Sebenza 31 Complaint - sacrilege!

[MrStabby7]

Hone

Ah this makes sense, your assumption re s45vn on the 31 vs the 21 with s35vn is correct. I should have made mention of this. Your experience would co-relate with mine and come back to a better sharpening system then the Tri-angle Sharpmaker, or is it the user?

Honestly, Im probably the only idiot here who doesn't understand or like the sharpmaker. I have one and have watched the video that comes with it and I still don't get it. It's just not for me, I guess. I freehand sharpen with whetstones or diamond stone and have no problem get a hair whittling edge that last plenty long.

 

[Jamieburr]

You must use a sharpie to determine if you are hitting the apex.
If you need to add a few degrees I recommend placing something (even one of the stones) under sharpener in the opposite side you are using to create the needed angle to hit the apex.
What you use is not important but the consistency of it. The exact degree doesn’t matter either

Ps added pic to illustrate

Thanks BBW, I'll try it. I may need to upgrade my sharpening tool, from the Sharpmaker. For fear of heading slightly off topic, what tool would you and the learned contributors to this thread recommend? I need to sharpen the Sebenza and a Nyala, which I love but again have never had a razor sharp edge on it. Also normal kitchen knives and an average quality fish filleting knife. The best options appear to be the Wicked Edge Go and the Ken Onion Worksharp, which are a similar price here and both pretty expensive. My intuition would go the Wicked Edge. Any experience and opinions?

 

[BBW]

I do own and use the WE but I mainly maintain all my knives with the sharpmaker to be honest.
If I need reprofiling the edge or a major work then the WE with it’s 200 coarse stone is fast removing metal (use carefully).

It all depends on how obsessive you are and how deep down the rabbit hole you want to go

PS: nowadays I lean toward a working edge instead of a polished edge

 

[The Shatz]

Wicked edge is a great repeatable system buy once cry once. Super easy to use and you can apply everything from a toothy edge to a mirror edge at any angle
You need or choose.

 

[Jamieburr]

To confirm (newbie here), I use the grey stones at this increased angle and on the apex not flat edge, and not the white stones. This is to fix the profile I'm guessing?

 

[Peter Hartwig]

Thanks BBW, I'll try it. I may need to upgrade my sharpening tool, from the Sharpmaker. For fear of heading slightly off topic, what tool would you and the learned contributors to this thread recommend? I need to sharpen the Sebenza and a Nyala, which I love but again have never had a razor sharp edge on it. Also normal kitchen knives and an average quality fish filleting knife. The best options appear to be the Wicked Edge Go and the Ken Onion Worksharp, which are a similar price here and both pretty expensive. My intuition would go the Wicked Edge. Any experience and opinions?

The WE is super easy to use and does a great job, but I am wondering if you might be able to get by with the diamond rods for your sharpmaker, or sending it out to be re-profiled. After which your sharpmaker and stopping should work fine if you keep up and don't let it get real dull.

 

[BBW]

I’m assuming that comment was a loooong time ago !!!
I have gone ocd learning since then

 

[BBW]

I think we tend to over complicate things. Can’t the sharpmaker, use sharpie to make sure you hit apex and you are golden.
I might make a very short video to illustrate the canting of the Sharpmaker and sharpie

 

[Modernflame]

I also think you can solve this problem without massive expenditures on sharpening gear. I love the WE, but it becomes a hobby in itself. Get it reprofiled professionally once. There are dude's here on BF that can do it. I also like the option of the diamond rods for the sharp maker, although I've heard some say they wear quickly. Whatever you do, I would steer clear of powered equipment. Nothing wrong with the work sharp, but it removes a lot of steel quickly. It's more for maintaining a shop full of tools than a couple of expensive knives.

 

[krazichinaman]

Thanks BBW, I'll try it. I may need to upgrade my sharpening tool, from the Sharpmaker. For fear of heading slightly off topic, what tool would you and the learned contributors to this thread recommend? I need to sharpen the Sebenza and a Nyala, which I love but again have never had a razor sharp edge on it. Also normal kitchen knives and an average quality fish filleting knife. The best options appear to be the Wicked Edge Go and the Ken Onion Worksharp, which are a similar price here and both pretty expensive. My intuition would go the Wicked Edge. Any experience and opinions?

As others have said, the sharpmaker works great if the factory edge matches the angles of the sharpmaker (20 or 15 per side). As these are all hand sharpened, it could be slightly off. The sharpie method someone said earlier would be a great indicator if you are actually sharpening the edge vs just polishing the bevel.

Another thing to consider is: When is the last time you cleaned your Sharpmaker stones ? If they are clogged / have a grey hue to them, they won't "remove" steel nearly as fast and would require more strokes to try to sharpen. (Insert if you are actually hitting the edge vs polishing the bevel).

 

[Jamieburr]

As others have said, the sharpmaker works great if the factory edge matches the angles of the sharpmaker (20 or 15 per side). As these are all hand sharpened, it could be slightly off. The sharpie method someone said earlier would be a great indicator if you are actually sharpening the edge vs just polishing the bevel.

