Z-Max sharpening

A place to share your experience with our Mule Team knives.
User avatar
Fireman
Member
Posts: 2622
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2020 12:18 am

Z-Max sharpening

#1

Post by Fireman »

Please share your Z-Max sharpening tips and tricks.
I am having good luck with diamond stones but not much with diamond paste stroping. A little is good but more seem to go south on me. I have 3,000, 15,000 and 50,000 diamond paste as well as green compound. I wanted to get a mirror polish but I can’t get it right.
:winking-tongue Mule Team Army 001
MNOSD 008 :usflag
Image Stable Mules; Z-Max, Z-Wear, Magna Cut, SRS13, Rex 76, Rex T15.
User avatar
troutinCO
Member
Posts: 812
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2021 8:13 am
Location: Lakewood, CO

Re: Z-Max sharpening

#2

Post by troutinCO »

I'm working with only a Sharpmaker, I have both the Diamond and the CBN rods with it. It took a LONG time to get it re-profiled to 15* each side. I found the diamond rods made deeper scratches in the metal than my CBN rods. Started with the diamonds and as I finally got down to the apex I swapped to the CBN. I found I was using too much pressure once I was hitting the apex, gave it much lighter pressure and then things seemed to come together for me. I gave it finishing passes on the brown rods and thats where I have stopped. It is sharp and it stays sharp!
I do have a leather strop and have passed the knife on it but I don't notice much difference. Maybe I need some diamond paste rather than just the green compound side and a bare leather side.
User avatar
Fireman
Member
Posts: 2622
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2020 12:18 am

Re: Z-Max sharpening

#3

Post by Fireman »

I found the diamond paste much quicker to get results.
:winking-tongue Mule Team Army 001
MNOSD 008 :usflag
Image Stable Mules; Z-Max, Z-Wear, Magna Cut, SRS13, Rex 76, Rex T15.
User avatar
troutinCO
Member
Posts: 812
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2021 8:13 am
Location: Lakewood, CO

Re: Z-Max sharpening

#4

Post by troutinCO »

More notes:
I'm using a sharpie and a loupe while doing this. Adding the loupe to the kit really helped my sharpening the most. Next add will be something to lop off lots of metal quickly for a reprofile. I've been reading through the community sharpening thread and others to learn more before jumping further into it.

Sharpening this steel was an eye opener for sure as it was the hardest steel yet I have tried. It wasn't impossible but it does take a while, a long while, to do a reprofile with the Sharpmaker. Better tools would make it much easier hence my wanting to dive further down that hole.
User avatar
TkoK83Spy
Member
Posts: 12438
Joined: Mon Sep 17, 2018 5:32 pm
Location: Syracuse, NY

Re: Z-Max sharpening

#5

Post by TkoK83Spy »

Do it...join us in the sharpening madness haha! It really does become its own part of the hobby. I don't do anything pretty, but the differences I've achieved from various grits and degrees have really surprised and impressed me! Suddenly spending the price on some new sharpening equipment, instead of a new knife, doesn't bother me at all, and is actually more exciting to wait for in the mail!
15 :bug-red 's in 10 different steels
1 - Bradford Guardian 3 / Vanadis 4E Wharnie
1 - Monterey Bay Knives Slayback Flipper / ZDP 189
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31/Macassar Ebony Inlays
1 - CRK Large Inkosi Insingo/ Black Micarta Inlays
1 - CRK Small Sebenza 31 Insingo/Magnacut

-Rick
User avatar
Bolster
Member
Posts: 5557
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:27 pm
Location: CalyFRNia

Re: Z-Max sharpening

#6

Post by Bolster »

I wish I could join you fellers in this thread, but the Z-max was the one that got away from me. Closest I can get is S110V, but it sharpens nicely with Venev diamond stones.

I also use loupe and sharpie and I've added an "inspection microscope," which really helps. It's sort of like a low power microscope with binocular vision. It provides a clear view of every screw-up and mistake I make...

:woozy
User avatar
AlexRus
Member
Posts: 1128
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:42 am

Re: Z-Max sharpening

#7

Post by AlexRus »

Bolster wrote:
Tue Nov 09, 2021 1:01 am
I wish I could join you fellers in this thread, but the Z-max was the one that got away from me. Closest I can get is S110V, but it sharpens nicely with Venev diamond stones.

I also use loupe and sharpie and I've added an "inspection microscope," which really helps. It's sort of like a low power microscope with binocular vision. It provides a clear view of every screw-up and mistake I make...

