HELP!! I cant sharpen carbonsteel..........

N

nc527

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Mar 22, 2009
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I had had 3 knives now in a carbon steel, all being 1095, and I cannot sharpen any of them to a paper slicing edge. Now stainless, like 154cm, sg2, or 12cr27, I can bring to a hair whittling edge. I have tryed using a sharpmaker, sandpaper, and a benchstone. COuld someone please help me with this? what else can I try?
 
there is no difference. It sharpens more easily.

Use a sharpie marker on the edge to see if you are even hitting it.
 
Carbon Steel is easier for me to sharpen then other steels. Maybe you aren't getting the edge, as pointed out?
 
I'm going to guess that you are using the same pressure on the blade when you sharpen those knives. The harder stainless can take it, but the soft 1095 is going to roll over on you. Try sharpening one of those carbon blades using very little pressure against the stone, and see what happens. I'll bet dollars to donuts that will solve the problem.


Stitchawl
 
Carbon steel is easy to sharpen compared to the alternatives.
All of my hand planes, chisels and various cutting tools for my trade (woodwork) are carbon steels.
Carbons steels sharpen quickly and get quite sharp (at least my carbon steels do). Quick, easy sharpening is essential for productivity.
Gotta refine your technique...
 
stitchawl said:
I'm going to guess that you are using the same pressure on the blade when you sharpen those knives. The harder stainless can take it, but the soft 1095 is going to roll over on you. Try sharpening one of those carbon blades using very little pressure against the stone, and see what happens. I'll bet dollars to donuts that will solve the problem.


Stitchawl
Click to expand...


That was gonna be my suggestion. Also with SAK blades, I find I need to use less pressure, or I just get a burr that pushes back and forth. Especially on the sharpmaker. I only recent got any carbon blades, or softer steels (SAKs), and couldn't figure it out.
 
nc527 said:
I had had 3 knives now in a carbon steel, all being 1095, and I cannot sharpen any of them to a paper slicing edge. Now stainless, like 154cm, sg2, or 12cr27, I can bring to a hair whittling edge. I have tryed using a sharpmaker, sandpaper, and a benchstone. COuld someone please help me with this? what else can I try?
Click to expand...

What kind of knives are they? Just curious. stichawl is probably correct with his post though. I wouldn't say that the carbon steel is softer because you can harden all of those steels to similar RC levels, but being a plain steel, it's not nearly as abrasion resistant as the stainless alloys. It's going to cut faster and easier than the alloys. Too much pressure is going to defeat the purpose of getting a fine edge.
 
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