Hi from a newbie

E

emwonk

Joined
Apr 30, 2004
Messages
21
Well, I just entered the ranks of the knife-equipped, when I brought back a Benchmade presidio with Bt2 combo blade from a recent business trip to Idaho.

The only other knives I own are my dead grandpa's Schrade pen knife, sharpened nearly to a stub, a nice Norwegian knife with a laminated blade and some Case knife I bought for $20 about 25 years ago.

The Benchmade was my first "serious" knife. and now I have questions...

When I got it, it was razor-sharp, barely. After one evening playing around with it cutting paper about 50 times and whatnot, it is no longer razor sharp. Is this normal?

Why is it I can shave for 2 weeks with a $4 razor but a $190 knife gets dull in a night of playing?

Is this benchmade presidio considered a respectable knife? If it were a car would it be a Pinto, a Mustang, a Corvette or a BMW? I'm guessing it's like Craftsman tools, rather than Snap On.

Getting it sharp again scares me, because my sharpening skills are passable on kitchen knives, but I have never ever been able to put a razor edge on anything, no matter how hard I try. (Using an ez-lap stick, or a plastic thing with two tiny wedges of steel in it.) And I did read the FAQ, but I do not have time to read an entire book on how to sharpen a knife. will that Spiderco thing give me a razor edge, even though I am not a good sharpener? I can't afford the edge pro device.

My challenge is I like the knife so much I don't want to use it. But I still like to pick it up and play with it.

Any advice or feedback is welcome.

Best,

John
 
You're getting a burr on the edge that you're not removing...at the final step, alternate very light strokes on both sides of the blade. 'Feel' for a burr...that's why it's going dull so quickly.

The presidio isn't my cup of tea (a bit too bulky and tactical), but it is a fine knife. As far as cars, I'd say it would be a low/mid-end BMW...not quite the best, but definitely a cut above the masses of medium-quality knives.

Enjoy your new Benchmade!
 
Hi. Gotta admit aside from pictures I'm not familiar with the Presidio, but for $190 I wouldn't put it in the yugo class by any means. It doesn't sound right that it should lose its edge that fast. It is 154 CM steel. Anyway the only thing is sooner or later, unless you are just going to look at it, you'll need to sharpen it. Since the edge pro is out of the question - go for the sharpmaker, particularly as you have the combo edge. It's a pretty good sharpener and easy to use. From what you say about the sharpeners you've been using - it would really be difficult to get a razor edge. So I'm not surprised that you haven't gotten one. I wouldn't personally use that plastic thingy. Oh and a razor' edge has a real small bevel angle - it's a razor edge, but a knife's bevel is bigger and the edge is more durable.
 
Hey, Newbie,
You probably won't have to pay $190 for it.
If it hasn't been released yet, just wait unitl it is released, and then wait 6 months, prices will drop quite a bit for day one to the 6 month mark.
Unless, of course, you're dying to be the first kid on your block to own one.
.
oh, and Welcome Aboard
 
1st, paper is abrasive. 2nd, razors are a LOT thinner than your 520. Never use those sharpeners with 2 bits of "metal" (actually carbides) They strip off metal and creates a horrid edge
 
I just picked up a Lasky sharpening system (standard, with two extra stones) from Bass Pro. I took it home and tried it on a cheap Blackie Collins or something like that. (No practicing on my Benchmade.)

Anyway, I was no better able to get a good edge with that than I am with an ez-lap diamond stick. Ifelt silly using that setup. I'd rather have my $41.50 back.

Does the Spyder Sharpmaker work better or easier than the Laskey system?

The more I look at other knives the more I like my Benchmade. But I am likely to stop there. I have plenty of cutting technology. Now all I need to do is figure out how to sharpen to a razor edge and my knife needs will all be answered.
 
Yes, the Sharpmaker is great. I just recently sharpened my 630 to shaving. Just be warned, you may have to reprofile, since alot of benchmade's come with kinda thick edges. But as far as sharpening goes, just watch the video, be careful not to run the point off the stones, and you'll be set. You never know, that Lansky might be useful in reprofiling your knife.
 
Hi John, welcome to the club.

