Reprofiled my ZT0200st

M

minimalist

Joined
Jul 3, 2013
Messages
206
How did I do? Looks like I botched it. The bevel is pretty uneven. The back of the blade had a slightly wider bevel. There's also a weird gash closer to the serrations. This was the second knife I sharpened when I got my first sharpening kit. It's pretty sharp but it could definitely be sharper.

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Anyone have any tips on how to touch it up and even it out?
 
Freehand? Please tell us more about your method. That would help a good bit, as far as advice from some of the really great guys around here. When you say "it's sharp, but could be sharper", please give us a little more info on that as well. What is sharp to you?

Don't lose heart! I am sure that you are a lot closer than you think you are!
 
Freehand. DMT Course > DMT Extra Fine > Spyderco 302UF > Stropman HD Compact w/ green and white compound.

For sharpness I use the paper test(computer paper). It cuts really well with little resistance however there are times it snags--which I guess is because of a still existent burr. Sometimes it just seems dull.

The bevel just isn't very even. It's wide at some parts and narrow near the tip. What's weird is that it almost feels like there are two edges on the blade when I use my nail to see if there is a burr. It's actually like the edge is asymmetrical and one side is longer than the other. It's kind of hard to explain.

I think the shape of the edge is what's difficult. I put a real good edge on a Kuhn kitchen knife I have. That's just a straight edge though. No curvature or serrations.
 
I just started sharpening recurves, on my own 0200 (new). They are tricky, sorta. I ust the Sharpmaker, with diamond stones, and get a pretty good, and even edge.

I think, (my opinion is worth what you paid for it), that maybe for your second knife, and having a recurve, you may have undertaken a pretty good task. Not real sure, hopefully somebody smarter will be here soon.
 
L2bravo said:
I just started sharpening recurves, on my own 0200 (new). They are tricky, sorta. I ust the Sharpmaker, with diamond stones, and get a pretty good, and even edge.

I think, (my opinion is worth what you paid for it), that maybe for your second knife, and having a recurve, you may have undertaken a pretty good task. Not real sure, hopefully somebody smarter will be here soon.
Click to expand...

Doesn't look like it lol
 
I think the biggest thing you need is more practice. I'm far from a sharpening expert, but I can say for sure that I don't know anyone that got a perfect bevel on their second try freehanding. I still have bevel inconsistencies every once in a while, and I've sharpened way more than two knives. Also, from the looks of your pictures you're not even sharpening all the way to the edge. That would be why your blade isn't sharp, it's not a residual burr.
 
Yep, you're getting close, just not there yet, focus on the coarse stonework first.
 
I'm seconding bpeezer with the microbevel. But you are getting really close. You can see the improvement from your last post. Keep up the good work!
 
Place the edge on a wooden board as if you were trying to cut it and lift the handle following the curve until you reach the tip. Now lean the knife to about 45 degrees and lift the handle again while focusing pressure on the edge, you will notice the curve of the edge is perfectly followed.

Again lower the angle but to a similar angle to which you sharpen to and repeat the above steps. Learning to follow the curve of the blade will help with keeping your bevel lines more even. Use this same lifting of the handle method while sharpening and your bevel will not end up so uneven.
 
knifenut1013 said:
Place the edge on a wooden board as if you were trying to cut it and lift the handle following the curve until you reach the tip. Now lean the knife to about 45 degrees and lift the handle again while focusing pressure on the edge, you will notice the curve of the edge is perfectly followed.

Again lower the angle but to a similar angle to which you sharpen to and repeat the above steps. Learning to follow the curve of the blade will help with keeping your bevel lines more even. Use this same lifting of the handle method while sharpening and your bevel will not end up so uneven.
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Thanks! That's pretty good!
 
Well, I went back to work on the knife and widened the bevel. It's a little more even than before. It does look way more beat up now(an understatement). A lot of it was on purpose though. The first time, not so much. The rest of the "blemishes" were from me adding them to match the first. :eek: I know, it's an expensive knife to be experimenting on but I plan on getting it cerakoted white, all of it, with a real deep bevel.

This is now the sharpest knife I've ever owned and currently own. I'm very happy about that. It will push cut and melt through magazine and computer paper. Now I have to find someone who will cerakote it how I want and to fine tune the bevel. Here are the pics, go easy on me:

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I never found ZT knives to be good for sub 15 degree bevels, mostly because they have thick blades by design(these are hard use knives), and so a low edge bevel tends to give you a thick quarter inch edge bevel.

If you have any plans on doing it again sometime, I'd recommend a Spyderco. A flat ground Endura in ZDP ought to be good with super low edge bevels.
 
It seems Knifenut advice is being followed! Congrats! You'll only get better after this ;)

PS: read more the stickies and watch Knifenut's video (his YT is MrEdgy81). You'll get more tips from watching.
Seek out also Magnanimous thread and posts under this subforum.
 
Noctis3880 said:
I never found ZT knives to be good for sub 15 degree bevels, mostly because they have thick blades by design(these are hard use knives), and so a low edge bevel tends to give you a thick quarter inch edge bevel.

If you have any plans on doing it again sometime, I'd recommend a Spyderco. A flat ground Endura in ZDP ought to be good with super low edge bevels.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I never bought the knife for hard use. Should I have bought another knife? Possibly. I like it though. I like it's weight and it's a bed stand knife. It's a last case scenario, defense system. I have a PM2 for everything else around the house and such. The knife looks like crap now but after I get done with it I think it will look pretty sharp.
 
Chris "Anagarika";12473938 said:
It seems Knifenut advice is being followed! Congrats! You'll only get better after this ;)

PS: read more the stickies and watch Knifenut's video (his YT is MrEdgy81). You'll get more tips from watching.
Seek out also Magnanimous thread and posts under this subforum.
Click to expand...

I actually read all of the posts in in this subforum. All were super helpful. I'll have to subscribe and watch all of knifenut's videos though. I've only seen a few.
 
minimalist said:
Yeah, I never bought the knife for hard use. Should I have bought another knife? Possibly. I like it though. I like it's weight and it's a bed stand knife. It's a last case scenario, defense system. I have a PM2 for everything else around the house and such. The knife looks like crap now but after I get done with it I think it will look pretty sharp.
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Nothing particularly wrong with wanting a solid feeling knife that cuts and cuts good. I just have an aesthetics thing with wide looking bevels.

As for defense, I prefer a lightweight Spyderco Moran or Endura/Delica Wave, both are razor sharp, and I typically don't use them for any cutting tasks.
 
minimalist said:
I actually read all of the posts in in this subforum. All were super helpful. I'll have to subscribe and watch all of knifenut's videos though. I've only seen a few.
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Just want to say, keep moving on. You're not alone in the journey (wide bevel? Me too!)
Most recent one:
8436548447_bb56a5e2c0_b.jpg

Older one:
6128871945_fb990eae07_b.jpg

The good point is, once bevel set, very easy to maintain, whether keeping same angle or raise it for microbevel ;)
 
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Chris "Anagarika";12476507 said:
Just want to say, keep moving on. You're not aline in the journey (wide bevel? Me too!)
Older one:
6128871945_fb990eae07_b.jpg

The good point is, once bevel set, very easy to maintain, whether keeping same angle or raise it for microbevel ;)
Click to expand...
Rather than a wide "bevel", that looks suspiciously like a Spyderco Military with a zero edge convex grind.
 
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