BM 42 sharpening angle???

[Dan GSR]

I have a BM42. I purchased a Lansky sharpening system. What is the recommended sharpening angle??

 

[Blackjack_21]

This thread was about my try at using a Lansky to sharpen my BM42, and the results.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=180114

The hardest part at first was trying to get the clamp to lock onto the swedge (false edge on spine, near the tip). I had to clamp it onto the bevel that runs halfway between the spine and the edge. I also used some card stock shims to keep the clamps from marring the finish. Next time, I go to Benchmade's LifeSharp service...

 

[ExamonLyf]

....and welcome to the Forums

You got a very nice sharpening system.., but do take a look at the thread Blackjack was nice enough to post.., and practice on the Lansky before taking a shot at your favorite knives (i.e., some kitchen knives and "beaters").

All the poplular systems do a very nice job once you get the feel for the particulars.., and I've had most of them..."Sharpmaker".., "Lansky"..., "Gatco"..., "Edge-Pro"...and some other less popular stuff. <~~ which also was fine once the learning curve is applied.

For your new BM 42.., I'd get that guy in the mail to Benchmade in a heartbeat while you get dialed in on using your new sharpening equipment. The people at Benchmade are as good as it gets in getting the knife back to you quickly, and some of the nicest people I've dealt with in the cutlery industry....good luck..., and come back and let us know what you do.

FYI ~~> Benchmade also has some new sharpening technology that makes "Life-Sharp" even better than the past. I'm determined to get one sharper than they do on my own..., and failing!



"Hunters seek what they [WANT].., Seekers hunt what they [NEED]"

 

[Dan GSR]

I really don't want to have to send it back every time i want it sharpened. I would also like to be able to touch it up.

So back to the original question. The Lansky has settings for 17, 20, 25, 30 degree angles. Which one best suits my BM42 ??

 

[tonyccw]

Originally posted by Dan GSR
The Lansky has settings for 17, 20, 25, 30 degree angles. Which one best suits my BM42 ??

I start off with the 25 to take care of any chipped or rolled edges, but I've always used the 20 for the final hone. Touch up are also done with the 20.

 

[penguin_2000]

Originally posted by tonyccw
I start off with the 25 to take care of any chipped or rolled edges, but I've always used the 20 for the final hone. Touch up are also done with the 20.

Tony- How can you decrease the angle? Wouldn't you run into the non-edge part of the grind?

Oh, and here's my recent sharpening stone buying story: I went to "Cutlery Plus" near me and looked at the Lansky systems as well as the Lansky "V" setups. Unfortunately they didn't have the system setup nor one out of the box, so I asked a lot of questions, and the manager-ish looking guy started to get impatient. He couldn't understand how I could have questions about how to use the Lansky . When I eventually told him that I had to think about it, he got really upset, mumbling down to his shirt something like... "what's there to think about?" I think he was a used car salesman in another life-time.

 

[Hawaiian]

The Lansky is a great system, but the angle is not true to 20 or 25 degrees. The Lansky is great for reprofiling the edge and you can also get a hair popping result. You need the diamond system and must reprofile the edge completely. Yes, take it down and raise a burr, and then continue the process. After that, touch up is easy, but you must do the whole process at the desired angle first. I use the Lansky at 25 degrees and then use the Sharpmaker to maintain the edge. If the knife becomes too dull or chipped, then back to the Lansky and completely redo it again. Bottom line, use the Lansky for reprofiling and the Sharpmaker for maintaining the edge. You Need Both.

 

[tonyccw]

Originally posted by penguin_2000
Tony- How can you decrease the angle? Wouldn't you run into the non-edge part of the grind?

Considering that Blackjack 21 had issue with the Lansky system, it's not as intuitive as that Used Car Salesperson makes it out to be. But to answer your question, both the 20 and the 25 allows the stone to contact the bevel without touching any of the non-edge part of the blade. While the 20 is the ideal angle to use for honing, I like the steeper angle of the 25 to attack the "problem areas" such as a rolled edge. It allows me to not exert full force and still maintain edge contact to repair the damage sections, and allows for a little less "resistance" when using the coarser stones. You also tend to gouge the stones less that way.

Edited to add:What Hawaiian said too. But I get satisfactory results from the 20 and the Superfine Lansky stones. A stop on a ceramic rod never hurts either.

 

[Mykl Clark]

Welcome to the forums Dan...That having been said I can't stress enough that you need to knock out several practice knives before attacking your prized 42. The 42 can be sharpened with a Lansky with practice but that's what it takes a practice.

 

[navajo]

My 2 cents worth. Never used Lansky or any other system. I use three grades of Arkansas stones. Soft, hard and black. Only knife I have not been able to put a edge on is the "Chinese Sidwinder" (good name Chuck), but I just use that one for manipulation. With a little practise you can learn to judge the angle by eyeball. Its also a lot faster. NEVER, EVER, let any one use any kind of grinder on your knives. Don't know if this will help. Not knocking any sharpening systems. Just that I've used Arkansas stones since I was very young and not had any problems sharpening knives, sissors, axes, shears or anything else with an edge.

 

[Blackjack_21]

When I tried using the Lansky, BTW, I used the 20 degree angle, and from where I had the clamp, it didn't get the entire edge when it got to the belly. There's a bit of metal that wasn't touched from my previous screwup, and you can tell where I hacked it down too much. Don't take my experience as the standard, however. I made the mistake of trying out the systen on my EDC, and not something that I could afford to wreck. I'm sending my 42 in to Benchmade around the first of the year, and getting a Sharpmaker after that to mantain the edge.

 

[bloodyknuckles]

Well, I'm a bit of a moron I guess. My EDC is my only bali, my BM42. I figure, why treat it like a baby. I'm not a collector. Just a guy who likes knives, bali's in particular. So, I got a Lansky system and I use it on my BM42. I wouldn't say I'm a pro sharpmaker or anything, but I get it pretty good. It shaves the hair on my hand with a little bit of saliva.

But what is most important...It sure cuts the hell up out of my hands when I make a mistake. That's sharp enough for me. If I wanted to carry a razor in my pocket, I'd go get a box cutter or something.

And that's my $0.02!

 

[Mykl Clark]

bloodyknuckles

That level of sharpness pleased me for years and then all the sudden something snaped and now I can't stop until I have the perfect edge. For now I'm still at the stage of "just slightly sharper than factory sharp"