Arkansas to sharpen sandvik steel

[BillL]

Can I use an Arkansas stone to sharpen a Frost Mora knife (stainless steel)? I know that we can use anything to sharpen anything but how effective and practical is this combination?

Also, can a ceramic tile be used for sharpening the softer steels like 1095 and also German knives.

Thanks

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Can I use an Arkansas stone to sharpen a Frost Mora knife (stainless steel)? I know that we can use anything to sharpen anything but how effective and practical is this combination?

Also, can a ceramic tile be used for sharpening the softer steels like 1095 and also German knives.

Thanks

The Mora is Sandvik's 12C27 steel, hardened to RC 56-58, according to Mora's own description. You might be OK in using an Arkansas to sharpen it. When the combination of carbon + chromium (and especially carbon + vanadium) gets very high in the steel, the carbides formed will make it more difficult. This likely shouldn't be an issue with 12C27, which is low in carbide content, if any is there at all. It's roughly similar to something in between 420HC and maybe 440A or AUS-6/AUS-8, in terms of how it'll sharpen up, and with what tools. In other words, it should be pretty easy. I mention 440A, but I exclude 440C, because that's an example of when the higher carbon + chromium will make harder carbides that get in the way. That was the 'wall', up against which I butted my head, when attempting to re-bevel a 440C blade on an Arkansas stone. Didn't work well at all.

I'd say give the ceramic tile a go, on the 1095 and other simple steels. It should be plenty hard enough; the only possible drawback might be in how fine/uniform the 'grit' is in the tile. Some can be pretty coarse or lumpy & bumpy (they weren't made with sharpening in mind, in the first place), and may not refine edges very well for this reason. Sometimes you can find some good ones, though.


David

 

[me2]

I sharpened 12c27 from Benchmade on Arkansas stones. Worked like a charm.

 

[neeman]

I sharpened 12c27 from Benchmade on Arkansas stones. Worked like a charm.

Arkansas stone will sharpen simple steels like 12c27 and 1095
that is what it does

 

[Jason B.]

Sharpening a small knife bevel and sharpening a Scandi grind are not the same.

The steel in question has enough wear resistance and with the blade road being so large a Arkansas stone might work but is completely impractical.

 

[me2]

Ah, there is that. Try something coarser to start with, then you can refine the edge with the Arkansas.

 

[Jason B.]

If you would read the OP then you migh just see I gave the answer requested, the no BS one.

Sandvic steels are usually a bit softer but have added wear resistance due to the chromium levels and formation of chromium carbides. This makes it more like 440c or 154cm when it comes to sharpening and anyone that has sharpened those steels on Arkansas stones knows the troubles. So, if you want to work extra hard for your edge be my guest I'll stick with sandpaper and waterstones.

 

[HeavyHanded]

If you would read the OP then you migh just see I gave the answer requested, the no BS one.

Sandvic steels are usually a bit softer but have added wear resistance due to the chromium levels and formation of chromium carbides. This makes it more like 440c or 154cm when it comes to sharpening and anyone that has sharpened those steels on Arkansas stones knows the troubles. So, if you want to work extra hard for your edge be my guest I'll stick with sandpaper and waterstones.

Gotta second this - I've used Arkies to put a great edge on some Sandvik steels, but it took a long time. Even with a Washita it would be slow going. And for a wider bevel, something like a muddy stone or sandpaper is going to give a nicer result. I'm sure it can be done, but won't be very enjoyable.

Edit to add:
I'd only use the ceramic tile as am expedient method - a 6 dollar hardware store combination stone will do a much better job in most cases. Generally speaking, only if the steel is very low RC can you reliably get a real nice edge from improvised means.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Per the specifics in the OP, i.e. sharpening a stainless Mora blade specifically (they use Sandvik 12C27):

12C27 only has 0.6% carbon, and 13.5% chromium; most closely compares to something like AUS-6 in it's elemental makeup, and also not far beyond 420HC. Compare to 440C at ~1% carbon and 16-18% chromium, and 154CM with ~1% carbon and 13.5-14% chromium. In 12C27, whatever carbides that do form won't pose more of an issue than something like 440A at most, with essentially the same carbon content, and higher chromium at 16-18%. I wouldn't worry about carbides being an obstacle at all in 12C27, for this reason.

Other Sandvik steels are higher in carbon (therefore carbide content, presumably), but this particular steel is one I wouldn't be concerned about, for carbides getting in the way. 440C is sort of the threshold at which I'd look for something else to sharpen it; but 12c27 doesn't have the same availability of carbon or chromium, to compare to 440C or 154CM.

All that aside, Arkansas stones won't be 'best' for it, but that's not to say they won't work at all. If the OP is just trying to determine if the stones he currently has will suffice for edge maintenance in the near-term, the answer could be simply, 'They might do for now'. Only one way to find out.


David