Another thing to consider is: When is the last time you cleaned your Sharpmaker stones ? If they are clogged / have a grey hue to them, they won't "remove" steel nearly as fast and would require more strokes to try to sharpen. (Insert if you are actually hitting the edge vs polishing the bevel).

Good call. There are dirty so I’ll try cleaning them.

 

[Jamieburr]

Progress report; cleaned the white rods and elevated one side to get more angle. Sharpest it's been ever, still not popping hairs of my arm but an improvement. Thinking of scratching the itch and getting a wicked edge GO. I'm guessing that I will need additional finer stones and or the leather strop, especially as I'll re profile the convex edge opting to stay with the Chris Reeve default edge shape. Any thoughts learned many?

 

[Officer's Match]

Progress report; cleaned the white rods and elevated one side to get more angle. Sharpest it's been ever, still not popping hairs of my arm but an improvement. Thinking of scratching the itch and getting a wicked edge GO. I'm guessing that I will need additional finer stones and or the leather strop, especially as I'll re profile the convex edge opting to stay with the Chris Reeve default edge shape. Any thoughts learned many?

You will want a leather strop for sure to stay convex. If you watch the video Clay (Wicked Edge company owner) posted years ago about sharpening a Sebenza, you basically sharpen it at about 3 different angles, all the way through the grit progressions, then "blend" them together with the strop. I personally much prefer a straight 20 degree V.

 

[BBW]

Progress report; cleaned the white rods and elevated one side to get more angle. Sharpest it's been ever, still not popping hairs of my arm but an improvement. Thinking of scratching the itch and getting a wicked edge GO. I'm guessing that I will need additional finer stones and or the leather strop, especially as I'll re profile the convex edge opting to stay with the Chris Reeve default edge shape. Any thoughts learned many?

Good to know!!! Remember to use a sharpie. Its a must with any system, even the WE.
Its a learning experience. Take your time!

 

[Officer's Match]

Good to know!!! Remember to use a sharpie. Its a must with any system, even the WE.
Its a learning experience. Take your time!

I used to have a fully kitted Wicked Edge WE130, but after a few years, ended up selling it. Now I usually use an Edge Pro, as I really didn't like all the "finding the sweet spot" setup with the WE. With the Edge Pro I can move the blade to keep all parts of the edge at the same distance/angle while sharpening.

 

[BBW]

I used to have a fully kitted Wicked Edge WE130, but after a few years, ended up selling it. Now I usually use an Edge Pro, as I really didn't like all the "finding the sweet spot" setup with the WE. With the Edge Pro I can move the blade to keep all parts of the edge at the same distance/angle while sharpening.

I still have the WE but use it very seldom.
I got one of those digital angle readers to make sure I hit the spot and keep it consistent. Its very nice but too much when you only need a quick touch up.
That’s why 95% of the time I use the coarse stones of the sharpmaker and im golden!!

I also have a Japanese wetstone for then I feel like freehanding
Cheers

 

[Modernflame]

Progress report; cleaned the white rods and elevated one side to get more angle. Sharpest it's been ever, still not popping hairs of my arm but an improvement. Thinking of scratching the itch and getting a wicked edge GO. I'm guessing that I will need additional finer stones and or the leather strop, especially as I'll re profile the convex edge opting to stay with the Chris Reeve default edge shape. Any thoughts learned many?

I would recommend a simple V edge, but people have their preferences. You don't need to get buck wild with additional stones, but you will need strops to clean up the apex after your 600 grit. I'd say the 5/3 micron. The 800 / 1000 diamond stones are quite nice but not strictly necessary to get sharp. Just remember that the stones have a somewhat lengthy break in period. Bro, don't unbox that WE and put your CRK straight into it. Get some cheap kitchen knives. Thus will also help you practice.

 

[BBW]

I would recommend a simple V edge, but people have their preferences. You don't need to get buck wild with additional stones, but you will need strops to clean up the apex after your 600 grit. I'd say the 5/3 micron. The 800 / 1000 diamond stones are quite nice but not strictly necessary to get sharp. Just remember that the stones have a somewhat lengthy break in period. Bro, don't unbox that WE and put your CRK straight into it. Get some cheap kitchen knives. Thus will also help you practice.

I dont go over 800grit on my knives anymore and have strops with diamond paste and all that jazz

 

[Modernflame]

I used to have a fully kitted Wicked Edge WE130, but after a few years, ended up selling it. Now I usually use an Edge Pro, as I really didn't like all the "finding the sweet spot" setup with the WE. With the Edge Pro I can move the blade to keep all parts of the edge at the same distance/angle while sharpening.

The WE definitely has limitations. The cool thing is that for any given knife, you only have to find the sweet spot once. After that you record and repeat the settings. The thing that annoys me more is swinging my head left and right to see my progress and still needing a flashlight despite using a well lit work bench.

 

[Jamieburr]

Thanks for your feedback team. I'm assuming that I need a leather strop (5/3 micron, thanks Modernflame) as the only addition to the stones that the standard WE GO WE 60 comes with. Which are a 200/600 Grit Diamond Stones Pack.