Just tested the edge holding of the TSEK by Benchmade, the Vapor II by Kershaw, and a Stanley utility knife blade on cardboard. 100 cuts were made, about an inch long on about 1.5 inches of blade. All the cardboard came from the same box. At the end of the cutting, I tested to see if the knife would cut a plastic grocery bag. I find that a knife that will still shave hair a little will not cut one of these. Cutting was generally a slicing type cut.
The blades were sharpened (except the Stanley) using a belt sander at 320 grit to set the edge and raise a small burr at about 15 degrees per side, and then sharpened at 20 degrees per side (DPS) on the Spyderco Sharpmaker using the brown rod flats only. 1-2 light cuts were made into the brown rod to remove the burr from the sander, and Jeff Clarks Sharpmaker deburring technique was used, slightly modified, to remove any burr formed during sharpening. The modification was that I didnt move to the white stones, but after about 20 strokes per side, used a couple of light 80 DPS strokes to remove any burr, then did about 10 more strokes per side to finish up. All three knives would cleanly slice the plastic bags. The Stanley utility blade was new and the factory edge was used.
The Benchmade would still cut the bag after the test, but took a little effort. The Vapor II would also still cut the bag, with a barely detectable bit more effort than the Benchmade. The utility knife would not cut the bag.
Today I compared a $5 kitchen knife from Kroger to the Benchmade TSEK. I used an empty cereal box for cutting. The Benchmade was resharpened on the Sharpmaker after the last test. The Kroger knife was set with a 12 DPS backbevel, then sharpened on the 20 degree Sharpmaker slots the same as above. The first test showed that the Kroger would still cut the bag after the cardboard cutting, but the Benchmade would not. I was quite surprised by this. I repeated the test and the rolls reversed, with the Benchmadecutting the bag with difficulty and the Kroger not cutting at all. Fo the second test the knives were just resharpened on the Sharpmaker.
Since both knives were in slightly different condition, with respect to edge formation and resharpening, I intend to sharpen both on the belt sander and use the strop on the sander as a final finish. This should eliminate any burr issues, but changes the edge finish and angle, therefore it wont be in any way comparable the testing of the others in the above, other than by relation through the Benchmade. Actually, the Kershaw saw some concrete cutting, so I may be able to resharpen all 3 and run the test again with a new Stanley blade. Anyway, interesting results, and I'm quite surprised by the Kroger knife not being completely outclassed by the Benchmade.
The blades were sharpened (except the Stanley) using a belt sander at 320 grit to set the edge and raise a small burr at about 15 degrees per side, and then sharpened at 20 degrees per side (DPS) on the Spyderco Sharpmaker using the brown rod flats only. 1-2 light cuts were made into the brown rod to remove the burr from the sander, and Jeff Clarks Sharpmaker deburring technique was used, slightly modified, to remove any burr formed during sharpening. The modification was that I didnt move to the white stones, but after about 20 strokes per side, used a couple of light 80 DPS strokes to remove any burr, then did about 10 more strokes per side to finish up. All three knives would cleanly slice the plastic bags. The Stanley utility blade was new and the factory edge was used.
The Benchmade would still cut the bag after the test, but took a little effort. The Vapor II would also still cut the bag, with a barely detectable bit more effort than the Benchmade. The utility knife would not cut the bag.
Today I compared a $5 kitchen knife from Kroger to the Benchmade TSEK. I used an empty cereal box for cutting. The Benchmade was resharpened on the Sharpmaker after the last test. The Kroger knife was set with a 12 DPS backbevel, then sharpened on the 20 degree Sharpmaker slots the same as above. The first test showed that the Kroger would still cut the bag after the cardboard cutting, but the Benchmade would not. I was quite surprised by this. I repeated the test and the rolls reversed, with the Benchmadecutting the bag with difficulty and the Kroger not cutting at all. Fo the second test the knives were just resharpened on the Sharpmaker.
Since both knives were in slightly different condition, with respect to edge formation and resharpening, I intend to sharpen both on the belt sander and use the strop on the sander as a final finish. This should eliminate any burr issues, but changes the edge finish and angle, therefore it wont be in any way comparable the testing of the others in the above, other than by relation through the Benchmade. Actually, the Kershaw saw some concrete cutting, so I may be able to resharpen all 3 and run the test again with a new Stanley blade. Anyway, interesting results, and I'm quite surprised by the Kroger knife not being completely outclassed by the Benchmade.