Sharpening S90V

R

ricklee4570

Joined
Aug 12, 2010
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643
Just got a Spyderco Mule in S90V.

Can anybody give me any tips on sharpening this knife? Best edge angle?

I will be either using the Edge Pro Apex or my Spyderco Benchstones.

Thanks!
 
Diamonds are your best friend with this steel and one of the few abrasives that sharpen it well. Ceramics will work but I do not suggest them because of the excessive burring they cause with this steel.

It will take as long but most likely longer than a ZDP blade to sharpen and feel pretty much like you are rubbing rocks together.

Once sharp though it will be very hard to dull, its one of very few steels I've never been able to make stop cutting. You can also go fairly low with the angle without worry, my millie and mule are both around 10-12 per side.
 
knifenut1013 said:
Diamonds are your best friend with this steel and one of the few abrasives that sharpen it well. Ceramics will work but I do not suggest them because of the excessive burring they cause with this steel.

It will take as long but most likely longer than a ZDP blade to sharpen and feel pretty much like you are rubbing rocks together.

Once sharp though it will be very hard to dull, its one of very few steels I've never been able to make stop cutting. You can also go fairly low with the angle without worry, my millie and mule are both around 10-12 per side.
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Is there any particular diamond abrasive that you recommend?

I found a good deal on some DMT interupted pattern diamond stones. Blue-Course and Red Fine. Do you think I will need the Green-Extra Fine with this knife steel to get the best results? Thanks for your help!
 
ricklee4570 said:
Is there any particular diamond abrasive that you recommend?

I found a good deal on some DMT interupted pattern diamond stones. Blue-Course and Red Fine. Do you think I will need the Green-Extra Fine with this knife steel to get the best results? Thanks for your help!
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C, F, and EF would be good and give you a very sharp edge.

This steel performs at any grit though, coarse edge or fine edge doesn't matter it will only make the cutting feel different because of the finish.

When using diamond plates with these types of steels you cannot use forceful pressure, let the stone sharpen the steel. You will find the process to go much faster and a more consistent angle will be held.
 
knifenut1013 said:
Diamonds are your best friend with this steel and one of the few abrasives that sharpen it well. Ceramics will work but I do not suggest them because of the excessive burring they cause with this steel.

It will take as long but most likely longer than a ZDP blade to sharpen and feel pretty much like you are rubbing rocks together.

Once sharp though it will be very hard to dull, its one of very few steels I've never been able to make stop cutting. You can also go fairly low with the angle without worry, my millie and mule are both around 10-12 per side.
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Just reprofiled and sharpened a Kershaw Shallot in CPM-110V yesterday and it was interesting, I don't remember what S90V was like as it's been awhile.

It took me over an hour just to reprofile it to 30 inclusive, longer than ZDP.


Jim
 
Ankerson said:
Just reprofiled and sharpened a Kershaw Shallot in CPM-110V yesterday and it was interesting, I don't remember what S90V was like as it's been awhile.

It took me over an hour just to reprofile it to 30 inclusive, longer than ZDP.


Jim
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Of ZDP (spyderco), S90V (spyderco), S110V (kershaw), and S125V (Fantoni) CPM-S90V from sypderco has been the most difficult steel I've ever sharpened. Difficult may be the wrong word though, these steels are actually very nice to sharpen it just takes what seems like forever.
 
knifenut1013 said:
Of ZDP (spyderco), S90V (spyderco), S110V (kershaw), and S125V (Fantoni) CPM-S90V from sypderco has been the most difficult steel I've ever sharpened. Difficult may be the wrong word though, these steels are actually very nice to sharpen it just takes what seems like forever.
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I get the feeling you enjoy it though:thumbup:.
 
knifenut1013 said:
Of ZDP (spyderco), S90V (spyderco), S110V (kershaw), and S125V (Fantoni) CPM-S90V from sypderco has been the most difficult steel I've ever sharpened. Difficult may be the wrong word though, these steels are actually very nice to sharpen it just takes what seems like forever.
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Yeah it wasn't bad at all, just took a long time to do it. :)
 
My S90v mule is at 10 degrees per side. It's probably the toughest steel I've had to reprofile to date. It made me look twice at my grit wheel to see why it didn't seem to take off enough metal.

Everything required 2 to 3 times as much effort to complete but even so, I didn't have to do anything special for it. Something around 10 minutes or slightly more, which is a long time for paper wheels.

The resulting knife edge has proven to be incredible. It's still sharp as hell after all the use around the house and the durability of the 20 degrees edge is amazing. A few of my kitchen knives are also at 20 degrees in VG-10 and they have been through several resharpening while the mule still has the original edge.
 
What is it about S90V that makes it hold the edge so good? Spyderco only heat treats it to around 56 RC (so I was told anyway). Is it the Vanadium content?
 
Rc 58-59 IIRC, Its a stainless Tool steel :) plus it got lot'o carbides.

Its what's considered a super premium steel and lets you know all about its super premiumness when sharpening and using. Enjoy it though, its good stuff.
 
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