Spyderco Sharpmaker and S90V

R

ricklee4570

Joined
Aug 12, 2010
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If I use diamond abrasives to properly grind a good relief edge, is the Spyderco Sharpmaker capable of re-sharpening as needed? Or would diamonds have to be used exclusively?
 
I wouldn't. Any steel with higher vanadium or other harder carbides you should use appropriate abrasives like diamonds. That being said, I'm assuming you mean the basic kit that comes with ceramic hones. You can buy diamond or CBN hones that would solve your problem.
 
You definitely want to use diamond or CBN with S90V. Huge vanadium carbide content in that steel. Diamond or CBN will make upkeep simple. The investment in Spyderco's optional diamond or CBN Sharpmaker rods would be well worth it for S90V, if you're still intent on using the SM for upkeep.

The standard ceramic rods for the Sharpmaker might be used for very light burr removal. But for grinding, sharpening and edge refinement, I'd stick with diamond or CBN.
 
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For me it was just a preference in feel. I only had a Spyderco CBN 3"x8" stone and it worked fine but I found I preferred the feel or feedback more from diamond plates. Hard to describe. I've been told CBN is usually more uniform but unless you're buying cheap no name diamond plates I've not had issues with diamond grit contamination. But it is a thing.
 
ricklee4570 said:
Between diamond and CBN, which is better?
Click to expand...
For manual sharpening by hand, there may not be much of a difference in terms of how well each works.

CBN is heavily favored in industry for powered grinding applications because it's much more stable at high grinding temperatures. Diamond is known to break down at high grinding temperatures, which ruins expensive diamond tooling and also contaminates the materials being ground.

Each are plenty hard enough to grind & refine the hardest of carbides in steel alloys. Diamond is the hardest of all at 7000 on the Knoop hardness scale, with CBN at ~4500 Knoop or a little higher. Compare that to the hardest known carbides which may be up to ~2800 Knoop or so, for vanadium carbide. I attached a chart below from Norton Abrasives, showing the relative hardness differences between different abrasive types and the materials on which they might be used, including hardened steel and specific types of hard carbides:
ikmPGGr.jpg

I've long been curious about CBN but haven't tried any yet. I've been tempted to get either the diamond or CBN rods for my SM. I have plenty of other diamond hones, most of them from DMT, so I don't necessarily need the diamond or CBN rods for my SM. But I've still been tempted to try them. My personal inclination is that I'd likely choose the diamond over CBN, simply because I'm more familiar with diamond hones.
 
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During sharpening, only the tips of the diamond/CBN grains come into contact with the metal. Here are some microscope photos of a Dr. Marv 40μm stone (and its grains) and the surface of S35VN steel after sharpening with this stone.

The same magnification of 1000x

40 mikron 1000x.jpgS35VN Dr. Marv 40m 1000x.jpg


It is said that CBN has a smoother (hexagonal) grain surface, which is why it produces a better finish on steel.

However, Dr. Marv manufactures both diamond and CBN stones using the same production technology, and the diamond stone produce a better finish than the CBN ones.
 
Edge Pro
and
Diamond Matrix Stones

(I've sharpened quite a bit of S90V this last year . Including two of my precious :
Spyderco Siren S90V regular factory blade (reprofiled and polished).
Spyderco Siren S90V shortened / Wharncliffe (reprofiled and polished)
I'm in love ! ! ! !)
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
For manual sharpening by hand, there may not be much of a difference in terms of how well each works.

CBN is heavily favored in industry for powered grinding applications, mainly because it's much more stable at high grinding temperatures. Diamond is known to break down at high temperatures, which ruins expensive diamond wheels and also contaminates the materials being ground.

Each are plenty hard enough to grind & refine the hardest of carbides in steel alloys. Diamond is the hardest of all at 7000 on the Knoop hardness scale, with CBN at around 4500 Knoop. Compare that to the hardest known carbides, which may be up to ~2800 Knoop or so.

I've long been curious about CBN but haven't tried any yet. I've been tempted to get either the diamond or CBN rods for my SM. I've got plenty of other diamond hones, most of them from DMT, so I don't necessarily need the diamond or CBN rods for my SM. But I've still been tempted to try them. My personal inclination is that I'd likely choose the diamond over CBN, simply because I'm more familiar with diamond hones.
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One of my CBNs Sucks So Bad !
15,000 metal bonded . Every time I use it on a debured edge all it does is create a bur ! Does not improve the edge at all . Less roundy diamonds with a bit of bite would be nice in this one . . . at least .
They charged $111 PLUS SHIPPING ! Plus tax .
It might be a good BLANK to put some sharpening film on but that is about it .

PS : I didn't even want any thing remotely that fine . All I was trying to get was something I could put in my Edge Pro that was close to my Aligner Stone at 8,000 (without the dimple holes and longer) . l still just use the Aligner stone . The new ones are not as consistent grit quality as the decade old ones but it is dirt cheep at . . . wait for it . . .
$20 . Free shipping . 😳
 
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Wowbagger said:
One of my CBNs Sucks So Bad !
15,000 metal bonded . Every time I use it on a debured edge all it does is create a bur ! Does not improve the edge at all . Less roundy diamonds with a bit of bite would be nice in this one . . . at least .
They charged $111 PLUS SHIPPING ! Plus tax .
It might be a good BLANK to put some sharpening film on but that is about it .

PS : I didn't even want any thing remotely that fine . All I was trying to get was something I could put in my Edge Pro that was close to my Aligner Stone at 8,000 (without the dimple holes and longer) . l still just use the Aligner stone . The new ones are not as consistent grit quality as the decade old ones but it is dirt cheep at . . . wait for it . . .
$20 . Free shipping . 😳
Click to expand...
That's what has me hesitating in trying new diamond or cbn hones. I've been spoiled on my DMTs, particularly in how relatively burr-free they leave my edges when finished with a light touch. I've tried other brands and none of the others have finished my edges so cleanly.
 
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