Dull New Sebenza 21 Small

I understand and agree with you both. Getting the DMT System was my acknowledgement that I needed to start learning how to sharpen, if I'm going to keep buying these expensive blades. I only wish there were classes I could take. It's one thing to see a video or picture, but I've yet to find a detailed source to adequately depict proper angles and techniques. Either they're amateurly executed or done so rapidly that I might as well be shown how to perform heart transplants.:)
 
Yeah. CRK got me to buy the edge pro years ago. Then busse got me to buy my first belt grinder. Years later all I use is a stone and strop all freehand. Took years to get there though. Emerson got me doing okay for years before this forum but nothing like I am now. It's the best skill to have in this hobby IMHO.
 
richstag said:
Heck yes!! THE BEST joy comes from use for me. But not before I got really good at sharpening. It sucked being afraid to use my knife. Know what I mean?
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yeah--it took me a while, but I free-hand most of the time; I do have a sharpmaker, but free hand sharpening gets me the best results... practice makes perfect, well, most of the time ;)
 
Local sharpening workshops/meetings of BF members would be great!
 
Haha yeah most of the time. Sometimes in the early stages it can just be frustrating. Good luck to the OP.
 
Since we are talking dull knives, I will add this. Check my other thread if you want to know more, but....Upon other things that went wrong somewhere at the factory with my 25, the blade came back so dull I even showed my girl that I can put a LOT of weight on my fingers against the entire blade, swiping back and forth, and cannot even come close to cutting myself. Butter knife is an understatement with my edge, and this went to the factory for a washer and I told them not to even touch the edge because is was very sharp before I sent it. Keep in mind, to even try to use a knife this dull is just asking to slip and cut yourself, I know all too well. So, this is in fact dangerous also, if that matters. I for one will not recommend you even try to use your knife until you get the edge sharp again.
Sharpen it, I could of course. And, over the years I have really become very good at sharpening a knife, free hand with waterstones. But, the knife came back SO dull, and with such a rounded tip, that the factory removed too much steel to begin with and to fix it would mean to even take a good deal more off, which I will not do on a brand new 500 dollar knife. Just my experience so far with my first CR knife, and the "new guys" sharpening over there. Good luck.
 
It sounds like you know exactly what you're doing and that this goes beyond a blade not being razor sharp. You have every right to get this resolved. I hope you do.
 
cigarrodog said:
I'm strictly a beginner when it comes to sharpening. I bought a Sharp Maker, but was uncomfortable, even after practicing with cheapie blades, because I was afraid of hurting the blades of the more expensive knives I've recently purchased. I then came across and bought a DMT Aligner Pro Kit. The beauty of this is that it permits (forces?) me to sharpen at a consistent angle. I'm still a sharpening rank amateur, but I cut through paper like nobody's business. Still not ready to shave arm hair.:)

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DMT kit is one great package for the money.
It was my first sharpenning tool and being a rookie in knives and sharpenning, it gave me edges I could be proud of! If you are careful with the space that you get when you put the steel rod into the aligner's hole (giving you 2-3 degrees of angle variation) you can always get gook looking, hair shaving edges.
Don't know if you got yourself an extra extra fine (8000 grit) hone but that will easily give you a hair popping, almost mirror finished edge.
 
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I have never bought a knife from a company that was sharper than I can get it. Not bragging, it's just not a issue at all.

My small inlay was sharp, cut thru news print.
 
alibh said:
DMT kit is one great package for the money.
It was my first sharpenning tool and being a rookie in knives and sharpenning, it gave me edges I could be proud of! If you are careful with the space that you get when you put the steel rod into the aligner's hole (giving you 2-3 degrees of angle variation) you can always get gook looking, hair shaving edges.
Don't know if you got yourself an extra extra fine (8000 grit) hone but that will easily give you a hair popping, almost mirror finished edge.
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I was surprised by receiving the extra, extra fine in the package. I was so proud of my first sharpening. Of course you more experienced practitioners would politely chuckle at the result.
 
My two CRK knives, small sebenza and ti-lock both came sharp. The original poster's video showed an edge that sliced paper except at steep angles. If the edge has any convex character to it, sometimes it won't bite paper at very steep angles.