:woozy
I agree about Venev diamond stones, they are quite good for high Rockwell steels)
User avatar
troutinCO
Member
Posts: 812
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2021 8:13 am
Location: Lakewood, CO

Re: Z-Max sharpening

#8

Post by troutinCO »

TkoK83Spy wrote:
Mon Nov 08, 2021 9:56 pm
Do it...join us in the sharpening madness haha! It really does become its own part of the hobby. I don't do anything pretty, but the differences I've achieved from various grits and degrees have really surprised and impressed me! Suddenly spending the price on some new sharpening equipment, instead of a new knife, doesn't bother me at all, and is actually more exciting to wait for in the mail!
Honestly I find the whole sharping part, hmm, relaxing, meditative? The sound, the feel, watching the metal change, I enjoy it more than I probably should. Give me some time I will be there with you guys. :zany
User avatar
AlexRus
Member
Posts: 1128
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:42 am

Re: Z-Max sharpening

#9

Post by AlexRus »

troutinCO wrote:
Tue Nov 09, 2021 8:24 am
TkoK83Spy wrote:
Mon Nov 08, 2021 9:56 pm
Do it...join us in the sharpening madness haha! It really does become its own part of the hobby. I don't do anything pretty, but the differences I've achieved from various grits and degrees have really surprised and impressed me! Suddenly spending the price on some new sharpening equipment, instead of a new knife, doesn't bother me at all, and is actually more exciting to wait for in the mail!
Honestly I find the whole sharping part, hmm, relaxing, meditative? The sound, the feel, watching the metal change, I enjoy it more than I probably should. Give me some time I will be there with you guys. :zany
He sharps the knafs as a meditation
And those that watch never suspect
He doesn't sharp for the money he earns
He don't sharp for respect

He sharps the knafs to find the answer
The sacred geometry of ghosting edge
The hidden law of a probable outcome
The Rockwells lead a dance

I know that carbides are the swords of an Apex
I know that Arkansas' are weapons of Pro
I know that Sharpmaker works wonders for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart

He may play the Venev diamonds
He may use ceramic plates
He may conceal a leather strop in his hand
While the memory of it fades...

Sting - Shape Of My Heart (a bit edited remix ) :cheap-sunglasses
Last edited by AlexRus on Wed Nov 10, 2021 12:32 am, edited 18 times in total.
User avatar
troutinCO
Member
Posts: 812
Joined: Sun Apr 04, 2021 8:13 am
Location: Lakewood, CO

Re: Z-Max sharpening

#10

Post by troutinCO »

Nice!
User avatar
AlexRus
Member
Posts: 1128
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:42 am

Re: Z-Max sharpening

#11

Post by AlexRus »

troutinCO wrote:
Tue Nov 09, 2021 8:53 am
Nice!
Thanks! :grin-smiling-eyes
ykspydiefan
Member
Posts: 489
Joined: Wed May 27, 2020 9:28 pm

Re: Z-Max sharpening

#12

Post by ykspydiefan »

Hey AlexRus, nice remix, very edgy.

As for the Z-Max, I have not taken on the mirror edge. In fact I rarely do, or even attempt it. I hold very much to the user blade. With the Z-Max I have found it strops really well. I have been using mine with leather recently, I strop regular and the blade is always sharp. Not pretty, but sharp.

Hey Fireman, if you get that mirror edge please post the pics, and nice work putting the time in to try.
Spyderco: Tenacious G10, Waterway, Para 3 Spy27, Pacific Salt H1, In the Mule Team Stable(Z-Max, Z-Wear, S45VN, Magnacut, SRS13/SUS405, M398, Aeb-l, 15v)
User avatar
Bolster
Member
Posts: 5557
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 1:27 pm
Location: CalyFRNia

Re: Z-Max sharpening

#13

Post by Bolster »

AlexRus wrote:
Tue Nov 09, 2021 8:43 am

He sharps the knafs as a meditation
And those that watch never suspect
He doesn't sharp for the money he earns
He don't sharp for respect

He sharps the knafs to find the answer
The sacred geometry of ghosting edge
The hidden law of a probable outcome
The Rockwells lead a dance

I know that carbides are the swords of an Apex
I know that Arkansas' are weapons of Pro
I know that Sharpmaker works wonders for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart

He may play the Venev diamonds
He may use ceramic plates
He may conceal a leather strop in his hand
While the memory of it fades...

Sting - Shape Of My Heart (a bit edited) :cheap-sunglasses
WELL DONE, sir! I hereby award you the coveted three avocado award! :avocado :avocado :avocado
User avatar
AlexRus
Member
Posts: 1128
Joined: Fri Jan 19, 2018 10:42 am

Re: Z-Max sharpening

#14

Post by AlexRus »

Bolster wrote:
Tue Nov 09, 2021 10:00 pm
AlexRus wrote:
Tue Nov 09, 2021 8:43 am

He sharps the knafs as a meditation
And those that watch never suspect
He doesn't sharp for the money he earns
He don't sharp for respect

He sharps the knafs to find the answer
The sacred geometry of ghosting edge
The hidden law of a probable outcome
The Rockwells lead a dance

I know that carbides are the swords of an Apex
I know that Arkansas' are weapons of Pro
I know that Sharpmaker works wonders for this art
But that's not the shape of my heart

He may play the Venev diamonds
He may use ceramic plates
He may conceal a leather strop in his hand
While the memory of it fades...

Sting - Shape Of My Heart (a bit edited) :cheap-sunglasses
WELL DONE, sir! I hereby award you the coveted three avocado award! :avocado :avocado :avocado
Thank you, sir! :smlling-eyes
Post Reply