Sharpening ESEE Serrations?

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Jul 19, 2020
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I have an ESEE Imlay which is my only serrated knife because usually I have no use for them, but I purchased this knife to go on my PFD so I wanted serrations and a blunt tip. I have a Lanskey Sharpening System that I get good consistent results with and a Sharpmaker that I could never get the hang of so it's collecting dust at the moment. I think my best bet is a conical diamond stone and carefully sharpening the serrations by hand then follow up with a strop however I'm not sure what stone to get for occasional touch ups, what do y'all use/recommend? The blade is 440C and doesn't see much use so it shouldn't need sharpening often so I'd rather not spend a lot, I just want to know I have what I need when it needs to be done.
 
If you're not comfortable with using the Sharpmaker, then a round or tapered diamond rod (or round diamond file) should work for resetting the edge in the serrations. And for touch-ups beyond that, a round or tapered ceramic rod would keep it tuned up, with less metal removal. Both the diamond and ceramic will handle 440C easily. Use the rod on the scalloped side (assuming they're not ground into both sides), and then strop off the burr that folds to the back (flat) side of the edge. Much easier to remove the burr only from that side. Stropping on firm/hard wood, with a rouge compound (like white rouge in aluminum oxide) will work very well with 440C, quickly removing the burr and polishing as well.

There is a certain 'touch' with which the Sharpmaker or other V-crock device can also work very well. I've grown to like using mine for serrations, lightly drawing the blade down & across the rods in the same fashion as used for plain-edged blades. The key is maintaining a VERY LIGHT skimming touch at the correct angle, so the edge makes kind of a 'buzzing' or zipper-like sound across the corners of the rod, accompanied by a ticklish, vibrating feeling in the fingers. If it sounds or feels too choppy or clunky, that means the angle is probably off or pressure applied is too heavy. Darkening the scallops within the serrations with a Sharpie can help with seeing where the angle is right, with the ink coming off just at & behind the apex of the edge in the scallops. The Sharpie will be helpful in the same way, if used with one of the round/tapered rods mentioned above.
 
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If you're not comfortable with using the Sharpmaker, then a round or tapered diamond rod (or round diamond file) should work for resetting the edge in the serrations. And for touch-ups beyond that, a round or tapered ceramic rod would keep it tuned up, with less metal removal. Both the diamond and ceramic will handle 440C easily. Use the rod on the scalloped side (assuming they're not ground into both sides), and then strop off the burr that folds to the back (flat) side of the edge. Much easier to remove the burr only from that side. Stropping on firm/hard wood, with a rouge compound (like white rouge in aluminum oxide) will work very well with 440C, quickly removing the burr and polishing as well.

There is a certain 'touch' with which the Sharpmaker or other V-crock device can also work very well. I've grown to like using mine for serrations, lightly drawing the blade down & across the rods in the same fashion as used for plain-edged blades. The key is maintaining a VERY light skimming touch at the correct angle, so the edge makes kind of a 'buzzing' or zipper-like sound across the corners of the rod, accompanied by a ticklish, vibrating feeling in the fingers. If it sounds or feels too choppy or clunky, that means the angle is probably off or pressure applied is too heavy. Darkening the scallops within the serrations with a Sharpie can help with seeing where the angle is right, with the ink coming off just at & behind the apex of the edge in the scallops. The Sharpie will be helpful in the same way, if used with one of the round/tapered rods mentioned above.
Thank you, I have had a DMT Diafold on my Amazon list for quite some time now, would you recommend the fine or extra fine?
 
Thank you, I have had a DMT Diafold on my Amazon list for quite some time now, would you recommend the fine or extra fine?
The Fine would be more versatile, for the sake of repairing edge damage AND leaving a good working edge. But, if you're mainly looking for an occasional touch-up tool and not anticipating any heavy wear or damage to the edge, the EF should handle that pretty well.
 
The Fine would be more versatile, for the sake of repairing edge damage AND leaving a good working edge. But, if you're mainly looking for an occasional touch-up tool and not anticipating any heavy wear or damage to the edge, the EF should handle that pretty well.
The knife lives on the front of my pfd and sees very little use aside from cutting some rope occasionally and never sees any abuse. I am primarily just looking for the occasional fast touch up that won't leave too coarse of an edge, no reprofiling anticipated. It sounds like the super fine will get me closer to my goal without leaving too bad of a scratch pattern and less risk of making a mistake, I only go down to 600 grit ceramic on my Lanskey for most of my knives followed by a stropping with Flexcut Gold.
 
you mean the DMT conical diafold? nice one. perfect tool for serrations. i doht own one.

worth noting, the serrations are just one grind, namely the "bevel grind" (bevel = serrations). no further bevel, unless you create one with 204MF. so technically, 204MF is not the best way to go because it creates a new tiny bevel (who wants that?)

i once sharpened a serrated big bread knife. ruins a 204M. never again. and in general , no more sharpening of concave blade shapes for me (scythes, bread knife not butter knife) except for stanley 5192.
or until i buy a 10cm cylindrical chinese ruby rod from alix. they're harder than 204M and don't get ruined.
 
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For serated blades I rub the back side of the blade flat on the stone. Makes crazy sharp serrations.
 
if the serrations are on one side only. i hone the back side of the blade , then use a strop to slip into the gullets and also on the back to clean it up and finish. i limit how much filling of the gullets i do . if you need them reground in a few years or decades , I'd send it back for a factory regrind . or decide what size of gullets you want going forward , and make your own with a dremal mounted onto a work bench or vise etc.

i am not a fan of most serrations. i also have the dmt conical file set. works ok , but slow to remove damage , in my opinion/experience.
 
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