Edge Pro: Same Setting, Different angle on each side?

B

blan

Joined
Mar 19, 2008
Messages
161
So I am having yet another problem with my Apex Edge Pro.
I got a new knife and decided to re-grind it to a steeper angle. I set the right side of the edge on the sharpener and use the sharpie method to find what angle it is currently set at.
I then back that off a couple of degrees and use the coarse stone on that side until I see that the new angle reaches the edge.
I then proceed to flip the knife over to do it to the other side. Please at myself at how nice and quick this side went. I didn't change the angle setting on the edge pro at all.

I ended with a MUCH more shallow angle on the other side of the blade. Almost twice as shallow. It takes me forever to reach the edge on this side (probably four times as long) and now I have a knife with a different angle on each side.


What went wrong?? How can I avoid this?
 
What is the knife that you experienced this with?

In my opinion, it is likely that either the knob on the apex loosened, causing the angle to change, or the knife you were sharpening has an asymetrical or chisel grind.

Alternatively, did you experience the change while you were holding the knife with your off hand? Its possible that you were holding it differently and didn't realize it. I know I did that when I first got the apex.
 
The blade does have thumb studs on both sides. And I managed to accidentally touch them while sharpening.
The blade is a Benchmade Mini-Ambush and it seemed to have a symmetrical grind when I first started. Of course... now it doesn't :(
 
I think not working the edge evenly may be your problem.
 
but how? I get the same edge on it with all the different stones.
It is at different angles on each side but it's a constant edge. When I switch to the polishing stones I polish the entire new edge. I would think that if I made a mistake while creating the new angle, I would only be able to polish a part of the new edge when I switched stones.


Would a video help?
 
Is it possible the thumbstud contacts the corian surface on one side but not the other, effectively preventing your blade from lying flat?
 
Well I am purposefully leaving the thumbstuds off the table. So that only the blade is laying on it. In order to avoid problems like this. I will try to take some pictures today and post them up here.
 
I just looked at a web pic of the mini-ambush. I notice there is a flat grind in a narrow strip near the spine, then a concave grind for most of the width of the blade. Is it possible that in avoiding the thumbstud, the flat grind lies flat to the corian bed in one orientation, while the concave grind lies flat to the corian bed in the other?
 
Its just the primary grind differences that cause that and nothing more. All it means is that the grinder took one side down a bit more and didn't go as far on the other. Its common for everyone to have a strong side and a weak side so sometimes to the experienced eye you can tell from looking if the knife was ground free hand, if the maker is right or left handed or get a pretty good guess in as to the maker's stronger side anyway. ;)

STR
 
Oh and this can have something to do with tape if you are one that tapes the blade where you got two layers of tape on one side and only one on the other. Some tape the blade instead of the table on that sharpener. I've heard tell of some folks layering tape on one side of the blade on purpose to bring the sides to look the same also but I've not tried it.

Both sides are 15` or 18` if that is what you used but the thicker the blade is the more profound the bevel will appear for how high it comes up on the blade. If its a thin grind it can still be 15` but appear as if its a very small bevel angle. Its still 15`. I hope that makes sense. Anyway, just some thoughts on it. I have to run. The wife has put me to work.

STR
 
I didn't layer the tape on any one side. It was one strip on the entire table.
Today I tried to re-sharpen it on the second bevel instead of on the flat to see if it produced different results and it didn't.
Here is how the edge looks:
IMG_5828.jpg

IMG_5829.jpg



Do you think they are both the same angle STR?

Also note how I accidentally messed up the thumbstuds... Very unhappy about that...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top