Why can't I sharpen Cold Steel's AUS-8?

[IaccidentlyCutmyThumb]

Hey folks so I'm having a weird issue...I can't seem to sharpen AUS-8 effectively. I have a Worksharp Ken Onion and I love it, use it for everything. Recently I reprofiled a 52100 Drop Forged Survivalist to a 20 degree edge, and it's the sharpest I've ever sharpened a knife. Really, really, really mirror polish, super fine, crazy edge. I used the extra course belt to grind away the blocky useless section of a Condor Hudson Bay. Reprofiled like 20 kitchen knives. I know the machine works.

I just got an SRK in AUS-8. It had a chip. I wanted to grind the edge down to remove the chip. Done. Did all the usual steps. I sharpened at 25 degrees per side, to have an extra robust edge. After the fine belt, I took it to my strop, where I ran it lightly along the wooden edge to remove any burr, then stropped it. Wouldn't shave hair. I turned my head because this is the first time a knife hasn't shaven after the treatment I gave it. Even if I did a terrible job on the Ken Onion, which is possible, I stropped this thing extensively. That alone should have gotten it to hair popping sharp.

What's up with that and has anyone else found this to be an issue? There's no burr, for sure, so I'm really, really confused. It's definitely a workable edge, it cuts paper easily, but it is not shaving.

Also, I have an AUS-8 Master Hunter (that I don't want lol) and I got it sharpened last summer before I got the Ken Onion. The guy who did it is usually really good at sharpening, but again, he didn't get it hair popping.

 

[scdub]

Are you sure it was a chip???
Did you check with magnification?
Reason I ask is that if it was a bad roll/deformed area, that would lead me to think the edge wasn’t as hard as it should be from the factory, and that seems to be a common reason for sharpening issues.
Also are you POSITIVE you got a full apex. Did you look for reflections, etc?
The only other possibility that occurs is if you used lots of pressure and long periods of time on the sharpener, in theory the heat treatment could have been damaged.
Myself and many other people can get AUS-8 plenty sharp. Imho it has nothing to do with AUS-8 in general, but possibly your particular example/batch.
Good luck!

 

[scdub]

Also reading your post again - consider trying a lower edge angle - maybe 20dps, then try shaving BEFORE stropping, and again after. In my experience stropping more obtuse edges often dulls them. Probably because the final edge angle ends up very obtuse…

 

[IaccidentlyCutmyThumb]

Also reading your post again - consider trying a lower edge angle - maybe 20dps, then try shaving BEFORE stropping, and again after. In my experience stropping more obtuse edges often dulls them. Probably because the final edge angle ends up very obtuse…

Hmm I might look into this. I was so annoyed. Maybe it does have to be more like 20 dps to get shaving. Like I said, it's not dull, just not as sharp as I want. I really hope I didn't buy a goofed-up blade, that would really tick me off--but I do think it's probably good to go, because I stabbed the tip (which I got pretty thin) into some wood and did a very small pry. No damage.

I also know I didn't ruin the heat treat, I ran the knife through the sharpener pretty quickly, and I have it on a low speed setting. The AUS-8 actually "felt" harder than other steels, which really weirded me out.