Sharpening the ZT0550

Jason B.

Jason B.

Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Jun 13, 2007
Messages
11,196
Forum member Rayban stopped over today to get his new ZT sharpened and I decided it would be a good chance for me to make a video. Enjoy!


[video=youtube;bYyUDeqjgx8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYyUDeqjgx8&context=C3e76732ADOEgsToPDskLJ NlPT1_ja8--nekceXMnx[/video]

[video=youtube;lqhNbJt8tpU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqhNbJt8tpU&feature=context&context=C3e767 32ADOEgsToPDskLJNlPT1_ja8--nekceXMnx[/video]
 
Awesome. I Just tried sharpening mine with a DMT Diafold. It really didn't cut the mustard. Thanks for the post.
 
I reprofiled mine on an Edge Pro at ~18 degrees per side. I then did a 20 degrees per side micro bevel and now it cuts like crazy despite the width of the blade. I did find that the orginal grind was off on one side in the tune of about 25 degrees on one side and <20 on the other.
 
WOW, you make that look easy! But I know it is a whole lot harder than it looks. I just got a sharpmaker to get me started in the sharpening world but I eventually want to do what you just did.

Very nice work. DMT, next on my list of sharpening tools.
 
Thanks for a great job Jason!! I love this edge....

IMAG0116.jpg
 
Thank you,

I didn't realize how fast I move and that's not even full speed :eek: I would not recommend moving that fast to start out :D

DMT's are nice sharpening tools, gets the job done quickly and yields excellent results. Remember its about the steels you are sharpening though and using the right tool for the job.
 
This is absolutely amazing. I like keeping a nice edge on my knives, but I'm such an amateur compared to you. I look like a little kid trying to sharpen his knives on a cinder block compared to you. Good job!

On a side note, where can I learn this kind of trade?
 
stillborn86 said:
This is absolutely amazing. I like keeping a nice edge on my knives, but I'm such an amateur compared to you. I look like a little kid trying to sharpen his knives on a cinder block compared to you. Good job!

On a side note, where can I learn this kind of trade?
Click to expand...

Thank you,

Practice is key to improving your skill, you could seek lessons but you will find they don't come cheap and you will still need to practice. You also need to have confidence in what you are doing or the fear of putting a blade to stone will either keep you from doing it or drive you to purchase some sort of guide. Personally I am not a fan of guides because they limit the sharpening to selected angles and often require as much skill to use as needed to learn how to sharpen without. The best guide I have ever used was a Mora and a waterstone, its what helped me to understand the mechanics of the sharpening movement and define my sharpening technique.

Whatever method you chose though make sure to stick with it until you can produce quality edges consistently. The biggest mistake is to feel that you are failing and resort to trying a new method before you have mastered the first one.
 
knifenut1013 said:
Thank you,

Practice is key to improving your skill, you could seek lessons but you will find they don't come cheap and you will still need to practice. You also need to have confidence in what you are doing or the fear of putting a blade to stone will either keep you from doing it or drive you to purchase some sort of guide. Personally I am not a fan of guides because they limit the sharpening to selected angles and often require as much skill to use as needed to learn how to sharpen without. The best guide I have ever used was a Mora and a waterstone, its what helped me to understand the mechanics of the sharpening movement and define my sharpening technique.

Whatever method you chose though make sure to stick with it until you can produce quality edges consistently. The biggest mistake is to feel that you are failing and resort to trying a new method before you have mastered the first one.
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm not afraid to put my blades to stone, and I can (I believe) keep consistent angles. But my knowledge of steel types and stones is very limited. I usually stick to the Sandvik 14C steel with a couple of Smith's diamond stones. And stropping is beyond me... LOL
 
While I did scan it (say 10 minutes)...I really enjoyed it.

Great job!

I don't watch video's btw.
 
Good job Knifenut! I see you favor the DMT stones, I use one of their ultra-coarse for reprofiling myself, but I usually sharpen with Japanese Waterstones up to 6000 grit and finish off on a strop. I really like how S35VN sharpens though for how well it holds its edge, I've found it to be relatively easy.
 
Thanks, Thomas :)

EBHM4, I tried my Nubatama bamboo 180 grit to no avail, the steel was too wear resistant to be sharpened on the waterstones I have. Maybe others like naniwa stones but IMO this steel will be best sharpened on a harder abrasive such as diamond. I like my diamond stones but believe in the right tool for the job and diamonds are not always it. (In this case they were though)
 
=Voodoo= said:
care to share why you use short strokes and long strokes?
Click to expand...

To keep the metal removal even throughout the length of the bevel. If I were to grind with a heel to tip stroke every time I would end up with more metal removed in the belly and tip area. It's all about how much surface area is making contact, when transferring to the belly and tip the area of contact becomes very small and the pressure very high. If not mindful of this you can distort the bevel and geometry of the edge.
 
Excellent videos! Very informative & relaxed presentation (despite the power drink) :D :thumbup:
 
Knifenut1013, Fine video indeed. Just what I needed to see. Pictures, especially moving ones, are worth way more than a thousand words.

It might be just me, but I was watching the movie "Heat" the other night and I swear that guy....er...Thomas from Kershaw was in it.....
 
knifenut how much would it cost to have a knife sharpened by you? i tried running my brothers swamp rat though a worksharp to convex it but it didnt work so well and even though i got it farily sharp again on stones its not to where i had it before and i lack the xx coarse and x coarse to re-profile it, so i am tempted to have you give it a go if he would be into it
 
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