Sharpmaker Stone Question?

Clay Kesting · Aug 13, 1999

I just started using my Sharpmaker 204 and I noticed the corners of the grey stones don't cut as well as I expected. I have a vague recollection (most of my recollections are vague these days, must be age catching up

) of Sal talking about a glaze on the stone which can be broken by rubbing the stones together. Does anybody else remember this and what thread it appears in? I guess this is why we need a Spydie FAQ

.

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Take care,
Clay

Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow....in Australia it's tomorrow already.

Kodiak PA · Aug 13, 1999

Clay,
Your memory is pretty good. I can't recall the thread but I just watched the 204 video and in it Sal states that he recommends rubbing some of the 'glaze' off of each gray stone by rubbing both medium grit(gray) stones together before using.

He also stated that if you don't do it, that is OK, too, just sharpening over time will perform the same task.

I hope this helps.

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~Greg~

Paul Davidson · Aug 14, 1999

The gray stones get more aggressive in action as you use them. Just make sure you keep the ceramic clean too.
Paul

Dannyc · Aug 14, 1999

Hiya Clay!

Yep, these are very well-informed guys we have here, hehehe..

Sal did suggest rubbing the two medium grit stones together, something like accelerating the wear process, to give it more bite on the steel.

But I found that cleaning the stones on a regular basis does the same job. Since there's very little space on the corners of the stone, steel particles will accumulate faster, thus slowing down its capacity to sharpen. I ordered an "eraser" for this purpose. I make sure I clean it often during the process of sharpening to make sure it bites into the steel always.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Dan

PS. I don't know about you guys, but I find myself using the medium grit more often than the fine grit.

It gives me a very good edge that will shave hair, and cut aggressively.

Frantium · Aug 14, 1999

Dan,

About the medium stones, yep, me too buddy

. We could always adjust the pressure according to how coarse/smooth you want the edge to be.

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Reynaert

Clay Kesting · Aug 14, 1999

Thanks fellas,

It's reassuring to be told that I didn't imagine that Sal said to rub the stones together. Nice to know the mind is still sound even if the eye sight is failing and the teeth are not all original equipment

.

Dan, where did you get the eraser? Sounds more convenient than washing in the middle of a sharpening session. BTW have you got your Native yet? Mine actually arrived at the PO last Monday, but the card found its way into the paper recycling box and I didn't get it until Thursday. Still it was worth the wait, I can't get over what a nice knife this is.

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Take care,
Clay

Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow....in Australia it's tomorrow already.

Frantium · Aug 14, 1999

Clay,

AG Russell sells the erasers, look at them here: /www.agrussell.com/maintenance/index.html . You can also find them at your nearest Home Depot. Ask them for rust eraser.

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Reynaert

[This message has been edited by Frantium (edited 14 August 1999).]

Dannyc · Aug 14, 1999

Reynaert,

Yep, that would be the case. I just adjust the pressure on the medium grit to get the sharpness that I want.

I feel that the extra micro-serrations created by the medium grit performs better than the fine-edged ones.

Clay,

Nope, still haven't gotten my Native yet.. sigh... It was shipped Aug. 3, and it's now the 15th over here.. 12 freakin' days!

I'm going to storm the postal office this Monday. It was shipped EMS, for pete's sake. That, and my other EMS package, coming in from Bladeauctions. Major bummer.

So how do you like your Native? I'm envious... waaaahhh!!!

Dan

Dannyc · Aug 14, 1999

Oh yeah, I got the eraser from hmmm... geez, forgot where I got it, what with dealing with different online stores.. lol...

I think it's Discountknives, not sure though. It's made by United Cutlery. Looks like a pencil eraser that's very gritty. Removes those grey leftovers from the sharpening better than washing the ceramic hones, that's for sure.

Get one, or three.

Dan

Dannyc · Aug 14, 1999

Err, guys? When sharpening with the ceramic hones, do you polish the very edge only? or do you polish the whole bevel?

I would like to put a mirror-finish on the bevel (looks cool) unfortunately I don't really know how it's done using the fine ceramic stones of Spyderco.

I saw a pic of the Sebenza with this polished bevel, and am drooling ever since.

Dan

Clay Kesting · Aug 14, 1999

Thanks for the info on the erasers. I have a rather gritty ink eraser I will try, while I wait to get one off the net.

Dan, I am really pleased with the Native. I posted in the General Forum that I think anyone who doesn't get one while they are available might regret it later as they are such an outstanding knife.

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Take care,
Clay

Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow....in Australia it's tomorrow already.

Frantium · Aug 14, 1999

Dan,

Yes you could do that with the Sharpmaker's white ceramic. I always do that to my 'scalpel' folders (the ones I keep for delicate tasks), done on an old 203. I don't have the 204, but I think you have to start polishing from the start, ie. with the new 15 degree angle. Use light pressure when you're working the bevel. When the back bevel is polished, move on to the edge, using the 20 degree setting. Again, using light pressure. Just don't use the grey stones if you want polished edge

. The only catch is that it'll take a long time to do that.

There's a strange phenomenon though: I find the corners will produce polished edge faster than the flats. Or maybe that's just me?

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Reynaert

Sal Glesser · Aug 14, 1999

Reynaert - The corners cut faster than the flats because the single point contact of the corners applies greater pressure and the flats "snowshoe" the pressure.

Also keep in mind that the corners can also roll, bend or break an edge if too much pressure is applied.
sal

Frantium · Aug 15, 1999

Sal,

Thanks for the explanation. I suspected that much though. A given force focused in a small area will give greater impact than in a larger one (F/A=P if my memory serves me right, it was something I remember from a physics class 15 years ago). But I have to admit that it's difficult to screw up the edge with the Sharpmaker, unless of course you're physically or mentally impaired

.

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Reynaert