Sharpmaker on the way for benchmade adamas

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archer88

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Apr 4, 2013
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Hi, I recently purchased my first real knife, a Benchmade 275 Adamas. I have no means of sharpening it so i purchased a spyderco sharpmaker. I have read how sharpening d2 blades can be difficult. Money is tight and I figured the sharpmaker should do the trick for keeping an edge. I know a guy who owns an Edge Pro sharpening system, If I need to reprofile my edge I can do so on his kit. I just figured I could maintain a good edge with the sharpmaker myself, and hopefully learn about sharpening in the process. I will probably make something to strop with, maybe glue some denim or cardboard to a 2x4 and strop daily to keep it sharp.

I have watched several videos on youtube, mostly about how to sharpen with the sharpmaker and how to strop and some basic "dos" and "donts".

This video shows how you can take a dull edge and make it hair whittling sharp in under 15 minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MHe_8wTHmg

I realize that my benchmade does not have as much of an acute angle as that spyderco, and I may not be able to get mine that sharp. Like I said, I have access to a much better kit that I could use to reprofile my blade to something more like a 20-30 degree angle. I honestly dont know what angle is on my Adamas, it doesnt look as wide as my buddies spydercos.

Maybe I should just leave the benchmade alone and buy an endura or a delica with my next paycheck?

I really have no concept of how sharp my knife can be. It was barely sharp enough to cut arm hair with when I received it, required alot of pressure and multiple passes. I feel that any quality knife should be able to cut receipt paper or arm hair with ease, maybe Im wrong. Any advise on how to achieve and maintain that kind of edge? My sharpmaker comes tomorrow.

Thanks alot.
 
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When you get your Sharpmaker and before you start, mark both edges with a sharpie, and then proceed to touch up your edge. This should give you a idea where you are making contact with the edge and give you a idea of the approx. angle you have on your knife. If you need to do quite a bit of re-profiling you might want to have your buddy get it to either a 20 or 30 degree angle. From there you Sharpmaker should do a fine job of maintaining that edge for you. The next thing I would look to get is a good leather strop that you can add a compound to. This will get you to the next level. The sickness has hit. Good luck with the Sharpmaker.
Ron
 
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Here are the videos that helped me personally with my SharpMaker.

[video=youtube_share;IK4K0Ox347k]http://youtu.be/IK4K0Ox347k[/video]

[video=youtube_share;FemYXS8p_tI]http://youtu.be/FemYXS8p_tI[/video]


What I feel helped me the most was mounting the SharpMaker down to something heavy and using two hands on the knife.

Good luck. Take your time. Be patient and don't get frustrated. You'll get it.
 
rpttrsn said:
The sickness has hit.
Click to expand...

God I hope not. Between firearms, reloading, electric guitar/pedals I really dont need another hobby that consumes my paycheck.
Just need a good EDC knife that I can keep sharp. I wouldnt mind having a modest collection, but its more out of necessity, I dont need another hobby.


Ill watch those videos, thanks for all the help guys.
 
I have two Adamas. Great knives. Going to be VERY TOUGH GOING on a Sharpmaker...even with the diamond rods. That D2 is very abrasion resistant and guess what...those ceramic are abrasives. You will be doing yourself a huge favor if you get some course and maybe fine diamond plates and flatten that bevel out. I am sorry to have to tell you that it will be more obtuse that 40 degrees. Your going to come up against that shoulder and your arm's going to fall off before you can wear it away.

Get some good diamond plates or a diamond file...even the Smith's will work...I have DMTs. Flatten the bevel to about 25 degrees inclusive and then you can use the Sharpmaker.

I hate to kill a buzz but D2 is one of the last steels I'd even think of trying to reprofile with a Sharpmaker.
 
My Adamas wasn't especially sharp out of the box. The angle was around 30 degrees per side and got more obtuse toward the tip. The sharpmaker will do fine to maintain an edge, After you spend some quality time on your friends Edge Pro.
 
Thanks for the advise guys. I got it today and started playing around with it. I found out pretty quickly that the edge will have to be re profiled to something more acute. I will hit up my buddy and see if we cant get it around 25* inclusive, then I should be able to maintain that edge with the 30* side of the sharpmaker correct?


Thanks
 
Yes *but*, The Adamas is pretty darn thick. Trying to turn it into a slicer by making it hair popping sharp doesn't really work. And at 12.5 degrees per side you are going to be at it for a VERY long time.
 
Your sharpmaker has 20 degree per side settings. You can reprofile the Adamas to something like 16 or 18 degrees per side, then use the sharpmaker on 20 degrees to keep it sharp with a microbevel and also maintain a fairly strong edge on the Adamas.

I just got a Benchmade 760 and its edge is quite a bit wider than 20 degrees per side.
 
bdmicarta said:
Your sharpmaker has 20 degree per side settings. You can reprofile the Adamas to something like 16 or 18 degrees per side, then use the sharpmaker on 20 degrees to keep it sharp with a microbevel and also maintain a fairly strong edge on the Adamas.

I just got a Benchmade 760 and its edge is quite a bit wider than 20 degrees per side.
Click to expand...

Im not sure how to set the edge pro up on a specified angle but Im sure my friend does. I will change the primary grind angle as soon as I can, it might even take awhile on his kit with coarse stones. I used the 40 degree setting on the sharpmaker and finally got a decent edge, its probably pretty close to the primary edge, but its sharper than when I received it.

I really appreciate all the help here, Thanks again.
 
archer88 said:
Thanks for the advise guys. I got it today and started playing around with it. I found out pretty quickly that the edge will have to be re profiled to something more acute. I will hit up my buddy and see if we cant get it around 25* inclusive, then I should be able to maintain that edge with the 30* side of the sharpmaker correct?


Thanks
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That's what you want to do. Frankly, the Adamas is a tough use knife. Tough steel. I have mine set at the 40 degree. Flattened 'er out to 25 and the put a 40 microbevel on it. 30 should do fine as well. I would expect 40 to hold up better but that steel can take it. 40 or 30, you've got the plan!!!
 
Hey guys, found this on the search. I don't know much about sharpening on the sharpmaker ( just bought one myself) or much about sharpening at all really. So am I going to end up having to buy the diamond rods to use so I can sharpen my Adamas? Or will it sharpen using the 40 degree angle? Was confused a little and just wanted to be clear. Thanks.
 
Wow, what a strange thread. In my experience with a Benchmade Bone Collector (allegedly D2) I had no problems. I had no problems with S30V, or VG10 or what ever. Maybe I'm not "sharp-anal" enough. :D

Seriously, keep your hand straight and act like your cutting...down and across the stone. There is no trick or special way to do it.
 
Jdavis' videos are key. Ive watched all of his sharpmaker vids and its my primary tool for sharpening even though its a bit slow. The most helpful advice i found was keeping the knife on one side of the stone and working it up and down until the edge has formed a burr. Use a sharpie like everyone else has said and use the flat portion for the majority of your sharpening. Be careful not to round the tip off of your knife and clean your stones often when they get caked. Good luck!
 
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