Thoughts on my ZDP-189 Calypso Jr. after a couple of weeks

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FullerH

Joined
Nov 25, 1998
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I have had my ZDP-189 laminate Calypso Jr. for a couple of weeks and have used it for all sorts of tasks. Nothing too heavy, as it is clearly not intended for that, but it has sliced open all sorts of packages and mail, boxes and plastic shrink wraps. So far, I can detect no decrease in its incredible sharpness, so it appears that this latest "Wonder Steel" is living up to its name.

I love the shape of the blade and of the hilt. They are both very comfortable to use and I find that they fit my hands well. I like the color, it has grown on me and it does not raise eyebrows when I pull it out.
 
make sure you touch the blade up on the fine or ultra fine stones or you may find zdp-189 very hard to get back to sharpness. zdp-189 is certianly a steel that is more easily maintained at a very sharp level than taking back and forth between dullness and sharpness.
 
I've been wringing one of these little knives out for a few weeks also. I touch it up every now and then on the Sharpmaker's white stones. So far the performance has been very acceptable. If only these were available with teeth! ;)
 
Michael Cook said:
make sure you touch the blade up on the fine or ultra fine stones or you may find zdp-189 very hard to get back to sharpness. zdp-189 is certianly a steel that is more easily maintained at a very sharp level than taking back and forth between dullness and sharpness.
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Here's the important part....use 30 degree angles on your Sharpmaker, not 40.
 
Blue Man said:
Here's the important part....use 30 degree angles on your Sharpmaker, not 40.
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Absolutely! I read a thread from Sal on the Spyderco forum where he seemed to indicate that the factory edge is even less than 30 degrees inclusive. You'll do no harm touching up at 30 degrees nor any at 40 degrees. It just won't be as sharp at 40 and the steel is so hard that 30 holds up very well.
 
I read this thread and tried to touch up my blade on the UF stones at 30 degrees even though it was still shaving. Ouch. I got a bunch of micro-chipping to the point where the knife would tear printer paper. I had to work it out on the medium stones and go through all the steps just to get back to shaving. The ZDP-189 was not as hard to sharpen as I'd feared. It took more strokes than VG-10 but not too many more. I can't tell you how many, I'm a feeler not a counter.
 
spyderknut said:
I read this thread and tried to touch up my blade on the UF stones at 30 degrees even though it was still shaving. Ouch. I got a bunch of micro-chipping to the point where the knife would tear printer paper. I had to work it out on the medium stones and go through all the steps just to get back to shaving. The ZDP-189 was not as hard to sharpen as I'd feared. It took more strokes than VG-10 but not too many more. I can't tell you how many, I'm a feeler not a counter.
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Any clue why this would happen? I would have expected just the opposite.
 
Micro chipping while sharpening is usually from pressing too hard on the stone.

sal
 
I found that ZDP reprofiles easy and leaves a darker trail on a light colored stone than S30V. I also found it very easy to sharpen. Comparable to good HC steel. There is no floppy burr. It got shaving even on a rough stone and it REALLY takes an edge on a fine stone. Polishes up very nicely as well. Very bright. I would say it is the easiest to sharpen SS I have encountered so far.
 
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