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Sharpening VG10 or S30V

Chopperz13

Chopperz13

Joined
Apr 1, 2015
Messages
348
So I have been sharpening my spyderco knives more and more recently trying to master the art of sharpening, one question I have: is the micro bevel needed or is it not?
 
So I have been sharpening my spyderco knives more and more recently trying to master the art of sharpening, one question I have: is the micro bevel needed or is it not?
 
I don't micro bevel anything. My take is people who micro bevel use mechanical help to hit their angles. I free hand and everything ends up convex to some degree depending on the thickness behind the edge.

I also don't use steels that need a micro bevel to strengthen the edge. It might help for a while but chippy steels will chip no matter what.
 
It's entirely up to you, micro bevels are an option not necessity.
 
Micro bevels are convenient for me if I have to quickly bring back an edge. I also microbevel to maintain. When the micro gets macro, I rebevel.

Additionally, microbevels are useful for steels or particular knives that have tough to remove burrs.
 
Chopperz13 said:
i have been using the spyderco sharpmaker using 15 degree per side and then a 20 degree micro bevel. has been working great for me, so this time i sharpened my endurea(VG10) i left it a 15 degree only to see if i can tell a diffrence
Click to expand...

Are you still hitting the edge?
 
Wouldn't you do a 20 degree with a 15 degree micro bevel on the sharpmaker? I'm super new to all this so I'm just asking!
 
firefighterguy said:
Wouldn't you do a 20 degree with a 15 degree micro bevel on the sharpmaker? I'm super new to all this so I'm just asking!
Click to expand...

Not at all. A microbevel is a more obtuse angle than the one it currently has. So if an edge is beveled at 15dps, you microbevel with a wider, more obtuse angle.

If your edge is at 15dps and you hit it with 20dps, you won't hit the edge. You'll be hitting the shoulders.

sharpen5.jpg
 
Not needed, but very convenient for touch up, and a good idea if you have very thin edge. Depending on the knife, I like a 20° or so primary bevel and a 30° micro, which is easily established and maintained with the Sharpmaker.
 
singularity35 said:
Not at all. A microbevel is a more obtuse angle than the one it currently has. So if an edge is beveled at 15dps, you microbevel with a wider, more obtuse angle.

If your edge is at 15dps and you hit it with 20dps, you won't hit the edge. You'll be hitting the shoulders.

sharpen5.jpg
Click to expand...

Very informative! Thank you for explaining it to me. I'm learning so much on this forum!
 
I have knives in both of those steels and I never micro-beveled the edges. Just basic freehand sharpening with diamond hones. I've been creating shaving-sharp edges without difficulty using this method.
 
singularity35 said:
Not at all. A microbevel is a more obtuse angle than the one it currently has. So if an edge is beveled at 15dps, you microbevel with a wider, more obtuse angle.

If your edge is at 15dps and you hit it with 20dps, you won't hit the edge. You'll be hitting the shoulders.

sharpen5.jpg
Click to expand...

Actually this is false, what you just described is actually how you would correctly apply a micro bevel. What would in fact hit the shoulder is if your edge was at 15 degrees and you tried to put 10 degree micro bevel on.
 
VermontEdge said:
Love seeing this. It's what the forum is all about :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I'm glad to be of assistance and I am just trying to pay it forward. I have also been schooled here. :)

Maggot Brain said:
Actually this is false, what you just described is actually how you would correctly apply a micro bevel. What would in fact hit the shoulder is if your edge was at 15 degrees and you tried to put 10 degree micro bevel on.
Click to expand...

Not at all. The person I replied to was asking if you could put a 15dps micro on a 20dps edge.

Edited. Yeh, I read my post again and indeed mea culpa. Thanks!

singularity35 said:
Not at all. A microbevel is a more obtuse angle than the one it currently has. So if an edge is beveled at 15dps, you microbevel with a wider, more obtuse angle.

If your edge is at 15dps and you hit it with 20dps, you won't hit the edge. You'll be hitting the shoulders.

sharpen5.jpg
Click to expand...

The correct statement should be...

]If your edge is at 20dps and you hit it with 15dps, you won't hit the edge. You'll be hitting the shoulders
 
Last edited:
Brain, I'm soo glad you made this point. As I kept going over this trying to get it and realized something was amiss. DM
 
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