Microbevelling BM S30V blade?

Splat

Splat

Joined
Nov 19, 2006
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I just got a BM Mini Rukus and was thinking of microbeveling the edge. I have a BM Activator with S30V blade that had chipped (cutting plastic banding straps) so I'd like to prevent that from possibly happening with my new Mini Rukus. This knife is my EDC knife and will be used for a variety of cutting chores, however I do not abuse my blades. Using my Edgepro Apex I was thinking of going 18º/side for the main bevel and 21º/side for the secondary/edge bevel. Opinions or recommendations?
 
You can go thinner than 18° for your back-bevel (some folks use about 10° per side and then microbevel with gusto - don't do that unless you're good friends with your 120 grit stone) and then add your 21° microbevel. Unless you sink your blade into items and vigorously twist, it shouldn't be a problem.
 
Thanks for replying. Maybe I'll go 15º for the back bevel, then 21º for the edge. It seems like it would still be a solid worker.
 
That sounds like it'd do great at work and showing off. If you go a hair under 21, you could touch up the edge on a Sharpmaker between heavy duty resharpenings.
 
:) I don't care about showing off, Thom, but maybe I could start. :) I hadn't thought about using my Sharpmaker for quick touch-ups. Thanks!
 
I just rebevelled my full size Rukus to 10 per side (don't forget to remove the thumbstud if you go that thin) and microbeveled at 15-16 per side. I will see how it does and fatten the microbevel as required. Manix holds edges that thin with ease, but I am convinced it's bionic S30V as it out performs every other knife in S30V that I've tried. The Rukus got plenty sharp, just not to the same level as my Manix. The factory bevel was about 12 per side, so it only took a couple minutes on a DMT course to rebevel the knife. You might want to do the sharpie trick and see how acute your factory angle is, as you may not even need to rebevel it to get to 15 per side.

Mike
 
IMO microbeveling is about the only free lunch there is when it comes to blades and knife sharpening. So long as you don't allow the microbevel to become 'not micro' I just don't believe you'll notice any difference in cutting performance, even with microbevels as obtuse as 20-22 degrees/side and possibly even a little greater -- but you will almost certainly find that edge retention is much improved, unless you're cutting a lot of very abrasive materials where the edge is going to get degraded almost immediately anyway.
 
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