Over sharpened?

lagriffe · Oct 29, 2009

I've got a karambit that when used for cutting plastic twine, i can see the edge fold slightly over when angled under a light. The edge is shaving sharp, but after a few swipes on anything a little tougher than paper and the edge needs to be straightened out. Is it possible that I overshapened the edge and thinned it out?

Haze · Oct 29, 2009

It could just be a burr on the edge or it could be a thined out edge rolling on you. It could also just be that the plastic twine is harsh enough to roll the edge, if it's old stuff it could have dirt or sand in it etc. Things like polypropylene rope and the like should be no problem though, I used an EKI to cut that sort of stuff every day when I was working on regular felling and Arboriculture jobs.

fulloflead · Oct 30, 2009

Yes, but the karambit isn't meant to cut twine. It's meant to be super sharp for the time you need it - and I don't mean for utility use.

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ten-ringer · Oct 30, 2009

fulloflead said:
Yes, but the karambit isn't meant to cut twine. It's meant to be super sharp for the time you need it - and I don't mean for utility use.

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the edge isn't any different than any other edge. why can't it cut twine? i suggest going to emerson's site and checking out their sharpening instructions. is the edge rolling at the tip or all over? maybe your technique could use some tuning for the karambits claw shaped blade. hope you figure it out.

spidyman · Oct 30, 2009

probably just a burr that needs to be buffed off.

fulloflead · Oct 31, 2009

ten-ringer said:
the edge isn't any different than any other edge. why can't it cut twine? i suggest going to emerson's site and checking out their sharpening instructions. is the edge rolling at the tip or all over? maybe your technique could use some tuning for the karambits claw shaped blade. hope you figure it out.

I didn't mean that it couldn't. I just meant that, since it's primarily meant to be a weapon, the edge is better left preserved. When I carry my Karambit, I also carry something else for cutting.

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lagriffe · Nov 1, 2009

Haze said:
It could just be a burr on the edge or it could be a thined out edge rolling on you. It could also just be that the plastic twine is harsh enough to roll the edge, if it's old stuff it could have dirt or sand in it etc. Things like polypropylene rope and the like should be no problem though, I used an EKI to cut that sort of stuff every day when I was working on regular felling and Arboriculture jobs.

Any suggestions on what to do if the edge is too thinned out?

MORIMOTOM · Nov 2, 2009

lagriffe said:
Any suggestions on what to do if the edge is too thinned out?

unless you made the primary bevel more acute, a lot more, you haven't thinned the edge. you have almost certainly created a burr that is folding back and forth.

you just need to knock off the burr with a chef steel or a stone. it may take a few swipes.

on the off chance you have thinned the edge to the point of it folding during simple cutting tasks, you just need to bring the angle back to 15-20 degrees.

which kerambit do you have?