Need some Suggstions on Sharpening

N

nemisissaturn

Joined
Jan 14, 2008
Messages
2
Gentlemen, I have some questions on sharpening a Knife with an S30V blade. I currently have the Lansky Kit with hones from extra coarse to the Sapphire polishing hone. I currently have the blade angle at 25 degrees. I am curious to know if I can get the blade's angle down to 20 degrees. Will the blade be to brittle? Also will it hold a razor's edge for awhile? The 25 degree does not hold a razor edge for nothing, couple of cuts with it and it converts down to just sharp. Someone give me some pointers. I have the fine, medium, and coarse diamond hones coming in the mail soon. These stones will make the sharpening process faster right?

Thanks,
jason
 
If it's properly heat treated and sharpened, S30V should hold up much better than "a couple of cuts". I've used my S30V knives to trim bushes, make fuzz sticks for fires, cut zip ties and nylon strapping in a warehouse, and various other things with no sudden degrading of the edge. It does lose its initial edge after some use, but then it holds a working edge for quite a while in my experience.

Are you perhaps cutting with a burr on the edge that gets broken off quickly? The only other thing I can think of would be a faulty heat treatment, but that's not very common AFAIK.

Anyway... are you talking about an inclusive 20 degree angle, or 20 dps? If it's 20 dps, S30V can take a thinner edge than that. If it's 10 dps, you might risk making a weak edge with anything thinner.

Do you put a microbevel on your blades when you sharpen? I usually do my knives (S30V, VG10, 154 CM, ZDP189) at 15 dps on a Sharpmaker, then do a few light passes on the 20 dps setting to add a microbevel for a stronger edge. It seems to help mine hold their edge longer than just the 15 dps I used to use.
 
use the 17 degree setting and wear out your coarse diamond (only a possibility of hyperbole, S30V is very wear resistant, and the Lansky diamonds can wear out relatively quickly) If you want a microbevel, use the 20 afterward with your preferred grit progression.
 
Allright, I can do that. Still waiting on those diamond hones to come in. I will work with them and see how it comes out. If else fails I will just get a Sharpmaker... :D

Thanks for the help!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top