sharpening questions, and zip ties

E

edb

Joined
Aug 30, 2002
Messages
740
Yeah, not exactly seemingly related, but they are for this one...

Recently received a 2nd Spydie Paramilitary in trade (shaving sharp when it arrived), and it's been traveling in my pocket since. Used it for various low impact things, like slicing cheese, salami, etc. Couple strings -- then, 2 fairly thick zip ties.

I didn't check the edge until after the zip ties. Somehow, I think the food and the strings didn't do much of anything to the edge, but maybe the zip ties did. Now, it doesn't slice paper too well, and certainly doesn't shave.

So, I tried a quick touch-up on the Sharpmaker, but it didn't do the trick.

3 questions:

1. Are zip ties that damaging to an edge?

2. Is CPM-S30V that much harder to sharpen than VG-10? I've had great luck sharpening VG-10, but have never tried CPM-S30V yet...and I've read 'round here that it can be a b$tch to sharpen...

3. Am I really at the point where a touch up won't work - and I have to raise a burr, etc. ? I wouldn't have guessed I'd have to do that so soon, with so little use. But, maybe the zip ties....

Any opins appreciated!
 
The zip ties didn't have any kind of metal band in them did they? If they were just plastic I can't imagine them doing that much damage to a PROPERLY sharpened edge. It's possible the knife came with a burr on it which would shave hair, slice through salami, cheese, strings, etc. When you took it to the zip tie it may have rolled the burr over and dulled the edge. Since it's a Spyderco you should be able to touch it up with the 40 degree setting on the Sharpmaker. You may need to start with the grey stones to remove any burr that is there and you may have to make a few light passes at a steeper angle to cut off any burr that is there.
 
S30V isnt that hard to sharpen. IMHO some folks try to go to far in raising a burr with this steel. I dont feel it needs one to work at peak.
Zip ties are very hard for some reason. I cut them with a multitool, not a knife. (add) If I recall there was a thread many moons ago about 420hc in a Buck not taking a burr well. Some steels just sharpen different.
 
edb said:
Are zip ties that damaging to an edge?
Click to expand...
They should not be.

Is CPM-S30V that much harder to sharpen than VG-10?
Click to expand...
The machinability is lower and thus it will take more passes given a similar extent of blunting.

Am I really at the point where a touch up won't work...
Click to expand...
'

Seems like it, outline the edge with a marker to insure you are hitting the edge.

-Cliff
 
I was having a discussion with a butcher one day about his knives. He told me that the slicing cheeses tended to ruin his knife edges. He thought it might have something to do with the milk acids or whatever.
 
I have not found cheese to be overly acidic, there are many types though. It can be hard on edges if the blocks are thick as you end up using a lot of force and then smashing the blade into the cutting board hard. It actually cuts well with one of those wire knife do-dads.

-Cliff
 
Well, my two cents on zip-ties: I hate them! Well cutting them with a knife that is. They should really dull a blade much, if you would cut them like an other material, but truth is that you usually have to slide the blade in the loop, or that you cut against it. In the first case you often can not help but to twist the knife quite a bit while trying to cut, which induces in my experience very easily edge rolling because you put a lot of transverse force on the edge. Or if you push you easily hit something pretty hard, once you are through. If you would simply put a zip-tie sideways on a cutting board and would cut it like a carrot, it doesn't dull the blade much (tried that). But that's rarely how you cut a zip-tie.
 
Timely response, HoB...

I haven't yet had time to resharpen, but I did use the Para to cut another zip tie last night at my grandson's 5th birthday party ($&%!ing toys are packaged to survive anything :rolleyes: ).

Anyway, I ended up cutting that one "like a carrot", and it cut easily. It was just the very tip of the knife doing the work, because the tie was very small.

By comparison, it was in fact my son who borrowed my knife to cut the other zip ties. He is tough on tools, so he probably did twist more than I would have - which would/could explain why the section of the blade that's dull happens to be exactly what he was using (i.e. the section maybe 1/4 inch away from the tip to about 1 inch from the handle).

Think I'll make sure I'm always carrying a SAK with scissors next time :D
 
Leatherman's Charge Ti comes with a locking blade in 154CM!!! And a big old saw blade too! ;) Any excuse to get one of them is a good one! :D
 
Well, I finally got a few minutes tonight to work on this. Took out the Sharpmaker, put it in the 40 degree mode, and started with the diamond rods, then grey, then white...in about 5 minutes, the entire blade sliced paper like butter, and now shaves. Raised a burr in about a minute with those diamond rods (how sweet that is - hadn't used them much thus far)...

My concerns about sharpening S30V are now considerably less. Thanks
for all the advice! :)
 
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