Making a scalpel of the Calypso Jr.

Okay, since I already have a plain edge knife that will outslice even my serrated endura in everything but really hard plastic, I decided to make a real scalpel of my Calypso Jr.

On the 204 Sharpmaker, I took the bevels down to 15 degrees.

Then I slapped on the Razor Edge clamp, and put the clamp where it would yield me an 18-20 degree angle (eyeballed this one). I took the edge all the way to x-fine DMT hone. Then I slapped it on my 8000 grit Japanese waterstone for the final polish.

The result is frightening. Shaving hair isn't remotely a test for the resulting edge. Instead, what I do is shave the TIPS off freestanding hair. I drag the knife through the hair on my arm, but let the edge engage only near the tips (so the blade is 3/16" or higher off the surface of my arm). The edge actually grabs and bites all the hairs, instead of pushing them out of the way. After a half-inch run, I'll find a bunch of very short hair pieces on the blade -- an indication that the blade is biting and cutting through some of the hair tips, not just yanking or pushing them out of the way. SHARP!

Joe
 
Jeff Clark

Jeff Clark

Joined
Apr 27, 1999
Messages
6,117
This is one of the reasons that I would like to try AUS-8 in kitchen knives. Not the toughest steel in the world, but should work well where you have a steel and a hone nearby.

I'm waiting anxiously for the Calypso Jr. Lite with the VG-10 blade. That will be an incredible combination. The only thing I would like more is if I could get my 3.5" lock-blade Adventurer model SAK with a 0.1" thick flat ground VG-10 blade.

[This message has been edited by Jeff Clark (edited 02 July 1999).]
 
Way to go, Joe. That's inspirational. I have never been able to get a knife that sharp. I have used many method and devices and while all of them leave the knife shaving sharp, I could not cut hairs in the manner you describe. I read a post some time ago in rec.knives that told of the same level of sharpnesss and I just wondered.

One time I used a razoredge guide on a combination waterstone 1200 / 6000 and I did not find the extra polish netted me that much. Technique, I suppose. Any rate, when I get me Calypso Jr. back from Spyderco, I'll give it another shot.

Can you get this level of sharp on the Axis? Or is it as much a function on the basic grind?
 
Joe - Very impressive. I must say that although AUS-8 has a beautiful, fine, even grain structure, the skill of the "edge expert" must be given credit here.
sal
 
So Joe, you probably could just drop a hair on the edge of your knife and slice it in half.
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Blades
 
Joe
I have been performing surgeries for over 20 years. Never heard of a scalpel blade even close to that sharp!! Actually most blades are fairly dull and only hold an edge for a few centimeters. Way to go!!!
Jim

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What? Another knife? Don't you have enough of those things already?
How many does one person need?
 
I read about the freestanding hair test in one of A.G. Russell's catalogs. Once I read it I got jealous and set out to duplicate the edge my own way. I got one of his Deerhunters that sharp once before.

A really thin, accurate edge with a high polish is the key.

Hopefully in a few days, I'll come back and tell you guys why I did this. You'll laugh!

Joe

PS GONESAILING you're sig is classic!
 
Congratulations, you have achieved the ultimate.

I'm never satisfied with the edge I put on a knife. I always want to make it sharper.

So, now that you have achieved this, can you tell me, are you satisfied? I need to know if it is possible to be satisfied with an edge, or if it is a never ending pursuit.
 
Joe,

Last year in Tactical Knives, I went out on a limb and bascically stated that the Calypso JR was the best knife Spyderco has ever produced.

A year later I still feel the same way.

Unfortunately so did an airport rent-a-cop in NYC who promptly confiscated my favorite
"gent's folder" because it had a lock.......

Stupidity thrives in private security....

I think the Waterstone is what seperates the men from the boys in the painedge sharpening arena. Is it a NORTON?



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"The most effective armor is to keep out of range"-Italian proverb
 
WOW! That is freakin awsome Joe! I can only hope to ever become that skillful in my lifetime. Geez, dropping a hair onto an edge and having it split in half...I would love to see that.

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Johnny
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Inspirational Joe,

That's sharp! You're pretty close to splitting hairs (lengthwise).
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You've given me (and probably a lot of us) a new goal to reach in sharpening.

I look forward to hearing why.
 
SharpCdn: Well, I *was* satisfied with that edge, until you guys started joking about splitting hairs. So I got my stepdaughter to donate one of her hairs to the cause. The tip is a little thinner and sharper than the rest of the blade (clamped the Razor Edge a touch too far towards the pivot). It bites into a single hair nicely, so I played with holding the hair in one hand and slicing half of it off. After a few tries, I got the hang of it. One of the resultant hairs is in my hand right now: it's full thickness, then it's split for a quarter inch, then comes back together (I didn't even have to cut the hair in half). I wonder to what extent this is a skill thing rather than an edge thing.

Man this is fun! More challenges someone!

Williams: the funny thing is, this is a really polished edge. It won't bite and dive into my skin like the rougher edge I used to have on it. But if someone pushcuts it into their skin, they're in trouble!

Anthony: Hey, I was proclaiming the same thing from the first time I handled a Calypso Jr. Then I bought one myself and knew it for sure. I can't remember where I got that waterstone, it was either from Bob Engnath or Gorilla and Sons.

Sal: I didn't bother stropping the edge. I took it directly off the waterstone. It looked nicely polished and there was no sign of a burr, so I decided not to strop it. I figured if I had any microscopic steel chips in the strop, the edge was polished enough that the strop could nick it up again.
 
Joe, how did you prepare the waterstone. I assume you use water. I ask this because Juranitch book indicates this is counter productive. I have always used water, myself. Do you use a Nagura stone to prepare the 8000 grit water stone?
 
Beam --

Juranitch is awesome, but he's a bit off here and there. I've been a huge advocate of not using oil or water on your stones -- unless you should use water or oil on your stones
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I have some natural stones that fill up *way* too fast to use without oil. On the other hand, I use some natural stones, and all ceramic and diamond stones, completely oil- and water-free.

For real water stones -- which are basically designed to dissolve and form a slurry with the addition of water -- I use water. Results just aren't as good without it. It's as true with my Japanese water stone as it is with the Edge Pro water stones. Water keeps 'em cutting.

Anyway, I soak my stone in water for 15 minutes before I use it, that's my total preparation. I haven't used this stone that much, so I haven't had to deal with trueing the surface yet.

Joe
jat@cup.hp.com
 
Has anyone tried to get an edge like this on a full sized Calypso? I`m interested to know how the VG10 does compared to the AUS8. Marcus
 
Joe - if you would be interested, we would be interested to take a high magnification photo of your edge.
sal
 
Sure! I've been using it, so I'd need to put it back on again, though it's mostly still there. Actually, I'll check to see if it'll still slice a hair, and if it does I'll just send it as-is. Where shall I send it to?

I used it today to remove some stitches from my leg! (non-knife related accident). 4 down, 6 to go.

Joe
jat@cup.hp.com
 
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