Sharpmaker - angle fine tuning.

[Matus]

I was about to start to sharpen my new Pacific Salt 2 in H1 for the first time. Since it was mentioned around here that the steel can take a pretty acute angle I decided to give it 15 deg edge bevel, but then I thought - wait, go a little lower than that and then it will be much easier to sharpen at 15 deg. But that meant I needed to find a way to change the angle on the Sharpmaker by about 1 degree.

So I came up with this very rudimentary idea and did a very quick and dirty job. I made 3 spacers, each ca 3mm thick and glued 2 wooden sticks into one of them and only drilled the rest. Each spacer adds ca. 1 degree tilt to the Sharpmaker. Depending on what side I apply them, I can get sharpening angles from 12 to 23 degrees:

Here I have measured the angle of the rod in its 15 deg position with 1 spacer at the opposite site:

I am surprised but it actually works

[Evil D]

I like it. Might have to copy this.

[ZrowsN1s]

Well thats brilliant.

I bet a 3D printer could bang a few of these out in short order.

Do you have a set of Calipers? How thick are the spacers?

[Matus]

Here you go :)

[Surfingringo]

Nice work around. When going for lower angles, I typically put something under the very center of the base and just “see saw” it back and forth as I work from one side to the other. It’s been years since I’ve checked the exact angles but I believe a #2 pencil changes the angle by about 3-4 degrees per side. If you just want to change it by 1 degree or so you can use one of the brass safety rods or anything with the correct diameter. I find it pretty easy to be able to use both stones while just raising or lower one side.

[Matus]

That is a great idea too!

[Wartstein]

This is cool, Matus!

I actually only use just one rod when sharpening SE (like probably many do), but never thought of that this makes changing the angle actually simpler than when using two rods

[ZrowsN1s]

Thanks Matus!

[RustyIron]

Very nice, Matus.
Your solution is very similar to the Sine Bar that's been used by machinists since Hipparchus first invented trigonometry back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Take a look at the attached image. A is the desired angle, c is given, and a is a stack of precision blocks of whatever height is needed to make the math work out.

[Ramonade]

Nice one ^^ I was waiting for my brother to 3D print the 17° adaptator but I might try something similar with my angle cube.

[StuntZombie]

I feel like a caveman. I just hold the knife at a different angle.

[Paraguy]

I was just working on a cad file for this.

[Bloke]

That's pretty cool, Matus.

I haven't given this much thought but was thinking about tapping the fastening holes in the SM's base and using cap screws or similar to jack up and adjust the angle that way.

[Paraguy]

spyderco sharpmaker stone holder variable angle v1.jpg (3.27 KiB) Viewed 2205 times

[bbturbodad]

I printed these that I found on Thingiverse (can't find them on there now though) and they work really well.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4755125

One is like a massive sharpmaker the other attach to the 15(30) degree slots and convert them to several different angles.

[Matus]

I totally love the number of solutions you guys have come up with.

That's pretty cool, Matus.

I haven't given this much thought but was thinking about tapping the fastening holes in the SM's base and using cap screws or similar to jack up and adjust the angle that way.

. Yes - this way as you mention it crossed my mind (would be a very elegant solution), but it would take a lot more thinking (for me) to make it happe to make it reliable and easy to use.

I printed these that I found on Thingiverse (can't find them on there now though) and they work really well.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4755125

One is like a massive sharpmaker the other attach to the 15(30) degree slots and convert them to several different angles.

An interesting option too.

Another idea (I did not pursue) would be having the slots on hinges and be able to set the angle continuously, but it would be probably pretty complicated to make it mechanically stable and also actually know what angle is being set. It would probably take some sprocket wheels and locking mechanism. Anyone feel like making a prototype out of LEGO?

[Evil D]

With 3D printing being so accessible now, it's entirely possible to make an adjustable Sharpmaker base. You just need to make a rod holder that has a bolt going through it centered beneath the rod that mounts into a base, and then put a butterfly screw or whatever on it so you can loosen and tighten it. Then you just need an angle cube to find your angle and set it. You can 3D print the base too. I just don't have a 3D printer or the know how to do any of this stuff. Maybe I should learn it.

[Oloung1]

I need some assistance this morning, coffee still brewing. Most, if not all, my passes are on the flats. Do these only work on the points and not the flats?

[Matus]

To me these look like they work on both

[bbturbodad]

To me these look like they work on both

That's correct, they work on the flats and corners.