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E4/D4 Sharpening
- Thread starter ajryan
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2005
- Messages
- 4,271
I have D4s sharpened at both Sharpmaker angles and the VG10 steel works well for me at either angle. The factory edge may not be set at either Sharpmaker angle, since factory knives are sharpened on a belt before shipping.
Best thing to do is to mark both sides of the edge bevel with a Sharpie and then try each side of the blade on your Sharpmaker rods. Whichever setting removes the Sharpie from the entire bevel is the setting to use to maintain the factory edge angles. Most likely, there'll be at least a small variation in angle from one side to the other.
If the Sharpie is removed from the shoulder of the bevel only, then the sharpening angle is too narrow. If it is removed from the edge of the bevel only, the angle is too wide. If your angles are somewhere in between as sometimes happens and you want to use your Sharpmaker, you can just use the 40 degree setting and work on your edges until they conform to 40 degrees inclusive all the way along the edge. Otherwise, you have to rebevel the blade. That's not the easiest thing to do with a Sharpmaker.
Best thing to do is to mark both sides of the edge bevel with a Sharpie and then try each side of the blade on your Sharpmaker rods. Whichever setting removes the Sharpie from the entire bevel is the setting to use to maintain the factory edge angles. Most likely, there'll be at least a small variation in angle from one side to the other.
If the Sharpie is removed from the shoulder of the bevel only, then the sharpening angle is too narrow. If it is removed from the edge of the bevel only, the angle is too wide. If your angles are somewhere in between as sometimes happens and you want to use your Sharpmaker, you can just use the 40 degree setting and work on your edges until they conform to 40 degrees inclusive all the way along the edge. Otherwise, you have to rebevel the blade. That's not the easiest thing to do with a Sharpmaker.
Kaizen1
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 4, 2006
- Messages
- 6,328
My understanding is that the factory edge is roughly at 30 degrees inclusive. But as dalefuller has mentioned, it can vary because they're sharpened by hand on a belt. I personally like my edges at 30 degrees inclusive or thinner, so that's where I'd go on the Sharpmaker. It really depends on your daily uses and type of material you're cutting and your personal preference. There is no wrong answer here. You could start with either one.
If you want to try both angles, I'd start with the 30 degree setting and then later move to the 40 degree setting so you won't have to spend as much time going from 40 degrees to 30. That's a lot of metal to take off on the Sharpmaker.
If you want to try both angles, I'd start with the 30 degree setting and then later move to the 40 degree setting so you won't have to spend as much time going from 40 degrees to 30. That's a lot of metal to take off on the Sharpmaker.