Opinel Wire edge

[T. Erdelyi]

Just found my old Opinel folder, and even though I've been sharpening freehand for 20+ years, and can put a razor edge on just about anything why can't I get rid of the wire edge on my Opinel?
I've tried stopping the hell out of it, and buffing it to no avail. It's sharp, it shaves hair, slices through paper like no bodies business, but it just don't feel sharp, not like my BM's or Spydies or even my custom Nealy in O1, what am I doing wrong?
And what the hell is it made of? Is the flat grind and thin blade have anything to do with it, I can't see how, I can put a shaving sharp edge on my filet knives, I just don't get it.

Help!!!

 

[Bart student]

I am european, so I've had my share of opinels ( still have like 10 lying around).
Basically they use a steel similar to 1075, altough I'm not sure.. might have cahnged over the passing of time since I checked last time. Needles to say, opinels offer the best bang for the buck, I challenge any folder to outcut it's price in opinels.

They do have the habit of getting their steel a bit on the soft side, while USA companies prefer their steel on the hard side ( or at least, I am getting that impression ). Opinels tend to bend rather then break.. maybe the steel is just too soft and you just bend the wire to the side, while with a USA made steel, it would have broken off a long time ago.
Maybe you just need a differnt sharpening technique for soft carbon steels like that??

I can get all my opinels to straight razors on my benchgringer with a trizact belt and a buffer.. But then.. this technique doesn't create wire edges in teh first place if done right.

OH.. opinels are known for the fact that they are sharp, but not for their razor qualities or fine grain. Most people in france use a regular butcher's steel to touch it up or a plain rock.

last tought... you might just have gotten one that wasn't hardened properly.. if you produce millions of knives, there has to be some with a flaw, and of those few, maybe one can slip trough QC.. and that one might just end up in your hands

Greetz and take care. Bart.

 

[Jeff Clark]

What are you sharpening with? I would think an India stone would be pretty good for the purpose.
I would finish with a few very light strokes edge-first at about a 25-degree angle to insure all burrs are removed. Then I would strop it on leather with jewelers rouge on it. I would make these strokes on something like fine ceramic rods.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Fine ceramic rods are horrible to try to finish on something like an Opinel as the steel is really soft and it bends before it gets cut. Ceramic rod are also low in aggression as they don't break down, and the rods generate huge pressures due to the low contact areas.

If you are using a rod just use enough force to generate a cutting action, any more and you just fold over the edge. You are much better off honing on a very wide and aggressive hone which will allow cutting to take place at much lower pressures. DMT plates are ideal, however high quality sandpaper is a solid second choice.

-Cliff

 

[Daniel Koster]

Cliff is right on the money.

An Opinel will always produce a wire edge with a rod. A DMT duofold has been my sharpener of choice with opinels.