Ehh...did I ruin my blade?

[Cotton26]

Alright well I don't know if this is a big deal or not, but on the Spyderoco Sharpmaker I had the ceramic rods in the 30* slots instead of the 40* slots and then I sharpened my BM551. Did I ruin the blade?

 

[IUKE12]

Hardly, most likely didn't even hit the edge, just go back to 40 and try again.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

No, you did not. While many people use the 40 for an edge bevel, others feel good steel can take a thinner angle. Others go with the 40 and then use the 30 for a back bevel, that is, to thin the angle between the top of the edge bevel and the flats of the blade. Neither will harm your knife, only put slightly different sorts of an edge on it.

However, if you use a narrower sharpening angle than the original bevel, you may not actually be reaching the very edge. Use a marker pen and coat the edge bevel, then sharpen it. This will show you what part of the bevel you are really hitting with the Sharpmaker.

If you are using an angle more acute than the original, you will see the marker worn off the shoulder. If you use a more obtuse angle, you will see only the very edge sharpened. if you use an equivalent angle to the original, you will clean the marker off the entire bevel, properly sharpening the blade.

 

[Cotton26]

Alright thanks guys. I just did the 4 steps again this time on the 40*. Sharp enough to take my forearm hair off! :thumbup:

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Excellent!

 

[me2]

Alright thanks guys. I just did the 4 steps again this time on the 40*. Sharp enough to take my forearm hair off! :thumbup:

My purchase and use of a Sharpmaker quickly led to that not being sharp enough. Just be ready, since as skill increases, so do expectations of sharpness.

 

[thombrogan]

I will disagree with me2 on his last point. My skills have only gotten worse while my expectations have skyrocketed.

Cotton26,

Whether your Benchmade Griptillian 551 is the older 440C version or newer 154CM version, it can hold a great edge with either the 30 degree or 40 degree setting.

 

[Dog of War]

I will disagree with me2 on his last point. My skills have only gotten worse while my expectations have skyrocketed.

I don't see how that's possible, especially for a virtual blade god like yourself ... unless it's that you've been spoiled by 13C26.

.

 

[dalefuller]

Alright well I don't know if this is a big deal or not, but on the Spyderoco Sharpmaker I had the ceramic rods in the 30* slots instead of the 40* slots and then I sharpened my BM551. Did I ruin the blade?

The blade is fine. Many of us re-bevel our knives to 30 degrees to make them slice better.

Esav's post is worth re-reading 3 or 4 times. I currently have 8 Grips and mini-Grips and I use all of them with a 30 degree microbevel. Whether they are S30V, 154CM, D2, or 440C, the cutting chores that I do with them all work fine at 30 degrees and the edges hold up for a good while before they need a touch up.

If your edge does what you want it to do at 40 degrees, then stick with that. You are the final judge of what's sharp enough and still strong enough for your needs.