Spyderco enduro 4 flat ground vg10 sharpening help

G

grant31781

Joined
Feb 27, 2020
Messages
5
I have a Shapton glass 500 and 1000 grit stone and green compound on a cardboard strop.

I am using a guided system similar to the edge pro to guide the stones and the strop. I used a sharpie to mark the edge to set the angle. I can get the knife sharp enough to slice through newspaper but I can not get it skin touchless shaving or tree topping sharp.

Here are two picture from my microscope. Not sure what the issue is. The steel does not seem to make much of a burr when it does. I have spent a lot of time on it and it will not get sharper. The angle is 15 degrees per side.
I am brand new to sharpening. I will say it is way sharper than it was out of the box.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13TWQtKmDMnyIvbfMbPF3I4UM02AMcuvE/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13QahnGeIEMbIsyKDfX_E6Hv_JNgly_bT/view?usp=sharing

Thanks,

Grant
 
Imo the key to very sharp is stropping. I would get the edge on a piece of balsa or leather with some diamond spray or cbn.
 
I'm not experienced with microscopes. So what I'm about to say might be incorrect. I notice that I can see a reflection along part of the edge in both pictures. Without a scope, using your eyes and strong light above a knife edge, you can see similar reflections on a dull blade. If a knife is reflecting light, from the cutting edge, using the naked eye, then the edge is fairly dull. Something like 10 to 30 microns wide.

I wonder if you have actually apexed your edge. Will it shave hair from your arm? If yes, then it's pretty sharp already. Perhaps all you need is more polish to get the edge to do the things you want it to do. I personally find a highly polished edge to be NOT useful for real world cutting. Highly polished edges dull very quickly. But they are cool and fun to show off. Good to shave with also.

Good luck to you.

Brian.
 
Can it cut a paper towel?

Or somewhat split hairs?

If it can thats realistically as sharp as you will get it off a 1000 grit and strop

And all you would ever needs for actual use
 
If you are truly apexed (use a marker to check)

Then do alternating light leading edges strokes on the 1000 grit, just the weight of the knife, very little pressure

After 50 or so total it should shave with absolute ease

If it doesnt then you arent apexed

After that do about 20 alternating strokes total on the strop

At that point it should cut a free hanging paper towel

With that steel and blade geometry you should be able to get it to that point with what you have

Remember if its not sharp on the lower grits then you are just bandaiding yourself once you move up
 
grant31781 said:
Here is a shot of the blade edge with my arm hairs.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/145VPQvq8j8xPRzqVR9T1fZRtQaf7yYFS/view?usp=drivesdk
Another shot. It does shave my arm hairs brushing lightly across my skin. It effortlessly shaves newspaper.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you are apexed then. I can't see your pictures as they need "permission". But the fact that it shaves well indicates that it is probably apexed.

I would guess that a finer stone would send this edge to the next level. A 5000 JIS waterstone would probably do the trick. Or any other stone in the 1 to 6 micron range. Spyderco Fine, DMT EEF, etc.

It's too bad everyone doesn't have the BESS tester. I bought one about a month ago and it's a really neat (and strange) feeling to be able to say, "my edge measures 143 average". A real number that can be compared to others with the same tester. Not advocating for you (or anyone else) to buy one. Just pontificating.

Brian.
 
grant31781 said:
So how should it cut with a 500 grit finish? I apexed it. The vg 10 does not burr much with a 500 grit glass stone. a few metal flakes on the edge.
Click to expand...

That's an interesting question: "How does it cut?"

A cleanly deburred edge should (as you said) fly through newspaper. Level of shaving performance is largely a function of polish. The more polished (and thin) the edge, the better it will shave.

The question I have for you is simple: What are you trying to achieve with this cutting performance? If you are seeking the top of the mountain... the highest level of "cutting tricks" you can achieve, I understand that goal. It's fun and it shows you what you can do. But can a blade sharpened to a very high polish cut things effectively? In my opinion, not really. The first few cuts are generally amazing with a polished edge. But, as soon as you hit something abrasive, or use a bit of force, that edge gets blunted or rolled and it's over.

A more coarse edge performs better in the real world of everyday tasks in my opinion. But again, this is about YOUR goals, not mine.

Good luck.

Brian.
 
I am being OCD about this. LOL I just want to be able to sharpen it to tree topping level just to say I did it and understand how to do it.
I do want it to be very sharp for EDC. Opening mail, cutting cardboard, peeling oranges, shaving wire insulation etc.

I just ordered some 1 micro diamond spray to give a finer polish.
 
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