Knife Sharpening(SV30 steel) tips.

n8swag · Apr 21, 2012

Hi, so I just purchased a Kershaw ZT 0350. I was wondering what your opinion was on the best sharpener/sharpening stone is for this particular steel-SV30.

Also, any tips on sharpening are appreciated! Thankyou!

Whitedog · Apr 21, 2012

DMT diamond stones are hard to beat. Mark the edge with a Sharpie so you can see what you are doing.

res1cue · Apr 21, 2012

Whitedog said:
DMT diamond stones are hard to beat. Mark the edge with a Sharpie so you can see what you are doing.

+1 for DMT. Wear resistant steels like S30V can be sharpened on normal stones, but it takes a lot more time and patience.

I would get something really coarse in DMT and then get various other grits in non-DTM normal stones

n8swag · Apr 21, 2012

Whitedog said:
DMT diamond stones are hard to beat. Mark the edge with a Sharpie so you can see what you are doing.

Okay, thanks! you're referring to the "edge" of the blade I'm assuming?

HardTripper · Apr 21, 2012

I just got one as well. I'm no expert in sharpening but I think it might be easier with a diamond rod or similar sharpening steel because of the recurve, seems difficult to lay it on a stone.

n8swag · Apr 21, 2012

res1cue said:
+1 for DMT. Wear resistant steels like S30V can be sharpened on normal stones, but it takes a lot more time and patience.

I would get something really coarse in DMT and then get various other grits in non-DTM normal stones[/QUO
do you think a smith's quick sharpener would work okay? Jw, cause I have one of those that does some softer metals pretty well.

n8swag · Apr 21, 2012

HardTripper said:
I just got one as well. I'm no expert in sharpening but I think it might be easier with a diamond rod or similar sharpening steel because of the recurve, seems difficult to lay it on a stone.

Thanks for the tip! I have one of those cheap $10-ish diamond rod sharpeners... think that would work aight? The grit on it is fairly rough... I've never had an sv30 blade before so I'm not familiar with it..

res1cue · Apr 21, 2012

n8swag said:
+1 for DMT. Wear resistant steels like S30V can be sharpened on normal stones, but it takes a lot more time and patience.

I would get something really coarse in DMT and then get various other grits in non-DTM normal stones[/QUO
do you think a smith's quick sharpener would work okay? Jw, cause I have one of those that does some softer metals pretty well.

Do you mean the carbide V style ones where you pull through?

If so, the answer is no. I wouldn't use anything like that on a knife that is even worth more than 40 bucks, let alone your ZT.

I don't know what your sharpening level is, but if you aren't too sure about your ability, you should pick up the spyderco sharpmaker. Forgot that it had a recurve too, which makes it more challenging

n8swag · Apr 21, 2012

res1cue said:
Do you mean the carbide V style ones where you pull through?

If so, the answer is no. I wouldn't use anything like that on a knife that is even worth more than 40 bucks, let alone your ZT.

I don't know what your sharpening level is, but if you aren't too sure about your ability, you should pick up the spyderco sharpmaker. Forgot that it had a recurve too, which makes it more challenging

Yup, that's the one I'm talking about...
Okay, Ill check out the spyderco! Thanks again!

mkjellgren · Apr 21, 2012

Get a spyderco sharpmaker and the recurve will be no problem. If you want you can purchase diamond rods for the sharpmaker as well as ultrafine rods to get an even sharper edge. You'll be able to sharpen your 0350 just fine on the sharpmaker with just the stock medium and fine rods, just make sure you touch up the edge before it really gets dull and you'll have no problem.

Tsujigiri · Apr 21, 2012

res1cue said:
I don't know what your sharpening level is, but if you aren't too sure about your ability, you should pick up the spyderco sharpmaker. Forgot that it had a recurve too, which makes it more challenging

+1 on that. I use an Edgepro now, which costs a lot more than a Sharpmaker, but when I got into the hobby the Sharpmaker was the system I used. I got by just fine with it, and could make my knives almost as sharp as I can now. I kept the Sharpmaker because it's a much more versatile and portable system, still my go-to for serrated edges.

n8swag · Apr 21, 2012

mkjellgren said:
Get a spyderco sharpmaker and the recurve will be no problem. If you want you can purchase diamond rods for the sharpmaker as well as ultrafine rods to get an even sharper edge. You'll be able to sharpen your 0350 just fine on the sharpmaker with just the stock medium and fine rods, just make sure you touch up the edge before it really gets dull and you'll have no problem.

Okay!!

n8swag · Apr 21, 2012

Tsujigiri said:
+1 on that. I use an Edgepro now, which costs a lot more than a Sharpmaker, but when I got into the hobby the Sharpmaker was the system I used. I got by just fine with it, and could make my knives almost as sharp as I can now. I kept the Sharpmaker because it's a much more versatile and portable system, still my go-to for serrated edges.

Haha yeah, price is kinda an issue... I'm in Highschool, so money is hard to come by.

res1cue · Apr 21, 2012

mkjellgren said:
Get a spyderco sharpmaker and the recurve will be no problem. If you want you can purchase diamond rods for the sharpmaker as well as ultrafine rods to get an even sharper edge. You'll be able to sharpen your 0350 just fine on the sharpmaker with just the stock medium and fine rods, just make sure you touch up the edge before it really gets dull and you'll have no problem.

+1 on the extra rods. It only comes with medium and fine. The fine is great, but trying to apex for the first time on the medium rods will frustrate you. The diamond rods are a must, if you have no other means of reprofiling. The ultrafine rods will give you an amazing edge.

Trail Edge · Apr 21, 2012

res1cue said:
+1 on the extra rods. It only comes with medium and fine. The fine is great, but trying to apex for the first time on the medium rods will frustrate you. The diamond rods are a must, if you have no other means of reprofiling. The ultrafine rods will give you an amazing edge.

I'm at about this stage myself. I used to use wetstones as a kid, but I never had much luck. Man, have things changed after that sharpmaker. I use a strop too, nothing fancy, but it came with the BarkRiver grit sticks to rub into each side. I have noticed that it takes longer for my S30v to take an improved edge faster than my A2 convex (on the strop). I'm at about the smoothly cutting phone book paper level of sharpening.