Sharpmaker help

[GraysonK]

Hi all,
Got a couple of questions and I hope it's ok to put this here instead of the maintenance section.
1. What doe back bevel mean? Is that the same as a micro bevel? Forgive my ignorance. My DVD doesn't work and I haven't gotten the chance to order another one yet.
2. If I had to fix a chip in one of blades and used a rod guided system to fix it thus putting a 40 degree (20 each side) edge on my knife, will using the 30 degree back bevel side of the sharpmaker give me a micro-bevel? The knife had one to begin with but, like I said I found some chips in it. I didn't want to send it back to spyderco for something so very, very minimal and I did fix it. I just want the micro bevel back.
3. If the answer to number 2 is yes, then do I just use it the way I use the Sharpmaker itself. I hope so...the reason I don't sharpen on a benchstone is becau
So, those are my questions/concerns. Any suggestions?
Thanks Gray

 

[MORIMOTOM]

when you have a v grind edge on a blade, there is a shoulder where the edge meets the primary grind.

a back bevel would be grinding on that shoulder, thus taking the inclusive edge angle down to 30 degrees if you grind it all the way off.

spyderco recommends this when you have sharpened your knife enough times that the edge has "shortened" toward the spine. though the grind is still at 40 degrees, at the shoulder the edge is thicker because you have moved back toward the spine. back beveling will thin the shoulder.

i often times knock the shoulder off an edge with the 30 degree setting. theoretically it should make the knife a better slicer.

if you have a chip, backbeveling won't fix it. unless your edge is already at 30 degrees.

i had a chip in my s90v millie, and easily repaired it with the diamond stones at the 40 degree setting. about 5 swipes per side and it was gone.