Question for the Sebenzanistas

jokrswylde

jokrswylde

Basic Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2004
Messages
442
Ok, here is the deal: I have a Large classic with wood inlays. It is an EDC user for daily tasks around the house and office. Aside from touching it up on the sharpmaker (40 d), I have kept it shaving sharp and have not had to do any major sharpening.

Well I was opening an envelope the other day and noticed it would not cut the paper, it just king of tore throught it. Checked it on my arm hair and not even close to shaving. No problem, few strokes on an EZ lap diamond hone, followed by 10 strokes on the medium rods and 10 on the white. Re-check and it is duller than before!!!!!!!!! I try it on my arm hair again and the edge wont' even bite in until it is almost perpendicular to my arm! It feels almost rounded.

So I figure I have screwed the bevel/angle up somehow with the EZ lap. My problem is, I CAN"T FIX IT! It is driving me insane! I spent over 90 minutes last night and I swear it is even duller. I love my Sebbie, but I swear I almost threw it through the window. I searched the old threads here and found good info, but not exactly helpful to my plight. Can someone take a look at my sharpening protocol and see if I am missing something, please. Here is what I did:

1. EZ Lap at 40 degrees one side until burr formation (33 strokes medium pressure)
2. 33 strokes on opposite side.
3. 10 altenating strokes each side.
4. Check for "toothy" edge. Nope, still smooth and rounded feeling??!!!
5. Get a sharpie and check the edge contact...seems ok.\
6. 50 strokes per side on medium Sharpmaker rods medium pressure.
7. 50 strokes on white rods with light pressure
8. Edge is still pathetic.
9. Strop on 2000 grit wet/dry and mousepad---edge still pathetic
10. Repeat ENTIRE PROCESS with similar results.

If any of you guys can see a problem with this procedure or have any suggestions, I would appreciate it. I refuse to carry a dull knife, so as of now my favorite knife is benched. I have heard of the Sebbie being a pain to sharpen before, but this is laughable!
 
No, I meant that I used the 40 degree slot in the sharpmaker as a guide. 40 degree total, 20 each side. Although the knife feels like it WAS sharpened at that big of an angle!!!!!!!!!
 
I think he's just missing a comma.

EZ lap, set at 40 degrees, worked one side until burr, (33 strokes)

etc.

I would suggest magic markering the edge to see where the metal is coming off. I had a very similar problem, I was just removing the shoulder and not touching the edge.

My guess is the original sharpening angle was > 20 per side, and it was sharp due to the final convex polish.
 
Your going to wear out the blade before you ever use it !!! I use a Eze-lap diamond rod for almost all my sharpening, freehand. Of course I have never wanted to or needed to shave my arms !! This gives a micro serrated edge, very effective.
 
mete said:
Your going to wear out the blade before you ever use it !!! ...
Click to expand...

That is EXACTLY what I was thinking! How high (of an angle) do you go? I mean pretty soon the knife will be basically prependicular to the stone. How can you get a knife sharp with a 30 degree bevel? Maybe I will just keep increasing the edge angle, but it just seems that is an awful thick edge for a folder with S30v.

BTW, this is the ONLY knife, folder or fixed, that I have a problem sharpening. I just don't get it?:confused:
 
Ok, after more work with a stone and a protractor to measure angles (not much going on at work today), here is what I found out.

1. To remove the marker from the edge, I have to sharpen it at 28 degrees. Also, I think the bevels are uneven, because the other side removes sharpie at 26 degrees (don't know if two degrees is that significant?) WAAAY to obtuse of an edge IMO.

2. Looking straight down on the edge, I see the black marker. Upon further review, the edge looks kinda like this

\_/ instead of like this \/

Looks like I need to reprofile, and I don't think the Sharpmaker will get it done. Any suggestions?
 
I was in a similar situation as you. I spent mine back and asked CRK to sharpen it. You can ask for xx degress so you can maintain it on the sharpmaker.
 
Dave- that is probably what I will end up doing. Any idea of the turnaround time? I appreciate everyone's help so far.
 
Ii asked about putting a double thumb stud on mine a fiew days ago and they quoted me a week or less. But that might be different
 
It prolly takes them all of 5 seconds to sharpen it. Im sure they would have it done and shipped out the same day the only question is how busy are they.
 
probably a couple weeks door to door for a sharpen. I had some other work done, freshen the unique graphic that took extra time.

Put your phone number on the note. They called me to discuss the angle I wanted it sharpened at.
 
Jokrs:

Next time try stropping on a leather belt on top of a mousepad loaded with fritz or something similar. I do that every once and a while and it keeps my blades screaming sharp with less chance of messing up the angle. Sometimes all it takes is a little adhesive or other junk on the edge to make it cut sloppy.;)
 
Go for an sharpmaker with diamond stones for some time (marker, several strikes, other side and again).

Work as long as it is necessary and a bit longer, you have to do it only once.
I know it is time consuming but i did it once, refprofiled the edge and it is ok for now.

Just give it some time my friend.

Adam
 
Yeah, get the diamond stones. I never got my BG-42 sharp with the brown ceramics on the Sharpmaker. Only with the diamond stones I managed to get a burr afer over a hundred swipes. Then I finished it up all the way to the ultra-fines. Now it's scary sharp.
 
So, I emailed CRK and got a fast answer with directions to send them my Seb. Very helpful. However, on a whim I took a detour to my local knife shop and explained my dilemma to him. 30 seconds and 3 dollars later and the Seb. cuts like a laser.

Now I am seriously contemplating getting a belt grinder. Seriously, I put in over three total hours of frustration with this thing, and 30 seconds on a belt grinder is all it takes???!!!! Give me a break! Anyway, thanks for all of your help, I'm off to price belt grinders!
 
cool. The key will be how well you can maintain whatever it was belt ground at.
 
jokrswylde said:
Now I am seriously contemplating getting a belt grinder.
Click to expand...
If you really want a belt grinder I suggest you consider buying your knife shop owner to sharpen your knife with your belt grinder :D

Or train some month before putting something the price of a sebbie on the belt... yes it's magic but it can also destroy a knife in less than 3 seconds...
 
Get an Edge Pro. It's pretty idiot proof and once you get the angle you want (and it will take some work and patience), it's very easy to maintain.;)
 
I have both a belt grinder and an edge pro. For knives I don't care about I use the belt grinder, but if I want a perfect edge I use my edge pro. If you don't care too much about the aesthetics of your edge you might want to get the belt grinder and save some money. They run about $40.
 
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