Unusual experience with my Sharpmaker

R

rnbtexas

Joined
May 7, 2012
Messages
630
I've been using my Sharpmaker for about 6 months now. I have the UF stones but not the diamond ones yet. When I was getting to know the Sharpmaker I would use the sharpie trick every time and I still use it a lot. So here's what I noticed tonight while I was sharpening my DF2.

I was touching it up with the fine stones and started with the corners, as usual. I was in a different room tonight with different lighting. I noticed that after a few minutes I was getting "dings" on the edge that I was able to see with my naked eye. I use the JDavis one side then swap to the other side. I only do 10 - 15 strokes per side. I then go to alternating strokes with even less pressure. I do this on the corners then the flat side. I use very light pressure, keep the blade as vertical as possible and go pretty slow. I ended up pulling out the medium stones and fixing it with the flat sides. I just used the flat sides for all three sets of stones and it seemed to do fine.

I've seen posts where people have said that they just stop using the corners of the stones all together. Is this one of the reasons why? Also, any additional tips and tricks would be appreciated. I have done a lot of research on using it in the past, but this one stumps me.
.
Best,

Rhett
 
I don't use the corners for that reason. The corners just apply too much pressure on a tiny area of really thin steel. Besides, I like the feel of the flats better.
 
^ My thought exactly to much pressure on a tiny area, best bet is never use the corners there is no need:thumbup:
 
I got great results using ONLY the corners. I could never seem to get anything sharp with the flats, but the corners always worked. Light pressure, alternate frequently- it worked for me
 
I use corners very seldom. Even on new rod some corners have little dings, which you can feel with a blade. If I need to remove more material, I just use coarser stones.
 
Even on new rod some corners have little dings, which you can feel with a blade.
Click to expand...

You got me curious and you are 100% correct. One of my medium stones has "pitting" on the corners and both of the fine stones have the same "pitting" on the corners. I know this is a hard question to answer and probably has about 50 different answers. Is this from customer mishandling or does it just happen every now and then? I'm guessing I have mishandled them if I have 3 of the 6 with the "pitting."
 
Ernie1980 said:
I got great results using ONLY the corners. I could never seem to get anything sharp with the flats, but the corners always worked. Light pressure, alternate frequently- it worked for me
Click to expand...

If you weren't getting sharp with the flats, I'm guessing you didn't have correct contact.
 
Tex-

How is the back bevel looking? You should sharpen first at 30 degrees, edge then flat until you have a sharp edge. Let the stone do the sharpening, no excessive force. Then sharpen the microbevel at 40 degrees, it would take much. Edge then flat, gray then white stone. You should be able to do several 40 degree sharpenings before having to redo the back 30 degree bevel.

Here is a link to a four part sharpening youtube video by Sal Glesser, Spyderco owner, that may be of some help. I have used this 30-40 degree technique for years and have never had any of the dings you mention. I have knives with all varieties of steel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GB0r6GvESGg
 
Thanks Gator,

I still have the DVD that came with it and have watched it three or four times. I think the issue I was having was from some issues I might have caused on the corners of the stones. There is some slight pitting on some of the corners, maybe from the dishwasher?

Thank you for the input. I'm not sure I could use much less force as I don't use much more than knife weight for the simple reason that I'm not sure I could successfully remove a bur.

Best,

Rhett
 
Ernie1980 said:
I got great results using ONLY the corners. I could never seem to get anything sharp with the flats, but the corners always worked. Light pressure, alternate frequently- it worked for me
Click to expand...

Same experience here. I don't seem to get anywhere with the flats. I've had no trouble with the corners, so far.
 
jwolf90 said:
^ My thought exactly to much pressure on a tiny area, best bet is never use the corners there is no need:thumbup:
Click to expand...

When I try using the flats it seems that it is difficult to get the edge to touch the flat part of the flat and not one of the corners anyway. My base doesn't seem to be very precise and the stones don't set perfectly parallel to the base. I have to turn the base slightly for the blade edge to set better on the flats of the stone. If I'm not careful then the blade edge sets on the edge of the stone and not the flat anyway.
 
I have to turn the base slightly for the blade edge to set better on the flats of the stone. If I'm not careful then the blade edge sets on the edge of the stone and not the flat anyway.
Click to expand...

I have the exact same experience. I find that as I'm right handed I have to rotate the base a bit counterclockwise. I've also found that if you are looking down on the stones I have better success keeping the blade on the flat part.

Again, thanks for all the comments and conversation.

Best,

Rhett
 
All I use is the corners. Been using a sharp maker for about 8 or 9 years now, and wore the corners out on those stones. The flats rarely get used in my sharpening unless i'm freehanding on the back. I get great results with the way i use it. to each his own.
 
rnbtexas said:
You got me curious and you are 100% correct. One of my medium stones has "pitting" on the corners and both of the fine stones have the same "pitting" on the corners. I know this is a hard question to answer and probably has about 50 different answers. Is this from customer mishandling or does it just happen every now and then? I'm guessing I have mishandled them if I have 3 of the 6 with the "pitting."
Click to expand...

My sharpmaker came with pits/dings on most of the corners brand new out of the box.
 
bh49 said:
I use corners very seldom. Even on new rod some corners have little dings, which you can feel with a blade. If I need to remove more material, I just use coarser stones.
Click to expand...

I've noticed that particularly with the medium gray/brown stones. And I've had one set of the "fine" stones that I discovered that have some dings/chips on the surface. I don't think it's bad quality control from Spyderco but I do think that if you are not careful those corners will chip very easily.

I'm wondering what a guy can do to resurface the corners. I'm sure you would have to use diamond to correct the problem. I'm hoping in the future that there will be some newer and different abrasive materials that will be available for the 204 Sharpmaker.
 
JD Spydo said:
I've noticed that particularly with the medium gray/brown stones. And I've had one set of the "fine" stones that I discovered that have some dings/chips on the surface. I don't think it's bad quality control from Spyderco but I do think that if you are not careful those corners will chip very easily.

I'm wondering what a guy can do to resurface the corners. I'm sure you would have to use diamond to correct the problem. I'm hoping in the future that there will be some newer and different abrasive materials that will be available for the 204 Sharpmaker.
Click to expand...

I really don't think they're chips as much as voids or bubbles that form during the forming process of the ceramic. Upon examination under magnification the perimeter of the imperfection is rounded not sharply delineated as in a chip.At least this has been my experience.I've noticed no degradation of the edge on my knives from running across them.
 
rnbtexas said:
Thanks Gator,

I still have the DVD that came with it and have watched it three or four times. I think the issue I was having was from some issues I might have caused on the corners of the stones. There is some slight pitting on some of the corners, maybe from the dishwasher?

Thank you for the input. I'm not sure I could use much less force as I don't use much more than knife weight for the simple reason that I'm not sure I could successfully remove a bur.

Best,

Rhett
Click to expand...

Cleaning the stones in the dishwasher probably doesn't help. The video that came with my Sharpmaker (so long ago it was on VHS) showed to clean the stones with a scotch pad and an abrasive cleaner like Comet or Barkeeper's friend.
 
Agreed, I only did it once. I'm pretty sure as Sal is talking about cleaning the stones he mentions the dishwasher. I agree with you though and since that first cleaning I have only used ajax and a pastic pad to clean them.
 
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