consistent angle extreme sharpness

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mrapex

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May 6, 2016
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I have been watching a lot of videos where people sharpen knives to a mirror edge on the Wicked Edge and Edge Pro systems. They tend to stay above 30 degrees inclusive and usually use a micro bevel. What I am interested in seeing is somebody sharpening a very thin blade (opinel, delica, etc.) with the thinnest possible angle for their sharpener and without a micro bevel. I realize this would greatly sacrifice edge retention, but it would be interesting to see and test. So my question is have any of you ever tried or seen someone try this? I would love to see any pictures or videos you have or know of. Thanks.
 
Here is a little ladybug at 12 degrees per side and a dragonfly ZDP at 13 per side and a Native 5 at 13?per side all on wicked edge and mirrored.






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I didn't put micro bevel on it at first but will be touch up later on at 16 and 17 degrees per side and that will give me the micro bevel. I use 1000 grid stones and feather light with just the weight of the stones and do 3 passes on each side. After a while and through many touch ups the micro bevel will become too visible and that's when I would give it another re-profile.


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That is insane! they are beautiful... are they yours? I especially like the ladybug because it is essentially a higher end key chain knife, but now has an absolutely insane edge. I have always loved the native 5 just because it is such an amazing slicer. I don't use my knives for anything crazy, mostly just paper, tape, and cardboard so an edge like this is completely practical. It also doesn't hurt to show off!
 
If I were you, I would leave the ladybug without a micro bevel, just because it is such a light use knife, it might be fun to leave it as sharp as possible. a good knife to pull out and say " look at how sharp this mofo is." I would love to see an edge like this on an Opinel, especially if the blade has a dark patina to really make the edge pop.
 
I sharpen freehand and usually aim for 30 inclusive... I never use microbevels.

Old photo but a good one, I don't really go for that Fine of a sharpness anymore.
Picture507.jpg
 
I had A RADA cutlery knife with a0.03" thick blade (spine, not at the top of the edge bevel) sharpened at 8 DPS with a10 degree micro bevel. No mirror polish, stored at Spydercos medium ceramics. No problems in use. It was a kitchen knife. It only sacrifices edge retention if you cut singing harder than the edge take. I whittled, sharpened pencils, and cut all kinds of stuff. The sound was so thin I couldn't really push too hard or the blade would just flex.
 
that looks amazing, and I would love to reprofile to a very shallow angle, but it takes forever freehand and I don't have access to a consistent angle sharpener. any tips to make it go a little quicker?
 
my kershaw skyline deserves some love and it is VERY sharp. but, I am looking for a very wide relief edge for absolute perfect sharpness. what if I lay the blade down and sharpen it like a zero grind? would that take too long?
 
Look up bark River knives. They have a video showing how they sharpen all of their knives. Look up bark River knives. They have a video showing how they sharpen all of their knives to a zero grind. They don't use a micro bevel on any of their blades.
 
man, if they mirrored on of their high flat grinds, the thing would cut like a damn rockstead!
 
If you like crazy zero grind, look up Josh at razor edge, he does amazing regrinds, he is on this forum.


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I'm no expert. Doing it free hand takes a long time, and requires keeping consistent angle like Jason or HeavyHanded.
The right (and flat) abrasive for the steel is also important so to remove steel quick enough when the free hand is still stable but with scratches not so deep that the next (finer) stones having difficulty replacing the coarser scratches. There's no shortcut doing it free hand.
Those that use clamped system is taking consistent angle equations out (again, assuming correctly setup, stone thickness, etc) so they can concentrate on making & refining scratches.

Watch some of Jason's and HeavyHanded's videos to see how consistent their strokes. Keeping it consistent is what allows minimum effort and complete scratch pattern refinement.
Good luck!
 
Well this one. Not sure what angle it is but the bevel is just a whisper steeper than the main blade grind which is THIIINNNNN.
As far as edge durability; yah you don’t want to try and cut nails in half with it but tonight I was rushing and trying to get ready to eat and watch TV. I did my number two no no . . . I angled a fork too much and the tines were over in the cut zone way down in the food and I ran into the fork with the edge.

I have here by given up using a fork to hold stuff on the cutting board; will just use my hand from now on. I did that once before . . . with my Cold Steel Hold Out I. CTS-XHP . . . left a big notch in the fork . . . hardly effected the edge of the knife. Kind of fun actually.

This time it was different . . . I braced myself for a big sharpening session tomorrow to fix the ding.
I took a look at the edge tonight after dinner and . . . no big deal. Just rolled the edge a little in about a 8mm long area. I was able to fix it with my Spyderco Ultra Fine Triangle. Wheeeeeuuuue . . . that was close ! I looked at the fork . . . no ding or divot in the fork . . . in this case the fork won.

I vow to not ever do this again (slapping forehead; saying DOH !).
PS: I figured the first time I would never do it again . . . now that I had learned not to angle the fork over into the cut zone . . . I mean how stupid can I get ? !
answer : pretty stupid . . . I did it again tonight.



all three of these are sharpened super shallow especially the bottom one. They hold a SHARP edge way, way longer than that silly factory grind. It’s the only way to roll.

 
I would love to reprofile to a very shallow angle, but it takes forever freehand and I don't have access to a consistent angle sharpener. any tips to make it go a little quicker?
Click to expand...


This Norton Blue 3X grinding wheel will get you there RIGHTNOW. Cuts cool too . . . that is what that stone is all about.



PS :
Don't have a grinder; don't want to have sparks showering onto the white carpet in your apartment ?
noooooo problem

(a weird thing I will never get used to ; the stainless steel super knives don't make sparks much at all) (man the plain high carbon blades on the other hand . . . preeeeeetty !)

get a granite tile from the home center and use some double back thin tape or spray mount adhesive to glue a section of one or more of these NORTON belt sander belts (also can be had at the home center) onto the tile. These suckers are unbelievably aggressive. Yes you will need to do it by eye and hand but that is fun right ? You can finesse it on an Edge Pro (you have one on order right ?) once you get the excess metal out of the way on these belts.

Zirconia Alumina
Oh Yah Baby !

 
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I've got to get me a wicked edge.
Click to expand...

Research well and brace yourself.
If you want to sharpen SHALLOW . . . AND . . . small pocket knives like the SAKs in my photo above.
You may have to do some fancy foot work, not to mention buy some extra "accessories" to geeeter done.

When one has a thick clampy thing in the way problems arise with small blade sharpening . . . ESPECIALLY WITH LOW ANGLES.
 
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