Screwed Up S30V Blade!

cziv

cziv

Joined
Nov 24, 2005
Messages
10,038
Hello All,

I held the angle on my S30V blade to shallow on a diamond stone and totally screwed up the cosmetic appearance of the blade.

Is there anything I can do (no power tools owned) to get rid of these scratches? I know they're cosmetic, but I bought this knife because I thought it was attractive and now I've boned it up good! Thanks :barf:
 
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You might want to try green scotch brite pad going in the direction of the grind. Lightly to see how it effects the finish.
 
Should have put masking tape on it. Some really fine sand paper does it on convex blades, like 8000-10,000 grit.

Some others may know of a better fix.
 
I did that exact same thing to my griptilian. I just used some green compound on a strop and held the angle really shallow so it polished out the scratches. It is a user, but I feel your pain. Do not kick yourself too hard, that knife is a tool, not a porcelain dolly. You now have some practical on-hand knowledge on how to reprofile by hand, so those scratches are diplomas from the school of learn by doing. I for one, think those scratches are beautiful. So, next time, use some masking tape..... LOL
 
So you guys are saying that you put masking tape on the blade like if you're painting? Do you use real masking tape or something a bit more stout?

I stropped the daylights out of it with Bark River Green compound but it laughed at it - damn S30V and Benchmade's lousy, dull, factory grinds.

I'l have to buy another one I suppose and use this one for a beater. :mad:
 
If it's a user I say let it go and use it.

I wouldn't say you "totally" screwed it up. I personally prefer tools that look like they get used.

My question would be did you get it sharp?
 
You didn't screw it up, you just started making it better. Keep grinding it at a more acute angle and make that knife cut better, than use it and don't worry about some surface scratches. Those don't compromise it's ability to cut, and that's what the knife is for. If you want jewelry why not get a necklace or something. Knives cut.
 
Vivi said:
You didn't screw it up, you just started making it better. Keep grinding it at a more acute angle and make that knife cut better, than use it and don't worry about some surface scratches. Those don't compromise it's ability to cut, and that's what the knife is for. If you want jewelry why not get a necklace or something. Knives cut.
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I would have to agree whole heartedly:)
Use it and don't worry.
 
I hear you guys. I understand about it being a tool and all. BUT, that's the only sheeple friendly knife I own that was nice enough to take out at a family gathering or around friends without them backpedalling and gasping.

I don't think people react well when I whip out a Spyderco Police, BM710 or an auto.

And no, the damn thing remains unchanged, bends copy paper, makes a tearing sound if and when it decides to slice it for me.

I'm enamored with the 940 Osborne "look" but mine came as dull as heck and despite using a Sharpmaker (ALL rods), mousepad sharpening, stropping and now freehanding it - the darn thing falls dismally short of a $34 Tenacious which shaves like a razor.

I should have let it alone - that was a $125 mistake!
 
If it is still dull, then you have not ground it all the way to the edge. Put on the masking tape, then go back to your coarse stone and keep at it until it starts to be sharp. Only then move to the finer grits.

Another vote for don't worry about the scratches, too!
 
I used to have a fit if my grinds were not perfect or if the blade was scratched
but now all that matters is preformance I could care less if the blade was half covered in rust as long as
it doesnt affect preformance.
 
I appreciate you guys sharing my pain. Really I do. I'll tear into this knife and make it sharp or wreck it by trying. I'm still ordering a new one for going to church, parties, dinner and such. Yup, I'm that AR about my gear.

Maybe I can find a different color or something, I saw a nutnfancy video last year that showed a whole bunch of different 940 models.
 
Sorry for the way I put that part about the masking tape, It sounded like a "I Told You So remark". I didn't mean it to sound that way.:o

I have seen my son mask those fancy kitchen knives when he does them for other people. I put it just high enough so I know that if I touch the tape, I am getting to high.
 
Greetings CZIV: Having done exactly the same thing on a Benchmade 940, I understand your feelings. Because the steel is so resistive to abrasion after about two hours of running it down the Sharpmaker rods I got frustrated with the lack of progress and went to a set of diamond hones hoping to speed the reprofiling. The diamonds cut much faster but one sloppy stroke and I caused almost identical scratches. The narrow blade geometry, an over 45 degree factory applied edge, my impatience and the S30v steel was not a good combination. The abrasion resistance of the steel makes it DIFFICULT to remove the scratches. Without polishing wheels it becomes a VERY VERY LONG process. You know the only way to totally remove the scratches is to remove all the surrounding steel to the depth of the deepest scratch. No way around it. I have reprofiled two 940's using the sharpmaker ceramic rods. The first one, (the one I scratched) took over 12 hours to get the edge bevel down to 30 degrees. The second took about 10 hours to do the same. I use the scratched one quite frequently without worrying about marring it's appearance. The second one,(un-scratched) I use as a dress knife. I carry, enjoy and appreciate the first one a lot more than the second. I don't intend to leave my kids a bunch of cosmetically perfect knives. OldDude1
 
cziv said:
I appreciate you guys sharing my pain. Really I do. I'll tear into this knife and make it sharp or wreck it by trying. I'm still ordering a new one for going to church, parties, dinner and such. Yup, I'm that AR about my gear.

Maybe I can find a different color or something, I saw a nutnfancy video last year that showed a whole bunch of different 940 models.
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You might want to post this in the Maker's forum, I'll bet one of them could clean it up, but it might cost you. If you are getting another, then I'd say just chalk this one up to experience, make it a user, and keep the new one for church and stuff like that.

FWIW, I like character in my knives. It totally destroys any collector value, but I don't care. To me, it makes a knife look well loved...

Good luck!
 
Thanks sodak,

I get ill, every time I look at the blade now. I couldn't bear to show it to a friend in this condition. My friends think I'm crazy because of knives but they don't "get it." I'm just that way I guess.

It's personal to me, as no amount of cutting boxes, camping, or rope cutting could do what I did to the blade. This was 100% avoidable!

You guys are closer than family in regards to my addiction to knives so I trust and post these pics which display my stupid mistake w/o thinking twice.

BTW, where's the "makers forum" is it here on BF?
 
cziv said:
Thanks sodak,

I get ill, every time I look at the blade now. I couldn't bear to show it to a friend in this condition. My friends think I'm crazy because of knives but they don't "get it." I'm just that way I guess.

It's personal to me, as no amount of cutting boxes, camping, or rope cutting could do what I did to the blade. This was 100% avoidable!

You guys are closer than family in regards to my addiction to knives so I trust and post these pics which display my stupid mistake w/o thinking twice.

BTW, where's the "makers forum" is it here on BF?
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Here it is:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=741

It is called Shoptalk: Bladesmith Questions and Answers.

Don't worry about your mistakes, believe me, I've pegged the stupid meter a LOT more times....;)
 
Thanks sodak,

I posted a link to this thread there - very different vibe over there??
 
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