Want to Sharpen My Seb

Vaporstang

Vaporstang

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I have a small Seb 21 (S30V) that I think it is time to sharpen. Stropping doesn't seem to get the edge back anymore. (I got a new Sharpmaker system this week :D and will be trying it out on other knives first.) I have not sharpened any of my CRKs yet.

The blade is not bad - should I just touch it up on the fine stones? Or would starting on the medium stones ensure I remove any "discrepancies" from the edge.

Follow up question: is there any reason to get the ultra-fine stones for the Sharpmaker, or are they overkill?

Thanks!
 
Steels, ceramics, fine stones and strops are used for straightening out an edge rather than removing material to create a new cutting edge. If your knife edge has actually worn away or has few small nicks, dings or flat spots then you will need to use something more abrasive to clean up the edge. Like you say, get rid of those "discrepancies" first. :)
 
Always start at the finest medium you can to touch up. I'd start at the fine and try to get the edge back there before moving on to courser materials
 
The diamond stones just make the work faster removing material. The extra fine stones refine the edge and I think are well worth it. The EF are my touch up stone.

Also, there are some great how to's on the tube.
 
There is a lot of folks who prefer a "toothy edge" and only sharpen with the brown stones. You may need to use the ultrafine stones to get a mirror polish, but a mirror edge is not necessarily best for all tasks. I think with the brown 'medium' stones, white 'fine' stones, and a strop, you have all you need to keep your CRK is fine shape for EDC. My only advice with the sharp-maker is to not drag the blade right down the stone to the black plastic on the sharp-maker (the plastic gets imbedded with grit from the stones and will dull the blade as you sharpen it), and be very aware not to drag the tip off the stone..it'll round it off. Also don't press too hard or you are just swapping a burr back and forth and the blade will not get very sharp.

The sharp-maker is a really great and simple system, but not one you want to use if you are in a rush or when you are not focused.

I have a sharpmaker, a KSF strop with white and green compound, and my knives are plenty sharp.
 
Haze said:
Steels, ceramics, fine stones and strops are used for straightening out an edge rather than removing material to create a new cutting edge. If your knife edge has actually worn away or has few small nicks, dings or flat spots then you will need to use something more abrasive to clean up the edge. Like you say, get rid of those "discrepancies" first. :)
Click to expand...

kidcongo said:
There is a lot of folks who prefer a "toothy edge" and only sharpen with the brown stones. You may need to use the ultrafine stones to get a mirror polish, but a mirror edge is not necessarily best for all tasks. I think with the brown 'medium' stones, white 'fine' stones, and a strop, you have all you need to keep your CRK is fine shape for EDC. My only advice with the sharp-maker is to not drag the blade right down the stone to the black plastic on the sharp-maker (the plastic gets imbedded with grit from the stones and will dull the blade as you sharpen it), and be very aware not to drag the tip off the stone..it'll round it off. Also don't press too hard or you are just swapping a burr back and forth and the blade will not get very sharp.

The sharp-maker is a really great and simple system, but not one you want to use if you are in a rush or when you are not focused.

I have a sharpmaker, a KSF strop with white and green compound, and my knives are plenty sharp.
Click to expand...

Great advice from Haze and Cody here. To add what little I can, I don't think the ultra fine stones are overkill at all. I'd follow Haze's suggestion and your own idea of starting on the medium stones. While stropping will keep your edge sharp for a good while, it also weakens it to a degree by bending it into shape. Starting on the medium stones will let you remove the weakened steel, and give you a new edge that will last a long while like the previous one did.
 
UF stones are great, especially for the thouch up.
As stated above you have to concentrate when useing the sharpmaker.
red mag
 
I enjoy the UF stones, but you can get plenty sharp with the fines. Hopefully your Seb came acute enough that it'll work with the Sharpmaker without reprofiling.
 
I use a SM from time to time when my strops won't restore the edge anymore. A few strokes on the white (F) rods at the 40 deg setting get the edge ready for my strops again. I don't polish my edges too much. I like using the edge from the F rods and a bare leather strop. Works well for me with either S30V or S35VN.
 
Thanks for the help. I sharpened a small pen knife last night. It did a good job. I see what you mean by concentrating - I think I can do better. I will practice on (at least) one more knife before I domy CRK. I will see how this goes with the fine rod but will probably get the ultra fine too.

I am thinking of getting a toothier edge on one of my CRKs and see how I like that....
 
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I just purchased a used tanked Seb that needed a touch up when I got it. A couple minutes on the Sharpmaker Fine, then Extra Fine really put a great edge back on very quickly. Surprised me actually. The EF stones I purchased awhile ago now were a great investment. Really compliment the set.
 
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