Outside Pictures - ZDP-189 Delica 4 and Salt 1 (Yellow PE)

Swedge said:
What is it about the blade you don't like, and what are you going to have Tom Krein do?

The reason I ask is that on Saturday I ordered a Delica 4 in green with zdp-189 steel. I was wondering about sending it to TK but I wasn't exactly clear what he would do with it other than make it sharper. Does he change the shape or geometry of the blade?

What are the benefits of a TK regrind (other than his logo on the blade!)?
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Well, I don't really care for the fact that the factory blade on the Delica 4 has such a short grind. It goes from the cutting edge to the full width of the blade in about 1/2" The Delica 3 had a taller grind which gave it a less obtuse grind which made it a better slicer.

Tom Krein is going to take the blade on my delica and full flat grind it. The Calypso Jr. and the Dragonfly, Paramilitary, and others are examples of full flat ground blades.

He's going to make the knife .015" beind the edge. I believe that is what the Calypso Jr. is from the factory. So this Delica should be a badass slicer.

I love the D4 handle and I love ZDP-189, I just hated the blade profile of the factory Delica 4. So this is a fix. I think it will be well worth it.

In short, the knife will become an unreal slicing and cutting machine. Which is good because I love to use my knives for cutting and slicing. I don't need to pry with them.

:)
 
The reason I bought the D4 with zdp is to get a knife that will excel in cutting. So I may just copy your lead!

What angle for the bevel? I was thinking 30 degrees for my D4 since zdp steel should be able to handle it and I would use my BM 710 with D2 steel for heavy duty stuff.
 
I had him do the same thing to my Endura and Delica 4's in ZDP. I asked for his standard which he recommended at .010 behind the edge. These are wicked slicers, very easy to touch up, and have been plenty durable for my cutting chores. The ZDP benefits greatly from his flat ground treatment. The saber grind that spydie sends it with does not show off the abilities of this steel. I know Sal probably has his reason, but a Krein regrind will make anyone happy, believe me.
 
What is the "Krein Regrind" logo. Anybody got a pic?

Nevermind! Google is my friend! Logo is a beauty!!
 
Part of the reason for the fatter grinds on the E4 and D4 ZDP's could be to save grinding time and costs, which could greatly increase the cost of the knife considering how tough it is to grind ZDP. Going to FFG may increase the cost of the knife enough to bring it out of the cost range of "super steel to the masses" category that it is in now. The truth is most people are more than happy with the excellent edge retention and cutting performance of the E4/D4 ZDP's from the factory, it is just us knife knuts that frequent these forums that want a much thinner grind. Luckily for us knife knuts we have Tom Krein to regrind our knives super thin for us to get that amazing cutting performance that only a super thin grind can provide. For the cost I paid for my E4 ZDP I was more than happy to send my knife to Tom Krein for a very reasonably priced regrind.

Mike
 
Swedge said:
The reason I bought the D4 with zdp is to get a knife that will excel in cutting. So I may just copy your lead!

What angle for the bevel? I was thinking 30 degrees for my D4 since zdp steel should be able to handle it and I would use my BM 710 with D2 steel for heavy duty stuff.
Click to expand...

30 degrees inclusive (15 per side) is the widest I would go with a microbevel. ZDP can take thin edges and hold them well. If I was you I would try around 10 per side and microbevel at 15 per side for EDC work. ZDP should easily handle that, as it has handled thinner than that without me with ease. It is a high performance steel, and if you have a BM 710 at a fatter angle for heavier work I would encourage you to go for 7-8 per side with a 10-12 per side microbevel to see what real cutting power is all about. If you get any chipping you just raise the microbevel slightly to compensate, or if you don't get chipping you can go slightly thinner! I am a true Darksider though (a lover of ultra-thin and acute edges) so keep that in mind with my real thin angle recommendations, but in all seriousness ZDP is being done a dis service at 15 per side, I love it because it can easily go thinner than that.

Mike
 
Thanks, Mike. The problem is that I'm a novice, and my sharpening technique is limited to using the Sharpmaker (and not very well at that, so far). I don't want to commit myself at this point to learning to sharpen freehand or to purchasing an EdgePro, etc. Therefore, I will probably content myself with 30 degrees inclusive.
 
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