Sebenza 25 / EdgePro Sharpening Question

[pnsxyr]

Hello...I have a few CRK Sebs and am a newer EP user. I've had it maybe 4 months and probably done 20 knives max. I have gotten better as I go but the 25 is a lot different than my 21s and I had a few questions...

The tapering at the tip seems to leave a lot more steel on the 25 than the 21. So much that I can get the knife itself quite sharp, but the tip area is always a little duller. The burr is much slower to form on the 25 than a 21, or it at least seems that way. I think the mechanics are correct...and the Sharpie test indicates it's in the perfect location to make contact with the entire edge. And most of the knife I think is easier to sharpen than the 21. But this tip area is annoying me as I cannot figure it out. I've used riser blocks and just sharpening that area at a higher angle...the first doesn't work great and the latter is quite a pain. I spend more time on that area to form a healthy burr, and then remove it. And my strokes are in the fashion appropriate for finishing to a razor edge.

Also, for those using the EP, how many passes do you generally take with each stone type for general maintenance sharpening?

What angle are you using? (around 18-20 a side I presume?)

What am I doing wrong or what should I try? Having only sharpened a Seb 25 twice, I am guessing part of it is acclimating to skill? This is among the thicker of knives I own...

 

[LonnyRS]

I would like to know the answer to this as well! I'm about to by either the EP or the Wicked Edge (not sure which is "better") and sharpening on one of these would be new to me. Like yourself, I would practice on some other knives before I even thought about my 25, so I would like to hear the answers too. Thanks for starting this thread, as I'm sure others would like to know as well..

 

[mrdeus]

I used 20 degrees per side for my small 21 on the edge pro because 1. I didn't want to take off "too much" on my first attempt and 2. with the blade lying flat on the table (on the grind), there isn't room for a much smaller angle without the risk of hitting the thumbstud. That's probably not a problem on the large 21, though, since the blade is taller. I'm currently learning to free-hand, which should eliminate the thumbstud problem, but I'm not confident enough for my sebenzas yet.

Not sure what's going on with your tip area if you say you're forming and removing a burr on both sides. Are you reaching all the way to the tip? I guess you could form a burr without reaching the apex, but if you've been at it for a while that doesn't seem likely. Take a look at it under magnification.

 

[redbike]

But CRK uses a convex edge; will the EP maintain this blade profile?

 

[kwazyjuice]

^^It will sharpen them just fine. You're just grinding away the convex edge making a V edge. Or you can make small increments to the angle to create/maintain a convex edge

 

[redbike]

^^ that's what I thought. I'm fond of my convex edges and would not be prepared to sacrifice them in order to use the EP. I save it for my Benchmades, etc. and strop to maintain my convex edges - BRKT and CRK.

 

[whp]

I would like to know the answer to this as well! I'm about to by either the EP or the Wicked Edge (not sure which is "better") and sharpening on one of these would be new to me. Like yourself, I would practice on swome other knives before I even thought about my 25, so I would like to hear the answers too. Thanks for starting this thread, as I'm sure others would like to know as well..

the

I ve had the Edge Pro and the Wicked Edge and have been able to get extremely sharp edges with both. I think the Wicked Edge is easier to use . The WE is all I use now. It s more expensive but in my hands I get more precision and I believe it s worth the money.

 

[ChristoDart]

They're both great sharpening devices but keeping the knife stationary throughout the whole process IMHO makes the WE superior.

 

[Magnumfloyd]

I just lay my Sebenza 25 on the table flat and adjust the angle. I use chosera stones so they cut a lot faster I don't count just keep the bevel even and raise a burr.

 

[Officer's Match]

No 25 here, but I have a beautiful convex on my 21 (Large Starbenza) and Umnumzaan courtesy of a WSKO. I like the factory convex and this system does a great job maintaining it.