Any tips for sharpening H-1?

[elkins45]

I'm having a hard time getting a shaving edge on my Salt 1 folder. I am using the Lansky diamond kit and following the same procedure that put a rediculously sharp edge on my ATS-34 Vesuvius.

I'm checking the angle with a Sharpie to make sure it's correctly beveled but even after progressing all the way to superfine and then stropping it still won't shave. Are there any special tips for H-1? I could sure use them if their are.

 

[cgmblade]

Hmmm, my H1 knives seem to get a shaving edge very quickly. I use the Sharpmaker and sharpen my salt knives at 20* per side. The only thing I can think of is that you may be using too much pressure since you are used to sharpening ATS-34 and H1 is softer. By the time I get to the fine rods on the Sharpmaker I'm only using the knife's own weight, or even less, as pressure.

 

[spoonrobot]

Don't go up to the superfine, stop at the medium and don't strop past burr removal. H1 functions the best and gets the sharpest at a coarser grit, especially with diamonds.

I've found that the H1 in my Atlantic responds well to a medium diamond stone, giving me a fairly coarse edge that shaves easily and cuts well. Does it actually cut well? What angle are you sharpening at?

 

[JD Spydo]

First of all understand that H-1 is truly a different animal in the jungle of blade steels. The diamond stones are all right to hone off bad dings and blades that have been beat up badly but I've found either Ceramic stones like Spyderco's or natural stones to be far better to sharpen H-1 blades with.

I'm finding that by using a Spyderco ceramic stone with as fine of a grit that I can use and do several repititions with the blade brings out a more polished edge than does diamond. Now don't get me wrong because I have many diamond sharpening tools myself and find them to be great on some applications. But I do like ceramic and natural stones better when sharpening H-1.

There truly is something to the "work hardening" properties of H-1. Because once I get an edge relatively sharp I then take either a fine or ultra-fine stone and do many reps with it until I get my desired edge.

 

[Vivi]

I found my H1 knives got much sharper for me after taking the edge down to about 10 or 12 degrees per side.

Other than that I sharpen as usual. Very light strokes going up to the UF rods and strop once per side. Shaves nicely at that point.