Sandpaper grits?

Joined
Jul 1, 2002
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I'm going to get some sandpaper tomorrow to try the mousepad and sandpaper method of sharpening because I just got my Sebenza back from CRK and it was dull.:confused:

Anyway, what grits do I need? From reading Buzzbait's convex edge FAQ article, I think I need 600 grit and 2000 grit for finishing. Is there anything in between that would be needed?

This will be my first attempt at using this method, so if there are any other hints, tips, etc. that would be helpful, I'd appreciate it if you guys could post it here. Thanks in advance!

-Randy
 
I would recommend using a telephone book rather than a mouse pad.

I've had much better results with the phone book, but that might not apply to everybody.

1500 grit seems to work well for finishing as long as you aren't shooting for a polished edge.

Remember to strop.
 
I use a slab of granite instead of a mouse pad...if you are fixing an edge you can go down to like 300 grit to start, then move up.
 
I found some 320 grit wet/dry paper laying around in the garage so I decided to give that a shot. Right now, I have a rough edge that'll sort of shave hair with just a little bit of pressure. Would moving up to a higher grit make it even sharper?
 
I can get a real sharp edge using 1200 grit wet & dry paper with a little water, the finer you go the sharper it would be but it will take alot longer
 
Would moving up to a higher grit make it even sharper?

For shaving a highly polished blade is ideal, but some blades acually cut some things better with the coarser paper as the edge acts like it is serated.
 
You shouldn't need higher than 600 grit, but what a throway blade or two would be good for getting your practice in.
 
FWIW, I have a 800 and 2000 set up that seems to do it all for my convex ground blades. Mouse pad too.
 
this is my method for producing a truely mirrored edge (yes I own a Sebenza):

1. Get some Micromesh sandpaper, this is very high quality sandpaper. It goes as high as approximately 4000-6000 grit. It is commonly available as acrylic and plexiglass polisher at auto stores, and even more common at well stocked plastic scale hobby shops as part of a high-gloss polishing kit for model cars. It can also be purchased directly from the manufacturer (Micro Surface). contact me if you need to find out how to get it. It is not a must, but it produces superior results, especially if you are after a high polish (in general). Else, get all grades of paper as high as you can (I think regular common silicon carbide sandpaper goes as high as 2000 grit).

2. I use a Lansky for this method for reasons I will soon mention.

3. Using the Lansky, reprofile the edge to the narrowest angle (I believe it is 17 degrees on the Lansky). Do this on each side of the blade until you raise a burr, then do the other side. Continue through with the smoother stones, as smooth as the stones you own will allow (I bought the ultra fine yellow stone).

4. Now, starting with 3200 micromesh, roughly 320 grit, TIGHTLY wrap a piece of the micromesh around a lansky stone, make sure it is as flat on the stone as possible. Use the Lansky in the normal fashion with this wrapped stone except instead of moving the stone INTO the blade edge, move it AWAY from the edge, else you will dull the edge most likely. You should be able to discern a difference in surface roughness on the edge. Do this for each side of the blade.

5. Repeat step 4 with the next grits (3600, 4000, 6000, 8000, 12000).
6. You will have an edge that is truely a mirror and is truely shaving sharp. Whether this is the kind of edge you want is another matter entirely.

Notes:

1. On Micromesh:

Micromesh is special in that is engineered to be extremely consistent in roughness. Regular stones or sandpaper rated at grit 'X' actually is only roughly that roughness, with spots that are rougher or smoother, not enough to feel, but enough to effect a polishing (of any sort). Also, 3200 micromesh is only roughly equal to 320 grit, but because of the property I mentioned above, will produce a finer polish than with 320 grit of regular sandpaper.
Micromesh is more expensive, but lasts easily 3 times longer than regular sandpaper, and results are by far more consistent. It is also available in extremely fine grits not available with regular paper or stones.

2. On using the Lansky:

This is the only time I advocate using the Lansky, it is by far superior to the Sharpmaker for reprofiling and mainting a consistent angle. The blade is reprofiled initially so that later, when you use the sandpaper wrapping method (step 4), the sandpaper meets the edge at precisely the same angle. I don't know about you, but I am unable to match an angle by hand on a stone, never mind with sandpaper and a phonebook or something.

Using this method will NOT produce a convex edge. However what you DO end up with is an extremely fine mirrored edge that cuts like crazy. If you take a regular edge (non mirrored) such as the edges that come on Sebenzas these days, and slice a piece of paper, looking closely you will see that there are fibres of the paper that were not 'cut' but 'torn'. (i.e. it was not a 'clean' cut) Slicing a piece of paper with the mirrored edge produces a much cleaner cut, far less (if any) paper fibres. Of course you can feel it too, the blade glides through far more easily. You can produce a pseudo-convex edge using the Lansky though. This is a method that has already been discussed on the forums: sharpen at 17 degrees, then a little at the next higher degree, and then very little at the next, etc. I hope you see what I mean.

Anyway, this is not a post about whether such an edge is more utilitarian or what not, but how to produce a fine mirrored edge.
 
Randy,
HandAmerican can probably tell you what you need, since it seems this thread is continuing past your tommorow purchase. ;) They carry from 100 grit to 2500 grit, with the finer grits being harder to fine in most ordinary hardware stores. As they note on their page, "You have a choice between plain backed paper and PSA (pressure sensitive adhesive) backing."

When I get a chance, (read that money), I plan on ordering an assortment and their liquid 10,000 grit aluminum oxide for leather hones. I got a couple of sheets some time ago when they did not have it all up on their web site, and it adhered fine to a couple of mouse pads for convexing some edges, including one axe head. I believe I used a medium, fine, and finer to do this. I guess I'll have to dig up the pads :yawn: but a little late tonight, or actually just turned this morning.

They have several interesting products on their site, along with some honing tips. I have a long leather hone from them, which is great. I don't believe** they had the hones which would take padded canvas underneath for convex edges, when I bought mine. (**Acutally I am 99.9999% certain they did not, but why take a chance on being wrong ;) )
 
I had a very hard time finding sandpaper beyond 1000 grit... I had to get my local hardware store to special order 1500 grit for me, and it took a week. However, as soon as I started to search for 3M polishing paper, they were much easier to find...

I picked up some 3m polishing paper at Stephen Bader's table at the last New York City show...gray, blue, green and pink... grits equalling 600, 2000, 4000 and 6000 respectively.

Stephen Bader sells polishing and grinding equipment and, I have been told, is very sensetive to the needs of novice and experienced knifemakers alike. He's also a very nice person to talk to and extremely helpful if you have a question or two about polishing. Sometimes, at his table will be his lovely daughter, who although is not as experienced in the polishing field, is another great person to talk to....;)
If you can't buy from Bader, try running a google search on "3m polishing paper" and a plethora of suppliers will come up.
 
Also, keep in mind what grit stone your'e using...

Spyderco ceramics for example. The Fine stone is rated at 1800 grit and the UltraFine is 2000. Using a lower grit sandpaper after either one of these stones may be counterproductive.
 
Wow, thanks to everybody for the information. I didn't think there was this much to know about sandpaper and sharpening.:D

Anywho, I stopped by the Pep Boys and got some 3M sand paper in 320, 600, 1500, and 2000 grits. I think it took about half an hour or so to get my Sebenza shaving sharp. All I did was tape the sandpaper to a mousepad and strop away.

Thanks again for the info, guys!:)
 
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