Gen3 XM 18 3.5 Spanto Sharpening on the Wicked Edge

C

caminos

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Oct 6, 2012
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So, I want to sharpen my Gen3 XM 18 3.5 Spanto on the Wicked Edge and had what is maybe a "duh" question, but since I am new to sharpening and to the WE system, one thing keeps going through my mind. That is, is the edge of the knife being sharpened at every stage of the process? In other words, as you work up from the coarser stones to the ceramics and leather strops, will the knife get progressively sharper? Right now the XM is pretty sharp after working it up from the 600 stones to the leather 10 micron and 14 leather strops I have right now. I bought some wet/dry sandpaper (1000, 1500, 2000 and 2500) that I intend to cut into strips and tape to WE stones. My thought was to get the XM even sharper using the sandpaper.

Am I heading in the right direction this way? Will the knife get even sharper than it is by using the wet/dry sandpaper or will it just put an even shinier mirror edge on the blade?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
 
It will get progressively sharper as you go up in grits. The edge will have a straighter more refined line if looked at under a microscope helping it to push & devide the material you are cutting.
Keep going until you can effortlessly push cut phone book paper.
If that is not sharp enough try to get it hair whittling sharp.
 
Thanks Chris! It figures you would have the answer.

MODiFiEDZ said:
It will get progressively sharper as you go up in grits. The edge will have a straighter more refined line if looked at under a microscope helping it to push & devide the material you are cutting.
Keep going until you can effortlessly push cut phone book paper.
If that is not sharp enough try to get it hair whittling sharp.
Click to expand...
 
Caminos - Our distinguished friend JayTaylor from the beautiful island country of New Zealand started a thread on the Hinderer sub forum on 1/07/2013 about the Wicked Edge sharpening system and putting an edge on his Hinderer that had great information and some outstanding pictures by Mod definitely worth taking a look.

I try to maintain my original edge on my EDC XM 18 3.5 spanto grind by stropping with homemade leather strop. (Rubi's favorite method also) If I get any nicks I hand sharpen on waterstones then strop.
 
What settings do you all use on the XM-18 3.5"? I just checked my notes and it looks like I've tried A.5 to B.25, but I can't tell what I used last. I've kept it at 22.5 per side, as measured by the angle cube. Thanks.
 
The Eleven said:
What settings do you all use on the XM-18 3.5"? I just checked my notes and it looks like I've tried A.5 to B.25, but I can't tell what I used last. I've kept it at 22.5 per side, as measured by the angle cube. Thanks.
Click to expand...

"B" and 22* Top Holes for me so, I would say on your settings it would be the B.25.

This was my first XM18 EDC'd until my ALL Ti Flipper - Only XM I have sharpened the others have been stropped.
This is the knife the settings referenced above apply to
20130310_113547_zps3ade803b.jpg

20130310_113404_zps46340014.jpg
 
Last edited:
Thanks Rubi.

I don't post often, but you do a great job moderating this forum. Thanks for your efforts.

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