CRKT Ken Onion Ripple

The CRKT Ken Onion Eros was astoundingly sharp - certainly for cutting my typical everyday objects - I wondered why the larger Ripple just did not feel as sharp - don't get me wrong the Ripple was not unsharp - it was just not as sharp in comparison with the Ero......

Now they both use the same Japanese Acuto+ steel (according to Ken Onion an enhanced 440C or some other people have said it's like VG-10) -

However I also realize that the geometry of the blades makes a bigger difference than the steel alone

(from post #58 in Review - CRKT Ken Onion Eros)
Eros_bladeCurve.jpg

one can see that the Eros blade cutting edge is one continuous shallow belly or curve -
that just reminded me of another blade that cuts really well using the same principle -
the legendary Japanese katana sword......

At an idle moment I examined the Ripple blade with a 30x illuminated microscope and was actually surprised to find the Ripple blade had a much higher polished edge than the Eros - but I eventually figured that the cutting edge angle of the Ripple just was not as acute as the Eros.

So I set about re-sharpening the Ripple - and since I like the looks of the Ripple and did not want to mar the finish - I taped up the face of the blade and the scales adjacent to the blade exposing only about 1/8" to the edge - then used my EZE-lap fine diamond hone to work s more acute/shallower angle to the bevel -

But taking the opportunity to roll away the discrete corner between the blade face and the bevel - so it becomes a sort of "zero bevel" - without taking anything drastic/much off the actual face of the blade.

This rolling motion puts a convexed bevel on the blade which helps in cutting through things as well as giving better support to the actual cutting edge itself. (see my earlier attempt from almost 6 years ago - Convexed Edge )

I was pretty pleased with the result - the blade does cut distinctly better than before - still not as good as the Eros - but I really do think it is the shallower bevel combined with the continuous cutting curve that makes it for the Eros -

anyway here are some pics of the resultant edge - both sides:
RippleBlade1shrp.jpg


RippleBlade2shrp.jpg


--
Vincent

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UnknownVT said:
The original video was 16:9 and the video aspect ratio on YouTube is 4:3 - so everything is squished together.

EDIT to ADD -

The conversion of the 240p video using Riva FLV converter was really easy -
but when I tried the 480p FLV it just would not work saying there was an error -
I then tried eRightsoft: SUPER - it was more complex - but in the end when I did figure out things it did convert the 480p to 854x480 to give the correct aspect ratio - the file ended up a bit smaller and visually it looked somewhat worse quality)

Just in case someone wants to try SUPER (and haven't fallen alseep....:o)
the vital Video setting was:
Click to expand...

Just an update and more "experience" on doing the conversion/aspect ratio change:

I have found that Quick Media Converter is a BETTER converter for this usage -
and much easier to use if I stop pretending to be an "expert" and do not use the "Expert Mode" (which may seem more flexible - but there are too many variables that could affect quality) -

The "default" settings in the Easy Mode gives very good optimized videos -
I converted the 480p version of the Onion Ripple video to 854x480 (that's a bit of up-verting) and the quality using the Easy mode in QMC was really good -

Here are some instructions for using Quick Media Converter - which can actually convert almost any video file to any video format -
but these instructions are for a target of .flv format for YouTube etc.

QMC's default mode is Easy Mode (to be sure one can click on this button:
QMC_EasyMode.gif
)

choose
QMC_Flv.gif

for FLV output
on the drop down menu select:

Flv Web Format (.flv)Custom Resize

Use the Add video button:
QMC_Add.gif


and find the video and add it to the list:
QMC_List.gif


toward the bottom left:
QMC_convert.gif

one can manually enter the (custom) size of the video -
in this case I have typed in 854x480 (for 480p)
360p= 640x360
240p= 426x240

Use the
QMC_saveFolder.gif
button to set the output folder where the converted file is to be saved.

Start the conversion by clicking the
QMC_convt.gif
button.

During conversion that button changes to
QMC_Stop.gif

when finished it goes back to
QMC_convt.gif


Once finished click on
QMC_openFolder.gif
to open the saved folder and find the converted video.

I did that with the 480p version of the squashed Ken Onion Ripple video and its quality was the best so far - and looks like very little loss in quality - if any - certainly not enough to complain about on YouTube.

I found QMC so good that I've now uninstalled SUPER from my PC.

Hope that helps,

--
Vincent

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How strong is the closed detent on the Ripple (or the Eros for that matter)?

I've noticed some CRKTs have almost no detent, rather increasing the chance of partial opening in the pocket. Which I'd guess could even been a greater problem when we add a flipper to the mix.
 
He almost says Kershaw instead of CRK&T. :D It's a sweet looking knife but too small for me.
 
Alann45 said:
How strong is the closed detent on the Ripple (or the Eros for that matter)?

I've noticed some CRKTs have almost no detent, rather increasing the chance of partial opening in the pocket. Which I'd guess could even been a greater problem when we add a flipper to the mix.
Click to expand...

The detent is very definite and positive -
it has to be for the the flipper to work properly.

In fact that's how I first discovered the disclosure of the first sample of the larger Ripple in Post #2. I was testing the closed detent by trying to shake the knife open, and that first sample rattled when shaken in the direction of opening only - even though that first sample was faulty - the detent held the blade in place and the blade could not be shaken open.

--
Vincent

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UnknownVT said:
The detent is very definite and positive -
Click to expand...

My Eros came today, and, as you said the detent is very positive.

Extremely sharp out of the box...maybe not razor sharp, but sure close enough for me.
Opening is very smooth. The IKBS definitely works and makes for an effortless opening.

I'm not a huge frame lock fan and the Eros's lock "appears" to take less of a bite than I might like, but seems to hold solidly. Certainly satisfactory in what I would class a "gentleman's folder".
 
Alann45 said:
My Eros came today, and, as you said the detent is very positive.

Extremely sharp out of the box...maybe not razor sharp, but sure close enough for me.
Opening is very smooth. The IKBS definitely works and makes for an effortless opening.

I'm not a huge frame lock fan and the Eros's lock "appears" to take less of a bite than I might like, but seems to hold solidly. Certainly satisfactory in what I would class a "gentleman's folder".
Click to expand...

WoW! you went all the way and bought an Eros...

Congrats - hope you continue to like the Eros - it has been my at home EDC since I got it and I still really like it - and it does all my mundane everyday at home chores really well.

Mine certainly will shave hair no problems -
whether I'd really use it for my regular facial shave is entirely another question
(I find the typical Gillette Mach3 Turbo much better for that purpose over any knife....:eek:)

--
Vincent

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