Who buys a knife at any price in a store w/o checking its edge...

If you cannot sharpen a knife, you should buy disposable ones, like your razors :)
 
brownshoe said:
If you cannot sharpen a knife, you should buy disposable ones, like your razors :)
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On a distant topic, if you truly appreciate edges, you should get away from disposable razors;)

On topic, I used to professionally hone razors and sharpen knives, and the CRK edges I have experienced have been exceptionally well executed. I'll not comment of my ability to do better or not, but I will say that in no case have I immediately sharpened a CRK knife upon receiving it (they were all well within my accepted limits for what I'll carry and use).
 
Tried sharpening my new(used) small Tanto and impulsively attempted to hone my beginning sharpening skills. I blame this thread. No I don't. Used the DMT with an angle about 20 on the straight across underneath to the tip. On the tip, I sharpened at about 18. Everything up to the tip screams amateur, but it's nice and sharp. I didn't do such a hot job on the Tanto tip. Yes I should practice on cheapie knives, but I chose to practice on this til I get it right. I'm not selling it and its' one of my buddies. Can I get some comments and some tips on tips? Thanks.

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I reckon if the knife was S90V, ZDP-189, etc.. I'd be a little bummed, but the CRKs can be made razor sharp in minutes.
 
If you are going to free hand, do the "sharpie thing"... put black magic marker on both sides of the edge and then check your progress as you sharpen. If the marker disappears, you are sharpening the edge, if not, adjust your angle/ technique. Of course, that assumes you want to follow the geometry you already have.
 
cigarrodog said:
Tried sharpening my new(used) small Tanto and impulsively attempted to hone my beginning sharpening skills. I blame this thread. No I don't. Used the DMT with an angle about 20 on the straight across underneath to the tip. On the tip, I sharpened at about 18. Everything up to the tip screams amateur, but it's nice and sharp. I didn't do such a hot job on the Tanto tip. Yes I should practice on cheapie knives, but I chose to practice on this til I get it right. I'm not selling it and its' one of my buddies. Can I get some comments and some tips on tips? Thanks.

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Oh. sorry for the tip!

Never had a Sebenza but generally to a tanto blade with a DMT aligner, what I do (or I used to do!) is I first target for the straight part of the edge by fixing the grip exactly at the middle of the straight part. There you need to find your angle (Sebenza being a hollow grind should have a really shallow angle) and then do all the sharpening and honing.
For the tanto part now, I would re-position the aligner as far away from the tip as possible. Like next to the thumb stud and then find my anlge. This allows you to keep your sharpening angle as consistent as possible during the stroking of the hones by eliminating (almost) the sweeping movement. That is how you can get a uniform abrasion of metal at the tanto part and therefore, maintain your tanto shape ...
Let me know if you want to explore this more! I'll try send you some pics (given that I can find the old aligner among my stuff!)
 
Thank you. No rush, but I would be grateful for any help. Pics showing close up of where to position the DMT on the exact part of edge would be awesome. Thanks again.
 
The tip of the tanto is a convex edge and is not easy to sharpen on the sharpmaker. You will have better luck with a strip of 600-800 grit paper with a soft backing to help it form to the shape of the edge at the tip. :)
 
Dull? Mine came off-center and the pivot kept coming loose right out of the box. I'd much rather have gotten a dull one.

Great knives overall, though. I haven't bought my last CRK, although I am trading out of my LG 21 right now. I actually really wanted a Small myself, thought it was a better size for that style of knife, but forums talked me out of the Small because apparently "The small is for people who are too cheap to get the large". Trading into a non-CRK but I'll save my dollars for a Small CF later on.

Maybe the issues with my Large were just fate telling me I should have gone with my gut.
 
First, thanks Haze. I'll try the 800 grit. Good tip. Get it?:) Second... IMBW, the small, which having previously never handled, is wonderful. I like big knives, but the small Sebenza has weight, but carries light and is not too small. Cuts like a Mother..., even with my beginner sharpening attempts. It just feels right. Get one and see if you don't agree.
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