Sharpening S90V, paradoxical cutting capability?

M

Morthawt

Joined
May 30, 2017
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I am new to supersteels so forgive any ignorance I may have.

I have a Manly Wasp in S90V. I sharpened it on 600 grit to have a toothy edge which apparently is the kind of edge best suited for S90V by all accounts. I have done a few test cuts through a padded envelope and made a 1.5 meter slice through some thick carpet since I needed 1 inch trimming off some spare carpet we have in the bathroom.

It was still trivially cutting through paper smoothly with no nicks or splutters and I tried cutting both directions to ensure I don't get good cutting only from a bur when cutting one direction. SO it was fine. But it was unable to shave any hair at all. My mind is blown as to why it was cutting paper as expected with no tears or any detrimental artifacts at all. I tend to gauge my sharpness by if it can shave hairs off my arm, so what is going on here? Do I need to look at this differently or perform a different test for sharpness? I would appreciate some enlightenment on what you think is going on.

I have now sharpened with lighter pressure on the 600 and then flipped over to my 1000 grit and did the same and it is back to hair shaving sharp. My hope is the 1000 grit might provide a "better" edge while not being too lacking in toothiness? What are your thoughts on any of this?

Thanks
 
A knife will go from shaving sharp to not shaving fairly quickly. I find a strop is usually sufficient to bring the shaving edge back for quite some time before sharpening is needed, considering steels like S90V.
 
My entire sharpening capability consists of a twin sides heavy 600/1000 grit diamond stone, a little ezlap tiny little 1200 grit diamond thing (super fine, the blue one) and a basic cheap leather stop on wood. I have no compounds or anything for stropping. I tried stropping for a while on the leather, using both the rough and shiny sides and still it would not shave hair.

What I do not understand is, how can it effortlessly, cleanly, beautifully cut through paper without issue yet be unable to shave any hair whatsoever? Surely sharp means sharp? The angle is right, it's hard metal and I did comparatively little amount of cutting in what I documented in my first message on this thread. I must be missing something. I am not, like, worried about it since it was cutting things (paper) easily with no signs of problems. I am just concerned about my concept of what sharp is and what is happening in this situation.
 
While it might not be shaving hair, it would certainly cut hair. Shaving is using an edge sufficiently sharp that the hair is cut merely by making light contact with the edge. It will go on cutting paper long after the shaving edge is gone, particularly a steel like S90V. I use a leather strop with the standard green compound and it works well to keep a shaving edge. There is a load of expertise on here, you should look around in the maintenance forum. :)
 
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