VG10 angle reccomendations

J

jeep45238

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May 14, 2008
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I just got my first blade made out of VG10 - I'm getting a sharpmaker next week, as freehand I'm ok, and my clamp systems get in the way below about 20 degrees on pocket knives (per side, not inclusive).

Anyways, I like sharp knives, and I like using sharp knives. I do touch up my blades daily, be it just needing a little stropping, or a little stone work.

Does anybody have any recommendations for a back angle on VG10? I'll be utilizing a 30* inclusive for the actual edge. I've got a miter box, so I can easily make a wedge to get whatever angle I need.
 
If the knife is just a general EDC knife and you don't expect to cut metal often, I'd suggest something between 12 and 16 degrees inclusive. With a 30 degree microbevel I'd be surprised if you saw any durability issues.
 
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I refuse to cut metal with my daily knives - tin snips and metal shears were invented for a reason.

Thanks for the suggestions.
 
ah, was just about to post about this.

what is an inclusive angle?

can i just sharpen a vg10 knife with the 30 deg angle on the sharpmaker?
 
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Inclusive is the angle counting from bevel to bevel - most of the sharpeners you buy out there locally are done per edge. Lansky and smiths for example, give the angle per side - with the smith that means 20 or 25 degrees per side, for a total of 40 or 50 degrees total.

Doesn't sound horrible, until you realize that 50 degrees is 40% wider - and just that much more effort, put into a cut than a 30* total angle.

You can go ahead and just use a 30*, which will give a 30* edge and bevel.

I want the sides of the blade to be very narrow, with a small edge at the very very edge. I can't wait to get the credit card paid off and get a Krien regrind on two of my knives :D
 
Well is depends on the grind, but I usually do the main bevel at 30 degrees on the sharpmaker and then microbevel at 40. Its actually a little less than 30 degrees though because instead of holding the edge straight up, I tilt the blade a little bit towards the stone until the bevel is right in line with my eye (im standing over the sharpmaker looking straight down at the spine of the knife.) I found this usually gives me more consistent angles and results.
 
Also if you're getting a sharpmaker, check out the ruby triangle stones from congresstools.com. The dimensions you'll want are 1/2" x 6". They're cheap and they fit perfectly into the base, and if you get some lower grits like 120 and 320 it'll make your work alot easier.
 
I like a straight 30° inclusive angle on VG10.

Add: But I also often sharpen it at 40° inclusive edge bevel, with a back bevel of 30° inclusive.
 
Knarfeng and Uncle Rukus, have either of you tried a 20 degree inclusive edge on a VG10 blade? That is still quite thick and I couldn't imagine getting edge damage on anything softer than metal. Is there a specific reason you chose the 30 degree angle? That seems awfully thick to me.
 
For me it was a simple choice of the narrowest the knife was set to, which would likely be done for touch ups between stroppings.

Like I said, I can easily make a wedge to change the angle of one stone, and then flip the wedge around to change the angle of the other one - viola, instant set at the angle you want.
 
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