Sharpening a Laminated Blade

[tim8557]

I used the search function and found a lot of references to laminated steels, but didn't seem to find anything addressing the sharpening of them (okay, so I didn't read all of the "hits").

I recently purchased the Spyderco Calypso Jr in ZDP 189 as well as the Kershaw Nakamura. Both of these have laminated steel blades. It has been my custom to take a new knife (though both of these, especially the Calypso are wickedly sharp out of the box) and reprofile them to less than 30 degrees with my Edge Pro. I then apply a primary bevel at a little more than 30 degrees and finish off with 3 different grits of polishing tapes making sure that I am polishing the edge, not the bevel.

Do I do the same with a laminated blade (assuming these two mentioned above ever get dull)? Is there a different technique to be specifically used for these "sandwhich" blades?

Thanks in advance.

 

[nelsonmc]

It's steel, just sharpen it however you want.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

I Is there a different technique to be specifically used for these "sandwhich" blades?

The only real concern for some of these knives is that if the center laminate is really thin you have to watch to make sure that you don't go off center with the edge by sharpening it unevenly as then the edge can form out of the side material.

-Cliff

 

[tim8557]

The only real concern for some of these knives is that if the center laminate is really thin you have to watch to make sure that you don't go off center with the edge by sharpening it unevenly as then the edge can form out of the side material.

-Cliff

Thanks Cliff

This was one of my concerns as well as reprofiling too severely, would it leave a real goofy looking blade. I assume that there is no chance of creating a
delamination.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

I have never heard ot the laminations coming apart from sharpening, my biggest concern is getting sloppy and altering the curvature ending up either scuttling the belly or rounding the point.

-Cliff

 

[HoB]

On the new Caly. There is so much hagane exposed, that you won't reach the Jigane (outside soft steel) unless you reprofile to much less than 10 deg. per side (I just checked: on mine you would have to reprofile to 4 deg per side before you touch the Jigane...trigonometry is such fun ).

On blades where you actually touch the Jigane while shapening, you only have to be careful not to "fall into the softer steel". Since the outside is softer, it abrades more easily (yeah I know, hardness has nothing to do with abrasion resistance, but on most blades the Jigane is sooo much softer that this holds), and if you sharpen free hand and don't pay attention, you might decrease involuntarily the angle. But since you are using a rig to hold the angle, its is nothing that you have to worry about.

 

[nozh2002]

I have never heard ot the laminations coming apart from sharpening, my biggest concern is getting sloppy and altering the curvature ending up either scuttling the belly or rounding the point.

-Cliff

I heard about one case of delamonation - one guy try to put hollow grinds on Helle blade using stone grinder - regular with standard for such things RPM - he owerheat it and applay extensive forse etc. Otherwise I doubt it is possible.

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[DGG]

If it delaminates while being sharpening get a refund or throw it in the garbage can.