Sharpening ZDP-189

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flameboy

Joined
Jul 14, 2006
Messages
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Okay, so I havent gotten a comprehensive answer on this after searching the forums. I just ordered a ZDP leek which I plan to EDC (mainly thick cardboard and plastic). I currently have a sharpmaker with the regular brown and white stones. Do I need to buy diamond stones to sharpen the ZDP? Is a 30 degree angle going to be OK or could I go lower? (Razor sharpness is desired)

Or would it just be easier and more efficient to send it back for sharpening?

Thanks!
 
I have a Ti ZDP Leek and reprofiled it on my sharpmaker to 30 degrees. It took a while but no worse than any other higher-end metal like S30V. The stones work fine.

It is definitely worth taking the time to do it yourself because even if you send it back to get it "screaming sharp", you will eventually have to sharpen it yourself.

Let me also suggest stropping it after the sharpmaker work is completed. It will take the edge from being shaving sharp to literally hair splitting sharp.

Chris
 
flameboy said:
Okay, so I havent gotten a comprehensive answer on this after searching the forums. I just ordered a ZDP leek which I plan to EDC (mainly thick cardboard and plastic). I currently have a sharpmaker with the regular brown and white stones. Do I need to buy diamond stones to sharpen the ZDP? Is a 30 degree angle going to be OK or could I go lower? (Razor sharpness is desired)

Or would it just be easier and more efficient to send it back for sharpening?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I just resharpen my ZLeek. I use diamond sharpening (Diamond products (solid flat surface - without holes) - 400 then 1200 then powder on leather) and recommend you to get diamonds anyway - the best way to get perfect edge.

I did not notice big differentce between this steel and other premium steels (154CM, CPM S30V, 110x18MSHD...). I am not using sharpmaker for more then a year, but I think it will do the work just fine. ZDP does not have vanadium carbides and so ceramic will work for it.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
I think alot of people just assume ZDP-189 is super hard to sharpen, but in thruth it sharpens much easier than S30V and strops beautifully. It does not sharpen has easily has VG10, but I also have less burr issues with ZDP than VG10.
 
rusty edge said:
I think alot of people just assume ZDP-189 is super hard to sharpen, but in thruth it sharpens much easier than S30V and strops beautifully. It does not sharpen has easily has VG10, but I also have less burr issues with ZDP than VG10.
Click to expand...


I'm not sure about this . .I shapened my s30v Bump which is scary sharp now with one session . .pretty easy . .my ZDP Leek dose give me trouble and I can not achieve the same sharpness.

I use the Spyderco Sharpmaker with the brown white stones and tried both 40 and 30 degrees.:confused:
 
Stephan said:
my ZDP Leek dose give me trouble and I can not achieve the same sharpness.

I use the Spyderco Sharpmaker with the brown white stones and tried both 40 and 30 degrees
Click to expand...

The initial angle is much more obtuse, this is a known reported problem with the ZDP Leek. Recut the bevel on an x-coarse stone to under 15 degrees and then go back to the Sharpmaker.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=426654


-Cliff
 
You will know if the bevel is very obtuse because it won't cut well and when you try to sharpen it pretty much nothing will happen. Yes, most likely they will resharpen it if needed. It however isn't that difficult to do yourself with an x-coarse stone.

-Cliff
 
ZDP has been much harder to sharpen than s30v or vg10. I would suggest getting diamond stones for regular edge maintenence and especially if you plan to reprofile the edge.
 
I just finished sharpening my Leek ZPD-189 with my Sharpmaker lastnight. I used the optional diamond rods to start off and then used the stock brown medium and the stock white fine rods. Finished off with the optional ultra fine stones. The diamond rods really took off metal quickly. It really is worth getting if you need to reprofile or take off metal quickly. I must admit though after going through all the rods, I was able to get to shaving sharp but not real razor sharp like my Spyderco Manix. I am waiting for my leather stropping block to get to the next level of sharpness.
 
I appreciate all the great help on this forum.

But I'm 100% broke for right now cant afford any new stones, all I have to work with is the sharpmaker. I think I might try to send it back if I notice it happens to be obtuse.

Were all of the Leeks affected by this? Or was it just one batch?
 
ZDP189 can be sharpened into a razor edge easily.

I sharp my WH with normal 600gs and 1000gs stones, and leather finally.
 
I think 65HRC or even 67HRC does not really matter - ceramic is harder anyway. It is only CPM S90V with high content of vanadium carbides really, which harder then ceramic is impossible to sharpen with ceramic (to the point where edge is smaller then crbide grains) and same is correct to some extent for CPM S30V but is has much less vanadium carbides.

For me ZDP-189 require same effort to sharpen as for other premium steels.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
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