How acute can s30v and BG-42 go?

[DaveH]

I probably will regret opening this can of worms, but here goes. Knife is a sebenza. I usually cut light duty stuff through cardboard, rarely if ever wood.

How acute can I take s30v per side before I may experience chipping if in fact I experience it at all.

AND

How acute can I take BG-42per side before I may experience chipping if in fact I experience it at all.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[thombrogan]

If the S30V is at least RC60, it can take a 18-20 included degree back bevel and support as fine as a 24 included degree edge. It can support that sort of edge softer, but without back-bevelling. Don't know squat about BG-42. Not enough ambi-clipped lockbacks or compression locks with that steel.

 

[gud4u]

My S30V Manix and BG-42 Military blades are both set with 10 degree main bevels and 15 degree micro-bevels.

For hard use, I'm not comfortable with final bevel less than 30 degrees included.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

I have not used Reeves BG-42, however I have ground my small Sebenza down to full flat to the stone and with a micro-bevel of about 15 degrees I get no problems on ropes, cardboard, woods, etc. . It does chip with use, but they are small, and all high carbide steels blunt in this manner. These are small chips, beyond the visible.

-Cliff

 

[bbcmat]

My S30V Sebenza was 8 degrees per side, final bevel 17 degrees per side @58RC. I worked my way up to 17 deg to stop chipping.

Once you pass 11-12 degrees per side, the entire tip of the blade engages the stone - you may want to consider the esthetics of that before going there.

Presently I run 6.7deg / 12.7 degrees with a re-heat treated blade - now experimenting with two additional mini - microbevels at 15 and 17 degrees to remove any weakened mat'l (to increase edge holding ability) - but it's more playing than improving at this point.


MAT