the 40 and not worry about the original 30? The Tenacious (as well as my several other blades) is used as an EDC knife that doesn't have to be shaving sharp (but I would like it that way). I understand that having the 30 will make it sharper than the 40 and that it would take a while to wear down the 30 degree back bevel but I am still wondering if this is something I need to be concerned about.

I appreciate any help in advance and just need some light shed on this issue.

awblaze

 

[Ben Dover]

I would get it very sharp at 15 dps, and not use a microbevel. Then just touch it up on Crock sticks or a SM.

 

[Surfingringo]

I'd continue to do touch ups at 40 degrees until eventually your 40 degree "micro bevel" that you are creating starts to take over your 30 degree primary. At that point, yes, I would re profile and start the process over, but that takes quite awhile so just keep doing touch ups at 40 for now. If you've got a good primary bevel you don't have to remove much metal at all to touch up the edge. That's one of the beauties of using a micro bevel IMO.

 

[L2bravo]

Just use your fine stone to polish your 40. That way as Gringo said, you will maintain a razor, yet not remove much metal. Use your coarse to do your 30. Ask Gringo about this one. Make sense? Btw, Lansky's are a decent system. I used to get some razor edges with them. Good luck, and welcome.

 

[awblaze]

Thanks for all the help! I guess one thing I'm still not clear on is if I even need the 30 degree back bevel? Or if I can just let it go and not re profile in the distant future?

 

[awestib]

First make sure that you know which factory bevel angle really is on the tenacious. I doubt that they all have exactly 15 dps. Since this Lansky is not a reprofiling system and you have 2 fixed angles, find out which one works. If indeed the knife has 15 dps or less, I would continue to sharpen that angle. If you need a micro bevel because you cut things where the knife would benefit from it, I would do both angles every single time because, as mentioned, this is not a system you can easily reprofile with.

 

[Surfingringo]

Thanks for all the help! I guess one thing I'm still not clear on is if I even need the 30 degree back bevel? Or if I can just let it go and not re profile in the distant future?

You can continue sharpening at 40 degrees, but eventually that will become your primary bevel and you will have no micro bevel. Opinions vary, but I like using a micro bevel for numerous reasons. Read the sticky on micro bevels for a better understanding.

 

[L2bravo]

I disagree with the Lansky not being able to reprofile. The Tenacious is not that hard, or wear resistant of a steel with the 8cr13 steel. I say you can reprofile with it, and get your knife straight. Do this as a back bevel, and put your micro on it. This is the way to get the most out of it. Micros touch up fast and easy. Another benefit.

Or, you can just grind it at 40, and be done. I think you will be ok with this. It will cut well still, because of the flat grind of the blade, and it will be more robust of an edge.

Or, you can put a wicked 30 on it, and it will slice like hell. It won't be really tough, but should touch up ok too though, unless you get chips in it, from cutting hard stuff.

I had a Tenacious, but gave it to one of my really good employees. Before I did, I polished the hell out of that knife. It would cut like hell.

You just have to figure out what you intend on doing with it. Lot's of options. That sucks right?

 

[awblaze]

You just have to figure out what you intend on doing with it. Lot's of options. That sucks right?

Haha it sure does! I think in my case I'm leaning more toward durability as opposed to being razor sharp but obviously I still want the knife to be able to cut relatively easily. Of all the knives i have, Kershaw Chive, Gerber Paraframe, Leatherman Wingman, and brand new Victorinox Tinker (I know not that many ), I would like any of them to be able to be used as everyday EDC as opposed to having certain knives perform certain functions. Because of this, I'm leaning more toward doing just a 40 from now on and not try to keep them lower than 40 with the microbevel. At the moment since I only have the Lansky turn box, the only consistent angles I have are 20 and 25. If I want anything lower than that I would need to put a pivot under the center of the box or hold the knife at a slight angle.

I feel like I'm making this more complicated than it needs to be .

 

[fsatsil]

Do you like the way the knife cuts now? If so don't change anything, you really only need to change your edge angle if the knife isn't performing the way you want it to, for example if its chipping/rolling/not cutting...etc.

 

[Magnaminous_G]

If you are happy with the micro bevel you have now with the system you are using, then carry on. If you use your knife heavily, then you will eventually have to bring back the secondary grind. If your guided system has a 30 degree setting (and good coarse stones), you could go ahead and establish that secondary bevel now. If your knife isn't at 30 degrees already, then you can make it so. Then the next time you have to set the secondary bevel (which shouldn't be for a while if you are going with a micro bevel), it will be a piece of cake.