Tasman salt won't get sharp

Joined
Jun 30, 2012
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287
I can't really get my PE Tasman any sharper then a medium utility edge. I've seen plenty of people get H-1 shaving sharp so I don't think that it's the steel. I did cut a wave into the spine and made sure I kept dipping it in water as I worked as to not mess with the HT. I've been using the ceramic rods from my lansky crock sticks. So what am I doing wrong? or is this just a lemon?
 
Is that all your using?
Have you checked to make sure your connecting the entire bevel with the sharpie trick?
 
The Lansky crock sticks are a very fine abrasive and remove metal slowly...it can feel like it takes forever to sharpen if the knife is more than a tiny bit dull. And if you are used to quickly sharpening high carbon steel on the Lansky, high carbon stainless may take longer... Assuming your technique is good (holding the knife at the same angle each stroke, etc.) you may need a more aggressive abrasive to start with before going to the crock sticks...or lots more time working with the Lansky to get the edge sharp
 
My experience sharpening H1 has been to use as little pressure as possible. I don't have any in plain edge, but I have a few serrated ones including a tasman that I sharpened the plain edge tip on. The H1 seems to get worn by the stone/rod much faster than my VG-10 knives do. I use no more pressure than the weight of the blade, and lots of careful strokes keeping the angle as steady as possible the whole time.
 
You can get copper pipe and cheap mild steel shaving sharp, so it's something you're doing. Usually spyderco's factory edge is thinner than a set of crock sticks, so I'd be surprised if you aren't hitting the edge. My guess is too much pressure and flipping the burr around.
 
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