Sharpening ATS-34 - Can it be done?

I coat the edge with a dry-erase felt tip marker to tell me when I am getting all the way to the edge. I almost never get a burr when I am just touching up an edge, only when I am changing the edge angle.
 
GC,
When you move from the coarse stone to the fine stone increase your sharpening angle slightly. Also when you switch to the fine hone, use one stroke per side. You have to alternate strokes to keep the micro bevel as straight as possible. You might want to try using a steel when you are done. I have a BM Ascent and it doesnt get hair poppin sharp untill I use a steel.
Read Joe's sharping FAQ also, its got a lot of really good information.
Shawn
 
Does anyone know the grit numbers for the Spyderco 204's sticks? I'm thinking of ordering one but i need to know if I should get a water stone (6000-8000 grit) also. I know that the Spydie doesn't get near that high...

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"If you fake the Funk, your nose will grow."
- W. Bootsy Collins

 
DALTONS:

Can they be made scarry sharp? I have a Serpent. What a recurve! The whole factory edge is waaay out of uniform and both sides are different. I can get it sharp enough to make my arms bald no matter which part of the edge, SURPRISINGLY. I use a handmade block w/two fine ceramic rods like spydercos set up.
I have some very important (to me anyway) questions:

1) Can this Dalton be made scary sharp?
2) Can I find info on HOW to regrind the edge w/out having to buy an edge pro. By the way the flat grind on left and right are slightly out of true w/each other.(not a mirror image).
3) Can a speed tech synergy ever be made scary sharp, IF I can ever afford to buy one someday?. Its 154cm instead of ATS 34. Will get something cheaper in D2 or whatever if not.

 
Thanks,
This is what makes the Forums so great! Everyone pitching in to help a newbe. I got a great response with a lot of help. I also went over and checked out the FAQ's as suggested. One of my mistakes was to use too many strokes per side, instead of alternating on each stroke when the burr rolls up. Guess what? It's sharp! Thanks again, GC.
 
I use the Edge Pro "Professional" to sharpen all my knives and have found it to be awesome as it will sharpen any blade to whatever degree of sharpness you want. Very simple to use and foolproof! That being said, I have found ATS-34 to be the hardest steel I have tried to sharpen and takes the longest to do so, however, it can be sharpened to a razor edge. I prefer forged blades as they are easier to sharpen and get "scary" sharp.
My girlfriend, who had never sharpened a knife, learned how in only ten minutes or so.
 
Larry,

I'm glad that the forged ATS34 blades can get scary sharp. So far, I haven't had such success with ATS34, but I have high hopes for the Dalton. I believe it is forged and heat treated well. For some reason it does sharpen sharper than other ATS34, but not quite as much as I'd like it to. It shaves hair off the arm and has teeth, but I want to take it to its fullest potential especially since it is used many times through the day for light tasks that require lots of bite.

The edge pro sounds like the ultimate sharpener from what I've read, but is still way too much for me to justify the price. If I produced knives, that would be my choice, but the ceramic rods and stones I use will probably be all that I use for a while.
Larry, if you have a girl friend that likes to sharpen too, it might just be a match made in heaven.
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Best wishes,

Robert

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"But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword let him sell his garment and buy one." --Jesus Christ (Luke 22:36) See John 3:15- 18


 
Robert,

If I found a girl that liked knives and sharpening them as much as I do I'd probably marry her!!
The ATS-34 is not forged....it is not one of my favorite steels, however, it is one tough blade. I have a ATS-34 machette and camp style knife that will take a beating and neither edge has chipped "yet"!
I can get the ATS-34 pretty sharp but nothing like I'd want.
Really, it took me a long time to decide about buying the Edge Pro because it is very expensive and I'm not rich, but I can honestly say that it is the best spent money I've ever spent!!! Take care.
 
Larry,

As much as we spend on knives, I can't argue with the fact that the Edge Pro is a great investment. Someday, I may get one.

Give that lady plenty of opportunity to use that sharpener. Who knows?.... Time will tell. My girlfriend uses sissors far more than knives, but sharpens, and out shoots me any day of the week and we're getting married real soon! I waited a long time to get married, but the right one is sure worth the wait.
wink.gif


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"But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip; and he that hath no sword let him sell his garment and buy one." --Jesus Christ (Luke 22:36) See John 3:15- 18


 
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