Best tools for serrated edges?

[vick818]

I’m getting pretty decent at sharpening plain edges, but I’m clueless when it comes to serrated edges. What are some videos or equipment you guys suggest I watch and or buy.

 

[RustyIron]

I've found the Spyderco Sharpmaker to be really good at handling all my serrated sharpening needs.

 

[oldmanwilly]

Paging Dr. David Mary

 

[David Mary]

Depends on the serrations, the width of the scallops, the amount of blunting, the desired geometry, etc. I found most commercially serrations to be either too small with little to no room to fit abrasives between them (Cold Steel, or the small scallops on Spyderedges) or so thick behind the edge that by the time they need sharpening the job is tedious, and the results less than stellar.

So I make my own serrations with decent width that allow the corners of sharpmaker stones between them easily, and grind them thin behind the edge so they not only cut like lasers, but also require very little material removal to resharpen them, for a good many sharpenings. Eventually, after much use, when subsequent sharpenings leave them thicker behind the edge than I'd like, I just hit each scallop with a dremel with sanding drum (which is how I grind serrations to begin with) to reestablish the desired geometry, and then knock down the shoulders to where they were to start with (i.e. regrind).

How To Thread 'Advice needed on how best to sharpen DM's special serrations ! As found on my " Prevalito " .'

Dec 22, 2023

Recent post by DM : "All of my customers receive free technical support. I will teach you how to sharpen ..."

Here's your big chance David !

• DocJD
• Replies: 12
• Forum: David Mary Custom

• 

 

[kobold]

i just use the corner of the medium spyderco ceramic stone on lc200n, h1, works great. i work on the scalloped side and finally strop the flat one.

 

[SharpBits]

There are special sharpening stones for Cold Steel serrations. I think Lansky makes one and someone else does or did. Spyderco recommends the Sharpmaker for their serrations. Not sure about Veff serrations. The rest seem to be similar to Spyderco, so Sharpmaker for those as well.

 

[David Mary]

There are special sharpening stones for Cold Steel serrations. I think Lansky makes one

Had it. Super fine, and ultimately an exercise in frustration. YMMV.

 

[SharpBits]

ultimately an exercise in frustration

I say that about serrations in general, despite having many serrated knives. They add complications to an otherwise simple tool. People will disagree, but I will have my fingers in my ear while singing la-la-la-la while they do so.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

The hardest aspect of sharpening serrations is typically the tips, as they're what blunt against "things edges shouldn't touch" and inherently are glancing. Something like a narrow file shape with a fish hook groove in it or a concave form and diamond plating would probably be the best tool for touching them up but I don't think I've seen such a tool.

Edit to add: yes, fish hook sharpeners, including narrow ones, do exist but the shape of the groove itself is fish hook shaped rather than a wider and shallower groove that would better restore points.

 

[David Mary]

The best tool I’ve found for pristine serrations with restored points is a dremel. Here is my EDC knife after much use and then a touch up on the dremel (I did open a couple packages from Peters after that too, so it's not freshly touched up but pretty close):

 

[conan11]

There are special sharpening stones for Cold Steel serrations. I think Lansky makes one and someone else does or did. Spyderco recommends the Sharpmaker for their serrations. Not sure about Veff serrations. The rest seem to be similar to Spyderco, so Sharpmaker for those as well.

Lanskey also makes a Syderco sharpener as well. Triangle shaped. I just got one at a gun show. Ill try to take a picture later.

 

[S35VN_DLC]

I use a combination of Smith tapered diamond rod, the ceramic rods (large and small) on a Worksharp guided field sharpener, and a 4 sided diamond block from harbor freight. I prefer serrations that are shallow with rounded teeth. Really pointy teeth seem to snag too much.

This Spyderco Caribbean has, IMO, the perfect serrations. They were pretty good from the factory, but I've sharpened them to me preference. This thing is stupid-sharp and will slice for days

 

[conan11]

I haven't used it yet.

 

[conan11]

NT

 

[Acutereference]

I don't have a lot of serrated, and am not that fond of them. Maybe I'm doing it incorrectly, but I sharpen / smooth the flat and lightly touch the serrations with a diamond hone. Seems to work without a lot of bother.

 

[David Mary]

Really pointy teeth seem to snag too much

The knife I showed above is a resilience. It came with a combo edge and rounded teeth. They snagged like crazy. After my regrind the snags are gone.

The reason serrations will snag whether they are pointy or round or flat top, unless it is due to lack of a clean apex, is most likely because they are too thick behind the edge, and/or too needle-like, which can bind in material.

Wider serrations that are thin behind the edge with pointy teeth like the knife I showed solve all these problems.