Cold Steel Serrations

Z

Zenturio

Joined
Aug 7, 2017
Messages
171
Hello friends.

Firstly I want to say that I have read all the CS Serrations threads on this forum.

I have sharpened tons of different knives. The CS serrations are the first kind of serrations I won't get sharp. The large scallops of course are very easy to maintain. The small claws are the problem. I am only able to get the tips of the teeth sharp, but not the scallops. I tried the lansky sharpener designed for CS serrations, the sharpmaker, diamond needle files and a leather wheel with different compounds... without being successful.

When i got the knife (large voyager partially serrated, Aus-8) the scallops of the small teeth were razor sharp. At the factory they will use a profiled grinding wheel combined with a buffing wheel. So there must be a way to do the job at home without the grinding wheel.

Is anyone able to get the small scallops razor sharp?

I would be very happy if someone could help me.

Thanks a lot,
Best regards Oliver
 
Hello, thanks for your reply.

As I mentioned, I already own this specific rod, but it doesn't work for me...

Br Oliver
 
Zenturio said:
Hello friends.

Firstly I want to say that I have read all the CS Serrations threads on this forum.

I have sharpened tons of different knives. The CS serrations are the first kind of serrations I won't get sharp. The large scallops of course are very easy to maintain. The small claws are the problem. I am only able to get the tips of the teeth sharp, but not the scallops. I tried the lansky sharpener designed for CS serrations, the sharpmaker, diamond needle files and a leather wheel with different compounds... without being successful.

When i got the knife (large voyager partially serrated, Aus-8) the scallops of the small teeth were razor sharp. At the factory they will use a profiled grinding wheel combined with a buffing wheel. So there must be a way to do the job at home without the grinding wheel.

Is anyone able to get the small scallops razor sharp?

I would be very happy if someone could help me.

Thanks a lot,
Best regards Oliver
Click to expand...

Serrations need the same process as a "regular" knife. Mark them with a Sharpie, and check that you're removing metal where you want to.

Also, it's often easier to sharpen serrations by sharpening the back side of the serration at a low angle with a fine stone... then use a fine abrasive rod on the serrated side just enough to remove the burr. (Work it a little at a time and check your progress until you get used to it). Might give that a try.

p.s. EdgePro gives a good demo (although you don't need an EP to do it)...

 
I can get them reasonably sharp with the Lansky, but nowhere near factory sharp or razor sharp
Other methods are useless to me, and the Lansky takes time and patience...
 
I'd likely just hit the very small, narrow serrations from the back side, assuming it's not ground identical to the front (scalloped) side, and instead ground flat or flush to the primary grind on that side. That might even be done on a hard strop with a fine, but fairly aggressive polishing compound (aluminum oxide compounds like Flitz/Simichrome, or a 'white rouge', for example).

Getting creative, out of curiosity, I might also see if something like a folded, high-grit wet/dry sandpaper (SiC or AlOx) might reach inside the small serrations as well. May or may not work, but could be worth looking at. And if it fits within the serrations, even folding the paper over the slightly-dulled edge of a thinly-ground beater knife may help direct the (light) application of pressure inside the narrow serrations.

There's some risk in using a stone or rod on very fine-tipped serrations; it's mostly about bending/curling those tips, if not done very, very carefully (approach angle momentarily too high will bend them, for example). I tend to think it can be counterprodutive in trying to sharpen them in that manner. They'll get very, very snaggy if the tips get 'hooked' or curled.
 
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To really do a super duper job on serrations you have to mimic the grinding as well as the buffing operation. The CS fine serrations are just so fine it is extremely difficult to get in there with anything other than a very fine triangle diamond file. And then you have a lot of work to do.
 
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