- Joined
- Oct 25, 2010
- Messages
- 9
I have a lot of experience with sharpening knives with a bevel edge. I can get them shaving sharp. I have never ventured into the convex grind world.
I recently purchased a Bark River Bushcrafter II. It has a convex scandi grind on it. It is my first convex grind knife so now it is time to learn! I have done a lot of research. Including these two sites that I think are excellent starter guides.
http://brkca.com/convex.htm
https://www.knivesshipfree.com/knife-sharpening-videos/
I stocked up on supplies including a nice Le Valley wood backed strop, polishing compound, mouse pads, and fine grit sandpaper. (I started using the strop to polish my beveled edges and WOW, what a difference. Takes the sharpness to a new level!)
I didn't want to start on my Bark River so I found a practice knife. I have a Condor Bushlore. I was disappointed with the edge retention of the scandi grind on it so i put a convex grind on it. It turned out really well and very sharp.
Now for the Bark River. Out of the box it had a descent edge. I ran it along a marker to see what angle it would bite at. The edge grabs the marker at about a 20-25 degree angle. I used this as the angle to hold the knife at to polish the edge.
I worked the knife through a couple of very fine grits of sand paper (1500 and 2500). Then two grits of polish on the strop. It got sharper but not shaving sharp. I put sharpie on the blade to make sure I was holding the knife at the right angle.
I took the knife camping and it worked well. It cut rope well and would hog wood off a log. It was a little weak on fine carving. After 5 days of use the edge held very well with no real decrease in sharpness and no damage at all.
When I got home I repeated the convex polishing process. Sandpaper up to strop. Again, a slight increase in sharpness but it did not get shaving sharp.
What am I doing wrong?
1) It's V3 steel. Maybe I need to go a little courser on the sand paper and work it a little longer because the steel is so tough?
2) Maybe I need to thin the blade out a little? However, I want to believe BR knows there knives and steels and the edge they put on is the right one.
3) This is a working knife, I want a tough strong edge. Maybe I need to sacrifice a little sharpness for strength. (However, I have gotten 50 degree inclusive bevels shaving sharp)
I hope this made sense? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I recently purchased a Bark River Bushcrafter II. It has a convex scandi grind on it. It is my first convex grind knife so now it is time to learn! I have done a lot of research. Including these two sites that I think are excellent starter guides.
http://brkca.com/convex.htm
https://www.knivesshipfree.com/knife-sharpening-videos/
I stocked up on supplies including a nice Le Valley wood backed strop, polishing compound, mouse pads, and fine grit sandpaper. (I started using the strop to polish my beveled edges and WOW, what a difference. Takes the sharpness to a new level!)
I didn't want to start on my Bark River so I found a practice knife. I have a Condor Bushlore. I was disappointed with the edge retention of the scandi grind on it so i put a convex grind on it. It turned out really well and very sharp.
Now for the Bark River. Out of the box it had a descent edge. I ran it along a marker to see what angle it would bite at. The edge grabs the marker at about a 20-25 degree angle. I used this as the angle to hold the knife at to polish the edge.
I worked the knife through a couple of very fine grits of sand paper (1500 and 2500). Then two grits of polish on the strop. It got sharper but not shaving sharp. I put sharpie on the blade to make sure I was holding the knife at the right angle.
I took the knife camping and it worked well. It cut rope well and would hog wood off a log. It was a little weak on fine carving. After 5 days of use the edge held very well with no real decrease in sharpness and no damage at all.
When I got home I repeated the convex polishing process. Sandpaper up to strop. Again, a slight increase in sharpness but it did not get shaving sharp.
What am I doing wrong?
1) It's V3 steel. Maybe I need to go a little courser on the sand paper and work it a little longer because the steel is so tough?
2) Maybe I need to thin the blade out a little? However, I want to believe BR knows there knives and steels and the edge they put on is the right one.
3) This is a working knife, I want a tough strong edge. Maybe I need to sacrifice a little sharpness for strength. (However, I have gotten 50 degree inclusive bevels shaving sharp)
I hope this made sense? Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I don't think you're doing anything basically wrong. Start with a much coarser grit wet/dry paper, maybe 400. Hold a higher angle than you think looks reasonable. I don't know how you measured an angle, since convex is a curve and the BC is a "Scandivex", a continuous curve from the flat. Use NO pressure... only the weight of the knife resting on the sharpening media, as you drag it across the surface. With 3V it takes a while. The guy who said toss the mouse pad because it rounds the edge, is applying way too much pressure.