Question about Spyderco Pacific Salt Plain Edge Knife sharpening

[salmonkiller]

It tends to sharpen easily and quickly for me, but to dulls rather quickly from my experiences.As a Saltwater fisherman it is my folder of choice while fishing.

 

[Chris "Anagarika"]

I think what happened was the factory sharpened wdge that sometimes resulting in softer edge due to overheating gets removed and the true hardened steel now being exposed.

I cut veggies on ceramic plate carefully, using a SAK, no ding can be seen with naked eye. Perhaps there's a little but need magnifying glass to see. In any case it should deform the apex, only a matter of degree, and definitely the sharpness & cutting technique matters.

 

[singularity35]

I think what happened was the factory sharpened wdge that sometimes resulting in softer edge due to overheating gets removed and the true hardened steel now being exposed.

I cut veggies on ceramic plate carefully, using a SAK, no ding can be seen with naked eye. Perhaps there's a little but need magnifying glass to see. In any case it should deform the apex, only a matter of degree, and definitely the sharpness & cutting technique matters.

I agree with you that something else could have been going on Chris, but whatever it was, it wasn't work hardening.

 

[10fingers]

H-1 is also unique because its is an austenitic steel. Traditional martensitic steels use a heat treating process to harden and temper them to serviceable knife blades. H-1, however, "work hardens" through the mechanical processes of shaping and grinding the steel. The areas "worked" the most-like the bevels and cutting edges- become the hardest. the areas worked less remain softer and tougher. the end result is a blade with differential hardness that provides an exceptional balance of strength, flexibility and cutting performance-just like a coveted japanese sword.

this^^ is quoted directly from spydercos 2015 product guide. It certainly sounds to me like the steel is hardened with the grinding process per Spyderco..

 

[10fingers]

I agree with you that something else could have been going on Chris, but whatever it was, it wasn't work hardening.

since spydercos come at about 15 dps its a good chance a 20ish dps edge was put on with the first sharping resulting in a longer lasting edge. (its how i do mine anyhow)

 

[singularity35]

since spydercos come at about 15 dps its a good chance a 20ish dps edge was put on with the first sharping resulting in a longer lasting edge. (its how i do mine anyhow)

Actually going 20dps from 15dps on a quality steel will reduce edge retention....

 

[Surfingringo]

Actually going 20dps from 15dps on a quality steel will reduce edge retention....

Agreed Chuck, but I think maybe he just meant the microbevel could have kept the knife edge from rolling the way it did with the factory edge. An explanation that makes more sense than "work hardening" from a touchup on the sm.

 

[benzology]

Same for me - keen fisherman here and its my go to knife (PE) along with a stainless mora for bait cutting and rougher stuff.

Doesn't hold an edge particularly long but enough for me, plus I can get a decent edge on the sharpmaker very quickly.

Oh and to the OP - been using H1 spydercos in salt water environs for years and not a spot of rust!!

It tends to sharpen easily and quickly for me, but to dulls rather quickly from my experiences.As a Saltwater fisherman it is my folder of choice while fishing.

 

[singularity35]

Agreed Chuck, but I think maybe he just meant the microbevel could have kept the knife edge from rolling the way it did with the factory edge. An explanation that makes more sense than "work hardening" from a touchup on the sm.

Ah yes, good point gringo.

A more obtuse angle will be more resistant to edge damage but won't make your knife keep it's sharpness longer. It might be argued though that a dull, undamaged edge will "cut" better than an all banged up edge.

 

[John_0917]

Agreed, but the myth that sharpening H1 will work harden it still won't die a quiet death...

Especially when there is a video on YT of Janich talking about the Aqua Salt PE and claiming that SERE instructors told him the edge retention got better and better the more they sharpened them...

 

[10fingers]

Quote Originally Posted by Surfingringo View Post
Agreed Chuck, but I think maybe he just meant the microbevel could have kept the knife edge from rolling the way it did with the factory edge. An explanation that makes more sense than "work hardening" from a touchup on the sm.

Ah yes, good point gringo.

A more obtuse angle will be more resistant to edge damage but won't make your knife keep it's sharpness longer. It might be argued though that a dull, undamaged edge will "cut" better than an all banged up edge.

gringo said it right for me I don't think I've ever reprofiled to 20 dps but just a micro bevel on the factory edge with the sharpmaker 40 degree side.