Scary Sharp Small Sebenza 21 Except for...

Lenny

Lenny

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Joined
Oct 15, 1998
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the last 1/4" at the heel end on the thumb stud side.
The non-thumb-stud side is perfect.
I use the Edge Pro Apex and it's relatively easy to get a wicked edge on any blade (specially blades with no thumb stud and instead, a hole for instance).
But that darn thumb stud gets in the way of sharpening perfection.
Please, don't tell me I'l have to learn to sharpen free-hand!
 
Yeah, I have no problem with the Sharpmaker either.
It just doesn't get knives "scary sharp".
I like my edges SHARP, not kinda sharp.
Good for touchups, but eventually, as the edge gets thicker, more vigorous sharpening is required.
Hence, the Edge Pro.
 
miso2 said:
I think 20 DPS is the limit on Edge Pro, otherwise the stone would hit the thumb rug.
This would be around 23 degree setting on Edge Pro.
Click to expand...

I kinda figured there was a limit.
I just don't want my Sebenza with that obtuse an angle.
I'll live with it.
Thanks all for your comments.
 
Lenny said:
18 degrees (36 total)
Click to expand...

I have no problem back-beveling at 15° per side on my Sharpmaker. Why does the Edge Pro have a different limit? Unless there's a something that sticks out past the stone surface
 
"Why does the Edge Pro have a different limit? Unless there's a something that sticks out past the stone surface"

The thumb stud impedes the motion of the stone and stops it from reaching the heel of the edge at 18 degrees. As stated above, the limit is 20 degrees. See if you can watch a video of the Edge Pro on You Tube to get an idea of what we're talking about.
 
You could try to find someone on this forum & in the US who is proficiënt with Paper Wheels and have him set the bevels on your Sebenza to a ~30 degrees inclusive slightly convex edge.
I do this almost on a regular basis for Sebenza owners in the country where i live, often on brand new knives straight from the shop.
With the right operator the wheels will not touch the thumbstud(s) and create a quality edge that is also aesthetically pleasing.
 
Last edited:
BellaBlades said:
Clamp the knife further toward the tip ? To avoid the stud entirely?
Click to expand...

Again, I use the Edge Pro.
It's not a clamp system.
The only way i can see to get around the system would be to use thinner stones, which I haven't tried yet.
 
The only way to get around the issue is to angle the sharpening stone around the thumbstud, i.e. turn the blade so you're no longer sharpening perpendicular to the cutting edge. It's highly unlikely you'll be able to do this without using a different sharpening system, such as a bench stone.

It's one of the big downsides of thumbstuds...
 
Thanks for all the comments guys.
About the only way I can think to do it is to remove the blade from the handle and sharpen it by itself. This allows you to come in from the handle side of the blade with the stone. But that would make it ridiculously difficult to hold just the blade with the other hand.
 
I had some email correspondence with Ben of Edge Pro.
Apparently, laying the full face of the blade on the Edge Pro table (which is what I do) instead of resting the blade on the flats (which in the Sebenza's case is very small and difficult to hold on the table while sharpening) I effectively reduced the edge angle. So, I effectively put a 15 degree angle on my edge instead of the 18 degree as marked on the pivot rod. I kinda knew that but I now find it very easy to put a secondary bevel on the edge for touch-ups with my Spyderco Sharpmaker at the 40 degree setting. In summary, the angle was too shallow to clear the thumb stud. Next time the edge gets too dull for the Sharpmaker, I'll use the Edge Pro at a larger angle 21 degrees or so, to clear the thumb stud. I will say, however, that the knife cuts through cardboard like it isn't even there!!
 
The Sharpmaker has it's limitations, but I never thought getting a blade extremely sharp was one of them.
 
FYI.
You may want to use an angle cube to find what the primary grind angle of Sebenza (6 degree in the pic).
Also, Sebenza is hollow ground, you should be consistent in how you place the blade on the Edge Pro stage.

edge_angle-jpg.998589
 
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