Here we go again chasing the burr 8Cr13MoV I think maybe I dont know.

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okbow68

Joined
Mar 17, 2011
Messages
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So I have this AG Russell Rancher with 8Cr13MoV steel. I sharpen this thing on an edge pro all the way down to the 1000 grit stone. I just can't get that scary sharp feeling on this thing. Sharpie? Yes every stone all the way down. Trailing strokes you say. Yes very gently on each side with the 1000 grit stone. Can't feel a burr checked with fingers, paper towel, looking through 20x loupe. I can shave my 5 o'clock shadow without too much discomfort. What am I doing wrong?
 
The edge trailing passes are the issue. They will raise a new burr easier than edge leading passes. Do a couple (like one per side) of high angle (30 to 40 degrees per side) passes on a clean stone to remove the burr, the go back and do edge leading strokes very lightly and sneak back up on the edge, one pass per side. The deburring passes can be done freehand. The exact angle isn't that critical. Light pressure and an elevated angle are the main sticking points. And when I say light, I mean like half an ounce of force. You should be holding the weight of the knife up off the stone. This light touch takes some practice.
 
A wire-edge will shave but won't slice newsprint (cross grain). However if your knife still smoothly crosscut newsprint after the 5th cut, well then the edge is clean. Try to see if which is the case...
 
cross-grain for more than 5 times across?... if that the case, the edge is clean. EP 1K stone abrasive size around 4micron, so perhaps progress to EP 2K & 3K tape to see if it will gives you that sticky feeling.
 
Yes 5x. Well I don't want to convex the edge by stopping but I have 1 micron boron carbide and .5 micron green compound and then some Graves diamond sprays down to 1/10th micron I could strop with.
 
IIRC, 8Cr13MoV is sort like 440c or 420hc. I walked a buck119 from 25um diamond to 0.1um polydiamond stones. It lost its sticky bite between grit 3um and 1um. It feels smooth & boring after 0.1um but it will dry-shave and cross push cut newsprint. btw - I didn't stropped at all for this test. My high alloy steel blades edges are sticky all the way down to 0.1um.
 
If you don't mind me asking, why are you looking for the sticky feeling? It sounds like a properly refined edge there, especially if it can handle all that, so you aren't doing anything wrong/ Either way, it sounds like the burr is gone. I have noticed it can have a sticky sharp feeling on it's own sometimes. Have you tried skipping every other stone to give it a toothier edge maybe?
 
I don't know it just doesnt feel the way I think it should. Maybe I have done so few decent edges I just don't know what to feel for. I do know when I put my thumb or finger on the edge I don't get that oh crap I am about cut myself feeling.:) Diaclaimer I dont like cutting myself either.
 
The 8Cr13MoV on AG Russell's knives won't form much of a burr anyway. If you're not able to feel or see it, and the edge is slicing phonebook paper and dry-shaving (at least to some extent), it sounds as if the edge is in pretty good shape. Other posts are correct, in that it won't retain that 'sticky' feeling at your fingertips above a certain grit, but it'll still be plenty sharp. I've used diamond hones and/or wet/dry sandpaper to sharpen mine, and burrs haven't been much of an issue. They are finished to ~800 grit or higher (a couple are finished to 2000+ wet/dry, plus stropping w/1 micron diamond paste). These blades seem to sharpen up nicely, and seem pretty straightforward in getting there. I like the steel on these knives; it seems consistent with AGR's quality standards, which have always been excellent.

FWIW, I have two each of the AGR Rancher and the larger Cowboy models, as well as his Gunstock, Sowbelly and large Folding Hunters in the same steel.


David
 
Oh I have no problem with the knife. I am rather fond of it. Thinking about Christmas gifting one to my dad. It seems really solid with a strong spring. I stated I had the Rancher but I have the larger Cowboy.
 
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