Sharpening my Mole Jack is harder than I thought...

Redsnake1997 · Mar 5, 2007

I'm not a great sharpener, however I can put a good enough edge on my blades to shave soo... I thought it wouldn't be that hard w/my Busse Mole Jack.

It appears that the bevel on this one is way off... about 20 degrees on one side and about 28-30 on the other side.

I typically use my Syderco sharpmaker and it works well, then use my strop for the final edge. I used my sharpmaker on and off for about 3 days and the one side (20 degree side) is nice, but the other side is still off. I must have run it about 3000 times down each side and I still can't get the bevel even. It's getting close, probably another 2K times and I'll be there...

I wish I had the skills to use a mouse pad and sandpaper that some here do, but I'm still learning. I need something harder to cut that INFI and get the angles straightened up.

I'll report back w/pics later.

barrabas74 · Mar 5, 2007

You could always send it back to them to get sharpened and have them fix the grind.

mikeymoto · Mar 5, 2007

You could get a course bench stone or lansky-style DMT setup to grind off that shoulder...

stabber · Mar 5, 2007

It's supposed to be different edge angles. It's an Asymetrical edge

FoxholeAtheist · Mar 5, 2007

You could buy a $130 belt sander from Sears and some 80 grit belts. If you can work up a jig to hold the angle right, you can probably have it where you want it in less than 15 minutes!*

*Note, if you've never put a knife to a belt sander, you might want to practice on a non-Busse knife first, in case you should screw something up.

pbubsy · Mar 5, 2007

stabber said:
It's supposed to be different edge angles. It's an Asymetrical edge

I thought they discontinued the asymetrical edge with the Ergo line?
I'd suggest picking up a set of Diamond coated rods for your sharpmaker if that's the only method you feel comfortable with. Well....either that, or just send it in to Bill Siegle and have him regrind the edge for you. He'd put a much better edge than factory and you could probably keep it sharp just by stropping it after heavy use.

Redsnake1997 · Mar 5, 2007

Thanks for the info...

-I've thought about getting some diamond sticks for my sharpmaker, but they cost more than the whole thing combined.

-I do have a DMT Diamond stone, extra fine I believe, I'm just not that great holding a consistent edge and would probably scratch the he!! out of my blade.

-I've been thinking about sending this knife to Bill Siegle or another popular knife 'smith' and having them put a nice convex edge on this baby.

-I don't believe this has an asymetrical edge as the one side is already a nice smooth 20 degrees and was pretty much f/the get-go. The other edge is about a 28 degree flat edge (if that makes sense)

... what to do... I'll probably just keep running this thing over my sharpmaker and see how long it takes w/the sharpening sticks I have. Or may send it in for a convex edge.

kwan_918 · Mar 5, 2007

Redsnake1997 said:
Thanks for the info...
how long it takes w/the sharpening sticks I have. Or may send it in for a convex edge.

I put a v grind on my SJTac this weekend with a diamond Gatco, similar to lanskey, even with the diamond it took 3 hrs and it's still not quite where i want it. I can usually reprofile a blade in 30 min or so with that system but not INFI

resinguy · Mar 5, 2007

FoxholeAtheist said:
You could buy a $130 belt sander from Sears and some 80 grit belts. If you can work up a jig to hold the angle right, you can probably have it where you want it in less than 15 minutes!*

*Note, if you've never put a knife to a belt sander, you might want to practice on a non-Busse knife first, in case you should screw something up.

You can get a belt sander for Harbor Freight for $30. Head over to the Toolshed forum for threads on this.

Maqua · Mar 5, 2007

The sandpaper technique leaves a pretty, convex edge but I seem to get these blades much, much sharper with a plain ol' v-edge. It seems like the edge bevels are hit and miss; some blades are perfect and others look like an armless convict ground them in.

barrabas74 · Mar 5, 2007

Maquahuitl said:
The sandpaper technique leaves a pretty, convex edge but I seem to get these blades much, much sharper with a plain ol' v-edge. It seems like the edge bevels are hit and miss; some blades are perfect and others look like an armless convict ground them in.

What do you expect? I mean after noon there's gonna be a scotch or cigar in one hand and the blade in the other

, thats how you tell if they got to it before lunch