Why do I always have this problem???

[swimmerdude1127]

Okay, so just got my fatty warden from the BCS... I swear, I have spent 4+ hours on this thing trying to get it sharp on my sharpmaker... it just doesn't want to...

one side sharpens up fine, while the other side the grind angle was so big, I have had to try and use sandpaper (150 grit) on the flat surface of the triangle stone, on the 30 (15 on each side) degree angle to try and back bevel it down.... I am still just a little bit off getting to the edge on the 40 (20 each side) degree setup. I used the black marker trick, and I can see that right near the edge is still black.

I also tried hand sanding the profile down on the "bad" side to no avail... but did manage to get some not so nice scratches in the blade... how do I polish those out and make it look nice again?

What is up? I put in an order for the Edge Pro Apex today anyway... any and all advice is appreciated.

 

[swimmerdude1127]

bad side, with scratches shown... can clearly see black marker near edge

more scratches...

more...

the good side....

 

[Gerberblades]

Okay, so just got my fatty warden from the BCS... I swear, I have spent 4+ hours on this thing trying to get it sharp on my sharpmaker... it just doesn't want to...

one side sharpens up fine, while the other side the grind angle was so big, I have had to try and use sandpaper (150 grit) on the flat surface of the triangle stone, on the 30 (15 on each side) degree angle to try and back bevel it down.... I am still just a little bit off getting to the edge on the 40 (20 each side) degree setup. I used the black marker trick, and I can see that right near the edge is still black.

I also tried hand sanding the profile down on the "bad" side to no avail... but did manage to get some not so nice scratches in the blade... how do I polish those out and make it look nice again?

What is up? I put in an order for the Edge Pro Apex today anyway... any and all advice is appreciated.

Swimmerdude- Bad news. Donate the sharpmaker to a soup kitchen and wait for the Edge Pro to arrive. Practice on someone else's knives until you get the EP down pat. Then, use the sharpie on the edge while testing your angle. I used the 24 deg. angle (blue dot slightly above pivot) on my new meaner street last week and put a lethal edge on an otherwise sharp knife. It matched the Busse factory angle perfectly and didn't widen the bevel at all.

When lining your knife up on the EP platform, lay it flat and leave as little edge hanging over as possible-just enough to avoid grinding the plastic platform. Hopefully, someone can advise on the polishing. Not to worry- it can all be fixed.

GB

 

[swimmerdude1127]

Thanks.... I actually spent another hour with the Sharpmaker and am finally starting to get (small) results...

can't wait for the EP to arrive, though.

 

[Solstice]

Thanks.... I actually spent another hour with the Sharpmaker and am finally starting to get (small) results...

can't wait for the EP to arrive, though.

Ben did a great job on the design of that device...once you get the hang of it you won't be disappointed. Still wish I had my Pro model....sold it to a HOG buddy of mine. I'm not sure he's even used it!?

 

[Gerberblades]

Thanks.... I actually spent another hour with the Sharpmaker and am finally starting to get (small) results...

can't wait for the EP to arrive, though.

Good to hear. I'm sure the sharpmaker is a good product and I was kidding about getting rid of it. I used only the extra fine and ultra fine stones on the EP
to get a wicked edge. Let the stones do the work. Followed up with the polishing tapes to get a shiny finish.

GB

 

[foxyrick]

I only use my sharpmaker for maintaining an edge, not for the initial profiling. It just takes far too long as you've found out. It is good at maintaining an edge once the edge is at a matching angle, if you grind flat that is.

I most often put a convex on my blades, so the sharpmaker doesn't see much use. It mostly ends up being used on my swiss army knives and snap-off blade cheap 'craft' knives - keeps them going for ages instead of snapping off to get a new bit.

You'll like the edge pro much better. I have a Lansky kit which is similar in use, and it works fine.

 

[soup_monger]

I'm pretty sure that Busse uses a convex edge grind...

I have a sharpmaker, but, I have found it fairly useless for anything other than kitchen knives and Spyderco's.

Your photos show that you are knocking off the curvature of the convex edge and starting a flat "V"... that's heavy work with a sharpmaker.

Your edge pro will be more effective at re-profiling... but...it's not too late to stop and learn how to sharpen a convex edge.

It's up to you

 

[Justabuyer]

+plus one soupy.

As long as you rely on gadgets there will be a endless supply of problems that don't fit your limited tool. Sharp maker or edge pro or what ever.

Develop your Freehand skills and you can sharpen anything and whats more
you will be better able to determine what gadgets will be useful to you.

I suggest you get a course stone of some sort and set that edge bevel, then apply some convex with sandpaper.