Questions about sebenza reprofiling

Phyx · May 20, 2015

Hello all,

Long time lurker in the CRK forum, first time posting.

About a month ago, I purchased my first CRK, a small plain jane 21. As I'm sure will be of little surprise to any of you, I love the hell out of it.

Anyway...
I have a WickedEdge, which I have a good amount of experience on, and I would like to use it to sharpen my 21 to a mirror edge. I have done a good deal of reading here on BF and on other sites trying to absorb as much information as I can about the best way to go about this. I am making this thread to poll you guys for a few more recent opinions to add onto what I have already absorbed.

My first question is whether or not the Sebenza 'needs' a convex edge. I understand that it ships from the factory with one, and that a convex edge can be accomplished on the WE system, but I would personally prefer a non-convex edge for ease of edge maintenance and (to my taste) better slicing ability. Also, I have read (and I don't mean to offend anyone here, haha) that Chris runs his S35VN a little softer than other manufacturers. Does this slight drop in hardness make the increased durability of a convex edge preferable to non-convex?

My second question is what angle should I run the edge at to optimize the balance of sharpness and durability, while removing the least amount of material? I understand that the blades are hand-ground in the factory, so the angles vary a little bit, but what do you guys have experience with?

My third question is what would reprofiling my Sebenza do to the potential resale value? Obviously it wouldn't increase it, but would it decrease it? Would you guys hesitate to pick up a Sebenza that has a mirror edge put on it by the previous owner? I don't think I'll ever part with mine, but on the off chance I end up selling it to fund another CRK, I would like to know how the value will be impacted.

Finally, to anyone who has done the same (or a similar) thing to your Sebenza(s), do you have any tips, tricks, or suggestions for me that I haven't directly asked about?

Feel free to post any pictures of your mirror edge CRKs. What's a good thread without some pictures to look at, anyway?

Thanks!

XxdrpxX · May 20, 2015

If you have the strops for the WE, and diamond compound, I would just maintain the convex edge, and this would also give you your mirror edge. I believe if you set your WE to 19-20 degrees you will be all set just to maintain. Saying that you have actually reprofiled the edge, as opposed to maintaining the edge will hurt resale. If its going to be your user, it really doesnt matter, but if you are planning on flipping this knife then I would just maintain the edge.

Corytr · May 20, 2015

I too have a wicked edge. I don't think I will ever again use it on any one of my CRK's. I have seen some well done edges with the WE, but they were done by a professional outfit. I would also never "risk it" by buying a CRK that has been reprofiled by anyone other than CRK themselves due to the amount of metal that the WE and some of the other gadgets are capable of removing.

The sharpmaker (recommended by CRK) is far less aggressive than a WE and when used with a strop, can get the edge lightning sharp. The amount of material a sharpmaker removes is so minimal, that you can go a very long time before a reprofile is necessary. Maintaining a sharp edge is key to prolonging the need to reprofile. To me, the mirror edge is a novelty. I used to love them, but that was when I didn't know any better.

.

I read a comment somewhere by Mr. Reeve where he said that the convex edge they put on their knives is optimum for their steel and grind. I have questioned him before and he was right every time. The man has done his research and knows his product. So, to me, yes the convex edge is a must on CRK's.

All that said, if I was going to use the WE, I would get it lightning sharp at 20 degrees, then set up at 18.5 until mirror, then 17 degrees until mirror. Then strop it all into one convex edge. Then touch up at 20 degrees if I had to get my edge back.

Congrats on your first CRK!

Zeta33 · May 21, 2015

First and foremost, reprofiling it will destroy it's value. CRK only hold their value if they remain more or less unused or unchanged. The whole "you can use it for 6 months and then sell it to recoup most of your funds" thing is a myth. A reprofiled Sebenza is worth 2/3rds (on a good day) of it's original purchase price when being sold on forums, to most buyers anyway.

I would personally sharpen it to about 18 degrees per side. I'd also take care to not let the bevel get raised up too high for one of those stupid looking edges that a few WE guys will sometimes end up with. You know, where half the blade is the edge? Other than that, it is just a knife, and it sharpens just like any other knife. I've taken S35VN down to about 17 degrees per side and it held up to use just fine. Congrats on your first CRK and here is to many more, or at least many years enjoying the one

There are several photos of edges in this thread below.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1243586-Edge-Photos?highlight=post+your+edges

Regards,

brownshoe · May 21, 2015

Phyx said:
...My first question is whether or not the Sebenza 'needs' a convex edge...

Since CRK recommends a Sharpmaker for the sebenza, which does not put on a convex edge, the answer is NO.

IIRC, the edge on the sebenza has some covex character due to final sharpening being on a belt but it's not a full convex edge such as the edge the Bushcraft crowd loves so much.

