Sharpening zt 0350

G

greg.crx

Joined
Jun 25, 2009
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I am having a very hard time sharpening my zt 0350. when i got it i was not happy with the edge and i have been struggling with first the lansky system and then the sharpmaker and i cannot manage to get a satisfactory edge on it. does this sound like warranty work or is it something I am doing wrong. I can get all my other knives as sharp as i need to except this one. This is my first experience with s30v by the way. I am very close to sending it to kershaw for re-sharpening.

Thanks
 
i felt the same way about my spec bump, my zt0200, my volt, my zdp cyclone, my lahar...

i sold the bump, had a regrind done on the zt0200 and the volt, gave away the cyclone and the lahar.

i love kershaws quality and materials but FOR ME, a lot of time the blade geometry is not good and the edges are very obtuse.
 
No problem at all sharpening mine on a Spyderco Sharpmaker. I run it pretty dull cutting up fish and odd jobs and am able to spend a few moments on the Sharpmaker and have it back to hair shaving, paper slicing sharp.
 
Agreed, all 3 of the ZT knives I've had came with uneven grinds on each side. On the other hand, since I find all factory grinds to be too dull compared to the mirror edges I usually put on my knives, I don't really mind it.

I don't know about the Lansky system, but I know for a fact that the Sharpmaker rods are too fine to do any serious bevel correction(unless you got a few weeks). I would suggest trying something with 120 grit and just working your way up to a burr from there. If you don't feel the burr, it won't be sharp.
 
Some of my Kershaw/ZT's had a single bevel obtuse grind. Using a Sharpmaker, I simply clipped strips of 320 grit (use whatever you like) wet/dry sandpaper to the rods, honed down the back bevel until perfect, polished with the medium rods, and then set the microbevel with the medium. Then you touch up as normal.

I'm not sure but I believe that the medium rod is about 800 grit and the fine is about 1400 grit.

Most ZT's and the Spec have pretty thick blades. It takes about 2 sheets of paper and 30 minutes (if the strips are pre-cut to 1/2 inch) per knife but that includes a light denim stropping, too. Works great for me.

Yesterday, I was just showing off how my ZT0200 shaves hair off my arm. My sister can't stand to watch me do that at all!

greg.crx said:
I am having a very hard time sharpening my zt 0350. when i got it i was not happy with the edge and i have been struggling with first the lansky system and then the sharpmaker and i cannot manage to get a satisfactory edge on it. does this sound like warranty work or is it something I am doing wrong. I can get all my other knives as sharp as i need to except this one. This is my first experience with s30v by the way. I am very close to sending it to kershaw for re-sharpening.

Thanks
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adnj said:
Some of my Kershaw/ZT's had a single bevel obtuse grind.
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That's very likely the problem with the OP's edge. My ZT0350CB came dull and badly profiled when it was new. Here's a couple quotes from a thread about the ZT0350CB:

futz said:
I received my new ZT0350CB today. Very nice. But not very sharp. I go to touch it up on the Sharpmaker and can't get anywhere with it. I painted the edge with Sharpie and checked it out. One side is a perfect 15 degrees - no complaint there. The other side is visibly different even before the Sharpie. A couple passes on the Sharpmaker and I can see that it starts out around 20 degrees and at about 1/3 of the way from the handle it gradually goes to maybe 25 degrees or more. Sigh... Yet another blade that needs re-profiling fresh out of the box. Happens too often.
Click to expand...

futz said:
Did the re-profile tonight. Phew! What a job! Not absolutely perfect yet, but very good. I got it fairly wickedly sharp. :D If I spent more time at it I could easily get it even sharper.

Any idea of the HRC hardness KAI is treating this stuff to? It took some serious work with my Gatco diamond hones to get it into shape.

I'll put it in my pocket for a few weeks (bumping out the Spyderco Military) and compare its edge holding to CPM S30V and VG-10 (Delica in other pocket).

IMG_1638sm.JPG


IMG_1639sm.JPG


IMG_1640sm.JPG
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I reprofiled my ZT-0350 (S30V) with my Lansky kit. At that time, I was using a 'Deluxe' kit (standard hones), supplemented with one medium diamond hone. My hones were already somewhat worn when I started, so it took a LOOONG time to get it done. I went much more acute than the original factory bevel, so a lot of metal had to come off. I finally got it done, and I like the results, but it did take a very long time. I've also spent a good deal of time stropping it, with green compound on leather. Slowly but surely, the edge has come along.
 
adnj said:
Some of my Kershaw/ZT's had a single bevel obtuse grind. Using a Sharpmaker, I simply clipped strips of 320 grit (use whatever you like) wet/dry sandpaper to the rods, honed down the back bevel until perfect, polished with the medium rods, and then set the microbevel with the medium. Then you touch up as normal.

I'm not sure but I believe that the medium rod is about 800 grit and the fine is about 1400 grit.

Most ZT's and the Spec have pretty thick blades. It takes about 2 sheets of paper and 30 minutes (if the strips are pre-cut to 1/2 inch) per knife but that includes a light denim stropping, too. Works great for me.

Yesterday, I was just showing off how my ZT0200 shaves hair off my arm. My sister can't stand to watch me do that at all!
Click to expand...

Got any pictures of how you clipped the 320 to the rods. I am on the fence about getting the diamond rods for it. What love to see how people have done this.
 
I'm new to the ZT's and have a new 0350. I really like the wave design on your blade. Did you order it that way or??? Sorry, I'm a newbie but that looks sharp, pun intended!
 
thebriarman said:
I'm new to the ZT's and have a new 0350. I really like the wave design on your blade. Did you order it that way or??? Sorry, I'm a newbie but that looks sharp, pun intended!
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That's the 0350CB. It is a limited run of 1000, I believe, that uses a composite blade. The cutting edge is ELMAX and the rest is 14C28N.
 
I'll have to try. I'm moving and everything is packed.

..I cut the strips to 1/2 inch (about the width of a sharpmaker flat)
..Using a single binder clip, hold the strip at the top
..Sharpen away

Make sure that each stroke is light enough and the strip will stay against the rod. You'll get about 10 strokes before it's time to change stips. If you use the strip too long, you will likely snag the paper.

It's simple and easy. And you never have to clean the rods while you are doing heavy reprofiling.

soapboxpreacher said:
Got any pictures of how you clipped the 320 to the rods. I am on the fence about getting the diamond rods for it. What love to see how people have done this.
Click to expand...
 
SharpMaker diamond rods are pretty expensive but if you're a SM guy, they sure do make a big difference. They're not anywhere as good as a DMT stone IMO but they fit those pesky recurves very well. I've never tried the sandpaper trick. Interesting. :)
 
I ended up reprofiling the blade on my beltsander with a 220 grit belt. I shimmed up the belt sander until it was at 15 degrees and then went to town. then i took it to the sharpmaker and it hasn't left my side since. Thanks for the pointers guys
 
That's the way to do it! Once that bevel is set properly, you will have no problems. I love the hefty ZT blades. :thumbup:

greg.crx said:
I ended up reprofiling the blade on my beltsander with a 220 grit belt. I shimmed up the belt sander until it was at 15 degrees and then went to town. then i took it to the sharpmaker and it hasn't left my side since. Thanks for the pointers guys
Click to expand...
 
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