Emerson Sharpening Observation

JSMcustoms

JSMcustoms

Joined
Feb 2, 2012
Messages
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This is just an observation that I made while resharpening my Emerson Mini Commander after using it to cut some screen for a screen door (enough to jack up the edge a bit). I spent maybe twenty minutes trying to sharpen it on my Sharpmaker, which by the way did next to nothing. So I decided to go completely free hand with it and pulled an old bench stone. I have no idea the age or grit of this thing, not that it matters too much I guess. In less than ten minutes including stroping, I had it from dull enough that it snagged repeatedly in computer paper to slicing phone book paper like it was nothing. However, I can only get the same results with a normal V edge on my Sharpmaker and never trying to sharpen free hand. What's going on here? I can't get any of my other knives this sharp on a bench stone.
 
You are probably not matching the edge bevel's angle properly. Use a permanent marker to mark the bevel to be sure you are abrading the proper area.
 
Nullity said:
You are probably not matching the edge bevel's angle properly. Use a permanent marker to mark the bevel to be sure you are abrading the proper area.
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Maybe, but it's odd to me that I can match the angle of a chisel edge just fine on a bench stone, or I at least seem to able to just going by results and can't on a regular V edge. Does the chisel edge make that big of difference as it's the only real variable involved.
 
JSMcustoms said:
Maybe, but it's odd to me that I can match the angle of a chisel edge just fine on a bench stone, or I at least seem to able to just going by results and can't on a regular V edge. Does the chisel edge make that big of difference as it's the only real variable involved.
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I don't know. The only factor here that matters is the angle, with any sharpening system.
You may not be matching the angle. You could be sharpening at a far too obtuse angle, putting a slight microbevel. I have been fooled by this problem myself, thinking I've learned how to sharpen properly.

Honestly, there are too many unknowns for me to have a definitive answer. I'm guessing.
 
Possibly, though it seems odd I'd get it right on one blade and wrong on everything else.
 
Yup. The ergos are phenomenal! Dont get me wrong, I like other makers, but nothing tops my commander in hand.
 
Hey guys, my mini CQC7 is my first chisel grind. I touched it up today with about 10 passes @ 40* on the Sharpmaker on the bevel side, using the instructed "Knife blade straight up and down, perpendicular to base". It did sharpen up nicely. My question is does this cause a micro bevel to form that was not there on the factory grind? Should I try to "lean in" a bit to match the edge up flat against to the stone? I hope I am making sense here, thanks.
 
akula83 said:
Hey guys, my mini CQC7 is my first chisel grind. I touched it up today with about 10 passes @ 40* on the Sharpmaker on the bevel side, using the instructed "Knife blade straight up and down, perpendicular to base". It did sharpen up nicely. My question is does this cause a micro bevel to form that was not there on the factory grind? Should I try to "lean in" a bit to match the edge up flat against to the stone? I hope I am making sense here, thanks.
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You probably created a micro bevel, yes. But if its sharp dont worry about it now! Just try to match up the bevel when your knife becomes dull again.
And for the OP......for me chisel sharpening sharpening is hit or miss. Sometimes I am very quick and sometimes it takes me forever. I try to always sharpen it the same way, but still can't be consistent. :confused:
 
akula83 said:
Hey guys, my mini CQC7 is my first chisel grind. I touched it up today with about 10 passes @ 40* on the Sharpmaker on the bevel side, using the instructed "Knife blade straight up and down, perpendicular to base". It did sharpen up nicely. My question is does this cause a micro bevel to form that was not there on the factory grind? Should I try to "lean in" a bit to match the edge up flat against to the stone? I hope I am making sense here, thanks.
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That's the same thing I did with my Mini Commander, but a fair few more passes (closer to 30) and it did nothing at all. But it took no time at all to sharpen when I took it to a bench stone. As I said before, I'm confused about this as I normally don't have an issue getting my knives sharp with the Sharpmaker.
 
Alright, now I "get it". I matched the bevel angle flat up against the fine stone and in 5 passes was surprised how much sharper it got. It supports all I have read about free hand sharpening getting good results with these. thanks Ernie.
 
akula83 said:
Hey guys, my mini CQC7 is my first chisel grind. I touched it up today with about 10 passes @ 40* on the Sharpmaker on the bevel side, using the instructed "Knife blade straight up and down, perpendicular to base". It did sharpen up nicely. My question is does this cause a micro bevel to form that was not there on the factory grind? Should I try to "lean in" a bit to match the edge up flat against to the stone? I hope I am making sense here, thanks.
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I don't understand how you could create a microbevel on the Sharpmaker when holding it straight up and down. The available angles are 15 and 20 degrees and to create a microbevel you'd need an angle greater than 30 degrees wouldn't you? I thought the angle of the Emerson chisel edge was about 30 degrees. On the Sharpmaker you'd just be honing stuff off the shoulder and not even sharpening the edge. Unless I have that totally wrong?
 
I'm not a sharpening pro, maybe I should be using the 30* fine rod instead of the 40*, but I have been getting a sharp edge with no noticeable wear on the shoulder by just "eyeing it up" freestyle on the passes. Also, scratches on the edge from use are "polishing out" and the sharpie ink is being removed....maybe I'm doing it wrong and just getting lucky?
 
I researched a little more last night and found people sharpening their CQC7 by everyway under the Sun, including using the SM at 40* "freestyling it". I watched the Emerson video, took the fine ceramic stick in hand, and used it as was demonstrated with the diamond hone and followed this with the cardboard stropping and it came out extremely sharp.
 
akula83 said:
I researched a little more last night and found people sharpening their CQC7 by everyway under the Sun, including using the SM at 40* "freestyling it". I watched the Emerson video, took the fine ceramic stick in hand, and used it as was demonstrated with the diamond hone and followed this with the cardboard stropping and it came out extremely sharp.
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So you just held one of the sharpmaker ceramic rods in hand?
 
Yes, I just held the fine rod in my hand that substituted for the diamond hone on the Emerson illustrations. I don't own a diamond hone, that's why I just used the SM rod. I have to note though that the edge before I started was already in decent shape.
 
akula83 said:
Yes, I just held the fine rod in my hand that substituted for the diamond hone on the Emerson illustrations. I don't own a diamond hone, that's why I just used the SM rod. I have to note though that the edge before I started was already in decent shape.
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cool, I'll have to give that a try! :thumbup:
 
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