For sharpening, the sharpmaker is the way to go. Comes with an instruction video tape too so it is pretty helpful. Then again, like every other skills, u have to practice to make it better and better. If it is the thing that u don't wanna risk ruining your knife, then u could first practice your skills on other knifes that u won't mind ruining. Or send it back to the factory for re-sharpening, which IMO would make u lose lots, if not most of the fun in owning a knife.

As for whether a knife is "respectable", I truly believe that it is solely depending on how u, the owner, values it. Never fall into the trap that something expensive has to be better for u. If u like your knife, then it is your jewelry. Doesn't matter how much is it or how others see it. So if u really wanna have a good time with your gear, then don't really let other ppl's opinion affects u too much. If u think it is respectable, then it will be so. U r the one who use it, that's all. :)

And sooner or later perhaps u will also feel that the best moments u can have with your knives is when u are really using them. :)

Have fun and once again welcome to the forum!
 
cutting paper will dull an edge, but you should only have to strop after something like that, not resharpen. I have great success using a Lansky.
 
With my BM Presidio blade, which Lasky angle would I use? 20? 25?

Is that Lasky thing foolproof, or can I still screw up the knife sharpening it without good sharping experience?

It feels bad having a really nice knife I'm afraid to use because I won't be able to get it sharp again.

BTW, Bass Pro had the price marked wrong, so I got the $24 standard Lasky kit for $19.99. So I picked up a ultra fine stone and a fine serrated edge stone.

I can get stones for less than the lasky system. It seems like for $40 the system should compensate for my weakness and be a foolproof way to a razor edge. Fair?

It didn't seem that easy when I tried it.

How many strokes is it supposed to take on each side, and at what angle? The knife is barely razor sharp now, but the edge looks like hell (toothy)under a loop because I used that Plastic thing with two metal bits in it before a forum member warned me off that. Which I heeded.
 
Welcome knowme;)

Since you have a loope - can you tell if you are creating just one micro bevel? Or is there more than one? If there's just one, you have the right angle, obviously.

Lansky, Sharpmaker, EdgePro...they're all basically the same idea. Push your knife into a stone at a specific angle to move a burr back and forth until it's small enough to cut.

If you want razor sharp, you'll need to strop. But your knife should be able to shave arm hair first. Even toothy, coarse edges can shave if they are sharpened properly.

There are many ways to do this. I recommend getting a piece of carboard (or the backside of a leather belt) and lay your knife blade flat on it (edge pointed away, like you're trying to whittle it). Push your blade forward and slowly rotate the blade until the edge "catches". That's the angle at which you should be sharpening and stropping. When stropping, you do the opposite: drag the knife toward you, spine first, edge trailing.

Develop a feel for what it's like when you have it at the right angle (it digs into the carboard/leather) and when you have it at the wrong angle (it just slides along).

That will do more for your sharpening in the long run.
 
I saw the sharpmaker at Bass Pro, but I also saw the $56 price, and I succumbed to the cheaper Lasky. Maybe this is a case of getting what I paid for.

Will the Sharpmaker work easier or better?

That said, I tested the lasky on a cheap "Blackie Collins" with a blade that I can't get sharp anyway, any how.

The tihg I already don't like with the Lasky is clamping it on the knife and having to set up and oil all of the differnet stones.

I think I'm heading toward returning the lasky before it looks too used and getting a sharpmaker online cheap. If you guys think it works easier or better than lasky.

Thanks for all of your great advice.
 
Whichever system you end up with, practice on your cheap knives and kitchen knives before you tackle your new expensive one. If you feel you've (*gasp*) ruined the edge, Benchmade does offer their Lifesharp service. Ship them the knife with $5 for return post and it'll be good as new.
 
take the lansky back and get the sharpmaker.

There....I said it.

:D
 
I looked into a sharpmaker and the site I saw said the sharpmaker has a 40° and 30° sharpening angle for knives and 12.5 for sissors.

Isn't 30 degrees for a carpet knife? I would have guessed a Benchmade would need to be sharpened at 25 or 20 degrees. What's the real deal? I don't know what I'm talking about and I want to make sure I get sharpener purchase number 2 right.
 
IIRC, that's total angle... ie., 15 deg each side = 30 degrees
 
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