How low can I take 1095?

[darthsoaker]

Would, say 25 included be to low for 1095 steel?

 

[sm2]

IME/IME it will depend on the quality of the heat treat, geometry and of course what one is planning to do and expect the performance to be of a blade(s).

Err...I never got into angles per se'

My Case knives with CV I lay 'em flat on the stone, like the blade on my Slimline Trapper, or main blade of Peanut or Stockman.

Then I raise the spine ever so little and do a Appleseed edge on a Hard Arkansas [ White or Black] or using 1000 or 1500 grit Wet/Dry.

I "may" come back and make one smooth stroke on each side a tad higher.

If I am going to be cutting rope, the last pass will be "toothy" - usually 400-600 grit, or a Ark Med/Soft.

The Norton India Fine [320 ?] leaves a mighty fine working edge!

--
I cannot go this flat on a Old Timer, Cammillus, and other brands. I suspect it has to do with the heat treat of these blades.

I can with a Case, and the edge will hold up to hard use, and only require a touch up with a Case Hard White, Black or Moonstone - depending on what I have subjected it to , and for how long.

Forget a Steel blade getting this low.

That said, M2 HSS as hard as woodpecker lips, will go this low and keep an edge like nobody's business.

For other folks not really into knives, I do not go this low...as they will not use the knife as "proper" nor maintain it as need.

1075 like on Douk-Douk, or Opinels... one can get this low, just be careful, these are like literal razors!


Use Enough Band-Aids

Steve

 

[Morrow]

Would, say 25 included be to low for 1095 steel?

what are you going to use it for? opinions vary but personally i think the intended use determines how i sharpen. Take for example an Ontario TAK. This model comes in both 1095 and D2. I'll sharpen both at the same angle regardless of steel. The D2 tends to hold up better but the 1095 is a lot easier to restore in the field. YMMV.

So...to answer your question. If your intended use is general utility/field knife...I would say yes. 25 degrees inclusive is too low for 1095 IMHO. If you plan on using it in the kitchen it would be fine.

 

[HoB]

I would imagine that would largely depend on the hardness of the 1095. It can be run pretty hard with a very fine grain structure, which implies that it should support a very small included angle.

Then again, I am sure there are 1095 blades out there that will easily roll and chip at low angles. If it is a custom, I would ask the maker.

Considering that 25 deg included isn't too low for pretty much any steel, I would say you should be just fine. Well except of course you are talking about an axe or big chopper, then 25 deg. might be pushing it. Personally, I would stick for an axe with around 40 deg include and for a chopper no less than 30 deg.