Serated Sharpening Tips

Joined
Dec 11, 2000
Messages
22
When you guys sharpen your serated or combo edges do you keep them with an edge on one side like the come, or do you put an edge on both sides. Pros and cons would be great.

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Measure twice, cut once
 
Hey there Harv how are you? I can only tell you what I do.
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Sharpen the serrated edges on the one side only and then maybe do a pass or two on the other side with a strop or fine ceramic or diamond stone to remove any wire edge. I have found that sharpening both edges works, but wears away the serrations very fast. You also end up changing their shape.
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Have a good one!
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!

[This message has been edited by Tactical (edited 02-03-2001).]
 
I have a Spydy 204 which is probable the best device for sharpening serrations. The literature and video tape advise that most of the strokes should be on the the one side and a just a few strokes on the other side to take away the burr. Sharpening on just one side produces a sharper edge, however, a more fragile edge. The literature and video tape from Spyderco explain it much better if you can get your hands on them.
 
Kutch, thanks I do have the tape. I'm looking for what others have found to be best practice.



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Measure twice, cut once
 
Something I wasn't clear on with serrations is do you sharpen by 'pushing' as well as 'pulling' through the serrations? The video mentioned a 5:1 ratio of serrated edge versus opposing edge but I didn't know if you should 'push' to get the other ridge of the serrations. I have been doing both and it keeps them scary sharp but wondered if there were any negatives to doing that.

Shawn

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"I didn't do it! Nobody saw
me do it! You can't prove a
thing!"

-Bart Simpson
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by kutch133:
I have a Spydy 204 which is probable the best device for sharpening serrations. The literature and video tape advise that most of the strokes should be on the the one side and a just a few strokes on the other side to take away the burr.</font>

Agreed with what is repeated above. Stay on the "ground" side to sharpen. Only lightly stroke the "back" side to remove the burr. The V-shaped crock sticks work excellently for serrations. You may hose them up with a regular stone, although Lansky provides a triangular stone for their kits that also works very well.

 
What about combo edges. What do you do with the plain edge portion. 1 to 1 or 4 to 1?

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Measure twice, cut once
 
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Harv:
What about combo edges. What do you do with the plain edge portion. 1 to 1 or 4 to 1?
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Depends on how it's ground. If it's chisel ground do the 4 to 1, if it's ground on both sides, 1 to 1. Same as you would do if that plain edge were not connected to a serrated portion.


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Jason aka medusaoblongata
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"Paradise lies in the shadow of swords." - Nietzsche
 
So what is the best tool for sharpening serrated blades?

I saw a serrated blade sharpener that looked like an ice pick. It seems like that would be a good sharpener.

I have tried the litted triangular shaped sharpeners with NO success at all.

What do you all recommend?

 
The Sharpmaker works fine on most serrations.

However the little serrations that Cold Steel uses require the Spyderco Jewelers set of files. Do them one at a time, slow on a Vaq Grande, but it works!

W.A.

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"To strive to seek to find and not to yield"
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Ranger motto

A few useful details on UK laws and some nice reviews!
http://members.aol.com/knivesuk/
Certified steel snob!
 
For other people's combo edges I do use a 1:1 ratio just to beef up edge retention so I don't have to do it again for awhile. On my own I always use a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio because I like being able to shave with my serrations.

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Mykl
Don't think you are...know you are.
 
For serrations, I use a DMT diamond round tapered hone specifically made for this purpose. It looks like a sharpening 'steel', and absolutely works great.
I sharpen the serrated side , then strop or do a light pass on the flat side to remove the burr. Seems to work very well, and the serrations stay scary sharp.

Mike

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DISCLAIMER:

The opinions expressed here are my own, and in no way reflect the opinion of any other person, living or dead. Of course, your opinion may vary, in which case the prevailing laws of your jurisdiction shall apply.

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I just bought one of those DMT sharpeners. Can you give and advice in its use?

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by CODE 3:
For serrations, I use a DMT diamond round tapered hone specifically made for this purpose. It looks like a sharpening 'steel', and absolutely works great.
I sharpen the serrated side , then strop or do a light pass on the flat side to remove the burr. Seems to work very well, and the serrations stay scary sharp.

Mike

</font>



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Your survival knife is the knife you have on you when a survival situation arises.
 
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