For any knife, as soon as you sharpen it, you destroy value. As soon as you reprofile the edge, no matter what the device, you destroy value. However, a sebenza will hold more value than many of its brethren even if reprofiled. Plus you can always send it for back to the factory for restoration.

Corytr · May 21, 2015

When the sharpmaker is used for touch ups, it will not ruin the convex edge. If you just hit the very outer most part of the bevel (the 20 degree or so part of the bevel) and not the 19, 18, 17 degree areas of the bevel, it will take a looong time to actually reprofile. This will also not mess up the mirror that you had as the rods never actually contact that part of the bevel. Only a few swipes every so often is all that is needed to maintain. This is why maintaining a sharp edge delays the need for a reprofile. Also, this is why some like micro-bevels, they allow for easy touch ups.

MatthewSB · May 21, 2015

Sebenzas beg to be used, dulled, sharpened, carried, dulled and sharpened some more. Then, when some piece or another finally wears out, send it back to the factory for repair. When the question is "Should I use/carry/sharpen a knife" the answer is almost always "YES!"

LukeTheSpook · May 22, 2015

MatthewSB said:
Sebenzas beg to be used, dulled, sharpened, carried, dulled and sharpened some more. Then, when some piece or another finally wears out, send it back to the factory for repair. When the question is "Should I use/carry/sharpen a knife" the answer is almost always "YES!"

This. Cmon guys, it's a Sebenza. Pay the big money, cut stuff, love the knife, cut some more, sharpen it. Cut some more stuff and keep loving that thing. The forums are the only place where guys will tell you to not use or sharpen a knife so you can sell it.

I say this. Buy the knife you want. Throw the box away. Carry it. Cut stuff, sharpen, repeat. Do this and that knife will be worth all that big dough.

Or take keep a knife locked up, take it out for pictures and never use it.

Acadian · May 22, 2015

LukeTheSpook said:
This. Cmon guys, it's a Sebenza. Pay the big money, cut stuff, love the knife, cut some more, sharpen it. Cut some more stuff and keep loving that thing. The forums are the only place where guys will tell you to not use or sharpen a knife so you can sell it.

I say this. Buy the knife you want. Throw the box away. Carry it. Cut stuff, sharpen, repeat. Do this and that knife will be worth all that big dough.

Or take keep a knife locked up, take it out for pictures and never use it.

werd! Life is too short to just "keep" stuff around and have it collect dust.

rexromic · May 22, 2015

MatthewSB said:
Sebenzas beg to be used, dulled, sharpened, carried, dulled and sharpened some more. Then, when some piece or another finally wears out, send it back to the factory for repair. When the question is "Should I use/carry/sharpen a knife" the answer is almost always "YES!"

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Corytr · May 22, 2015

Something like this?

Acadian · May 22, 2015

that's a thing of beauty

Corskin said:
Something like this?

tacticalgearlover · May 22, 2015

my large 21 pain jane has a slightly inconstant grind near the tip, making it so that I can't sharpen/touch up on the sharp maker, should I grind it down, or send it back into crk to have the edge fixed (I'm in canada, wondering if it's worth it)

353 · May 22, 2015

tacticalgearlover said:
my large 21 pain jane has a slightly inconstant grind near the tip, making it so that I can't sharpen/touch up on the sharp maker, should I grind it down, or send it back into crk to have the edge fixed (I'm in canada, wondering if it's worth it)

I had the same "problem", the egde is slightly steeper & more convex towards the tip, it's actually pretty normal.

Try this(at 2.40).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FemYXS8p_tI&list=FLwfNhjgpiIiS4ccobxdDeRA&index=5

tacticalgearlover · May 22, 2015

Thanks 353, I'll give it a try tonight.

Zeta33 · May 23, 2015

LukeTheSpook said:
This. Cmon guys, it's a Sebenza. Pay the big money, cut stuff, love the knife, cut some more, sharpen it. Cut some more stuff and keep loving that thing. The forums are the only place where guys will tell you to not use or sharpen a knife so you can sell it.

I say this. Buy the knife you want. Throw the box away. Carry it. Cut stuff, sharpen, repeat. Do this and that knife will be worth all that big dough.

Or take keep a knife locked up, take it out for pictures and never use it.

No one is telling OP to not use his knife, and "should I use it?" was never one of his questions. He asked about resale value after sharpening, and the resale value takes a big hit. To be more specific, he asked about reprofiling the edge.

LukeTheSpook · May 23, 2015

Zeta33 said:
No one is telling OP to not use his knife, and "should I use it?" was never one of his questions. He asked about resale value after sharpening, and the resale value takes a big hit. To be more specific, he asked about reprofiling the edge.

Yes sir, so does not keeping the box, using the knife, sharpening it, holding it. Pretty much everything besides lookin at it. My advice was to use the knife, sharpen it and love it.

Questions about sebenza reprofiling

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