I keep producing a wire edge

mark greenman

mark greenman

Joined
Feb 16, 2007
Messages
662
Hi everybody, thanks for listening.

So, I have spyderco sharpmaker, and I use it pretty regularly. I have managed to get my knives very sharp, but I always notice that there is a slight bur, always on the lefthand side of the edge. It's driving me nuts! How do I get rid of that damn wire edge? Right now I've got my ZDP Caly 3 very harp, but there's a bur along the entire lefthand side that I can't seem to get rid of. Any sugestions?

Thanks!
Mark
 
Im guessing that you are right handed? When I used the sharpmaker, it was always easier for me to sharpen the right side of the blade. Probably because my thumb has more control of the knife in my hand and I end up putting more pressure than I do when I do sweeps on the left side. Try a few more light passes on the left side than right side. Also, are you alternating? Or sharpening one side and then the other?

EDIT:
To make it less confusing, when I talk about the sides, I mean when the edge is facing upwards. Basically I end up putting more pressure when using the left rod than I do with the right rod.
 
I've been using alternate swipes on the sharpmaker white stones. The knife is super sharp now, but thats probobly the wire edge, and its messing with my mind! I've got an 8 page paper due tomorrow morning, and instead of writing, I'm slicing through paper and feeling for a bur. It's ridiculous. If there's some way to remove it without special tools like a grinding wheel, I'd be very relieved.

Or, am I just being OCD here, and a wire edge is no big deal?

Thnaks guys,
Mark
 
A wire edge is no big deal - as long as the only thing you use the knife for is shaving arm hair. Anything harder than that and a wire edge rolls, becoming dull instantly.

Don't get too hung up on keeping the number of strokes the same for both sides. If the burr is on the left, give that side a few extra strokes. If the burr changes sides with each stroke, stropping lightly on a piece of cardboard such as the back of a legal pad will usually take it right off.
 
Well, either ZDP is imune to spyderco white stones, or I'm doing something wrong. I swiped it like 20 times on the left hand side, with no effect on the bur. I switched over to 40 degrees and did the same thing- super sharp wire edge remains. I cut into some wooden chopsticks a dozen times or so-nothing. The knife is sharper than it has ever been, but the wire edge remains. Should I be using the flats or the corners of the stone? Should I just use the thing 'till it gets dull and try again? I'm usualy pretty patient but this has gotten to me.

Thanks for your help everyone,
Mark
 
ZDP is not immune to the stones, as long as the steel is touching the stone. Have you tried coloring the edge bevel with a magic marker and taking a couple of swipes on the stones to see exactly where you are removing steel? It sounds from here like the bevel on one side is over twenty degrees and you are removing steel from the shoulder between the edge bevel and the main grind.

Another trick is to set up a mirror behind the Sharpmaker so you can watch your strokes. You may see that you are not holding the knife exactly perpendicular to the base.
 
I had this problem for a while. I just kept alternating super light strokes until the burr was gone. This was hardest with ZDP for me, but I eventually got it. I like ZDP a lot, I just dont like sharpening it.
 
Thanks guys, I'm going to keep at it. Final question- should I be using the 30 or 40 bevel to remove the bur?
 
That depends on how sharp you want the knife. ZDP-189 can hold a thirty degree included edge angle easily. It should hold a forty degree edge for a really long time, but the biggest advantage the ZDP has over VG-10 is the ability to hold a more acute edge.
 
Well, I finally managed to de-bur the edge with a few swipes free hand on one of the white stones, and then did a few swipes at 30 degress, and now this thing is pretty damn sharp.

Thank you for all your help,
Mark
 
Glad you solved the problem Mark. I was thinking that you're probably not holding the knife vertically throughout both strokes.
 
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