I bought a new Spyderco Sharpmaker recently. I watched the DVD that came with it, but I seem to have trouble getting the fine edge on my knives that I'm looking for. I can get an edge that will shave a little bit, but I want a razor edge. I don't know if I'm not applying enough pressure on the blade or what. Has anyone else experienced this, if so, what can I do? I know it's me and not the product.
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Question about the Spyderco Sharpmaker
- Thread starter TheEdge01
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2009
- Messages
- 13,437
If you're concerned about not applying enough pressure, it's very likely you're applying too much. Very, very light pressure is necessary for a fine edge, especially on narrow ceramic hones, and even lighter on the corners of triangular ceramic rods or on round rods. The tandem combination of a very hard hone and a vary narrow contact area will focus pressure against the edge, which can do more damage than good (rolling or chipping) if the touch is even slightly too heavy.
Also, if the edge is very dull to begin with, you might need a more aggressive hone (diamond or CBN rods for the SM, for example) to reset the edge and fully apex it. Then use the ceramics with a very, very light touch to refine it. If your concern over pressure has arisen due to very slow progress in seeing any improvement, the edge may be too dull to fully restore with the ceramics alone.
As a thumbrule for pressure, I like to imagine I'm just brushing dust off the rods with the knife's edge; if pressure is any heavier than is needed to do literally that, it's too heavy.
David
Also, if the edge is very dull to begin with, you might need a more aggressive hone (diamond or CBN rods for the SM, for example) to reset the edge and fully apex it. Then use the ceramics with a very, very light touch to refine it. If your concern over pressure has arisen due to very slow progress in seeing any improvement, the edge may be too dull to fully restore with the ceramics alone.
As a thumbrule for pressure, I like to imagine I'm just brushing dust off the rods with the knife's edge; if pressure is any heavier than is needed to do literally that, it's too heavy.
David
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Thanks for the reply, more than likely I was applying too much pressure. I will consider getting some diamond rods for my sharp maker. I have seen them available for 40 dollars a set.