Spyderco Angle Gauge

[SpeedHoles]

Hey Speedholes,

Way to resurrect an old thread.

What would be the "purpose" of creating a new version? The piece would be cost prohibitive as originally made? I don't even remember the name of the guy that came up with the original ideas. I think he was in Europe. Sticking the blade of a knife in the slot and looking closely with the tip of the knife so close to your eye presented a liability issue. That's why the guard and instructions. I think the concept would have to be refined to be safer and effective?

sal

Part of it I think is that it just looks cool and it seems like it would be effective. I know I would not mind picking one up.

To make it safer:

Is it even possible to put a little abrasive on the inside of the angles? If so, the user can put some marker on the blade edge, drag it through the angle a bit and you could see where the marker comes off.

Just an idea off the top of my head.



Different idea:

Feel like I would need to draw this….

Place two semi circles (one coins with a 90° cut out, the other cut in half) on top of each other. Pivot in the center, possibly spring loaded. You would push the knife into the opening to read the angle. You would just need to find a way to clear the apex of the knife edge.

Like I said, had to draw it, almost as good as a CAD, after all it’s 5:30am waiting to take my sone to wrestling practice.

IMG_6554.jpeg

That would also be a neat idea. Somehow reminds me of some of the little spark plug gap tools you can buy, although completely different function.

[SpeedHoles]

If you can't wait for a remake of the original, perhaps the Veritas Bevel Guage would suffice in the interim. It is specifically for blade geometry when sharpening, though usually for tools other than knives. Perhaps it would work for knives as well.
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/to ... em=50K0901

Thanks for the link, looks essentially the same in function and arrangement. Just unfortunately not the cool factor of enthusiast attachment to being a Spydie. Sometimes a guy just has to be a fanatic!

[zhyla]

This would be a trivial thing to print with a SLA printer.

Though it seems the laser based angle tools are $20 these days. They probably are easier to use.

[TimButterfield]

...
https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/to ... em=50K0901

Thanks for the link, looks essentially the same in function and arrangement. Just unfortunately not the cool factor of enthusiast attachment to being a Spydie. Sometimes a guy just has to be a fanatic!

I agree 100%. It's definitely not as cool as the Spydie version. Similar tool, much less cool.

[JNewell]

This may sound like I'm dissing the Spyderco angle gauge, which is not at all my intent here. I own one, I enjoy having it around and occasionally using it, but in real life it doesn't really solve any problems that I can't solve better in some other way.

I own several gauges similar to the LV and none of them works with knives (or at least, no knives I've ever owned). They're made for chisels and plane irons that are much thicker than the blade stock on most knives. As a result, the secondary bevel (i.e., actual cutting edge) is entirely within the cutout at the inside of the gauge. The brilliance of the Spyderco gauge (I not only own one but, miraculously, still know where it is) is that every part of the gauge has been made small enough to work with normal folding knife blades. I'm sure someone is selling something similar or did so in the past, but I've never seen one like the Spyderco gauge.

On the other hand, I don't often feel that I need to know the existing angle, and even if I do I can get a great practical result with a Sharpie. You're not going to get really precise measuring with any gauge, even the old Spyderco gauge, even if you eyesight is still terrific, because you're limited to the angles that are marked on the gauge, which is 5 degree increments. If the bevel is at 17.5 degrees, all you can really determine is that it's between 15 degrees and 20 degrees.

[TimButterfield]

...
On the other hand, I don't often feel that I need to know the existing angle, and even if I do I can get a great practical result with a Sharpie.
...

I have a similar view. Even if I knew exactly what angle a blade has, my Sharpmaker only has two angle settings for sharpening. I guess it may apply if went back to my old Lansky or upgraded to a fancy new sharpener with a digital angle gauge and that in-between flexibility. In that case, I could do like you and use a Sharpie. Or, set the stone across a blade (or blade on a stone), shine a small light from the back side, and see if the light coming across the blade edge is even from one side of the edge to the other. The Sharpie may still be easier, though.

[Doc Dan]

Different idea:

Feel like I would need to draw this….

Place two semi circles (one coins with a 90° cut out, the other cut in half) on top of each other. Pivot in the center, possibly spring loaded. You would push the knife into the opening to read the angle. You would just need to find a way to clear the apex of the knife edge.

Like I said, had to draw it, almost as good as a CAD, after all it’s 5:30am waiting to take my sone to wrestling practice.

IMG_6554.jpeg

This looks practical. I wonder how one would make it so it is accurate, though. Perhaps an electronic gauge would be better?

[WilliamMunny]

Different idea:

Feel like I would need to draw this….

Place two semi circles (one coins with a 90° cut out, the other cut in half) on top of each other. Pivot in the center, possibly spring loaded. You would push the knife into the opening to read the angle. You would just need to find a way to clear the apex of the knife edge.

Like I said, had to draw it, almost as good as a CAD, after all it’s 5:30am waiting to take my sone to wrestling practice.

IMG_6554.jpeg

This looks practical. I wonder how one would make it so it is accurate, though. Perhaps an electronic gauge would be better?

I think it does not need to be super accurate, if you can get within a degree or two it would put you in a great starting place. Also, the larger you made the gauge the more accurate it would be. I envision something between the size of the top of a soda can and a US dollar coin.

But yes, like a caliper it can be digital to get even more accurate.

[sal]

Different idea:

Feel like I would need to draw this….

Place two semi circles (one coins with a 90° cut out, the other cut in half) on top of each other. Pivot in the center, possibly spring loaded. You would push the knife into the opening to read the angle. You would just need to find a way to clear the apex of the knife edge.

Like I said, had to draw it, almost as good as a CAD, after all it’s 5:30am waiting to take my sone to wrestling practice.

IMG_6554.jpeg

This looks practical. I wonder how one would make it so it is accurate, though. Perhaps an electronic gauge would be better?

I think it does not need to be super accurate, if you can get within a degree or two it would put you in a great starting place. Also, the larger you made the gauge the more accurate it would be. I envision something between the size of the top of a soda can and a US dollar coin.

But yes, like a caliper it can be digital to get even more accurate.

Hi WilliamMunny,

That's really good design idea. Thanx much. We'll make up a few to check it out. Would you mind checking out one of the early prototypes?

sal

[Sharp Guy]

Blade HQ offers several versions of the Dog Tag one by Audacious Concept. Looks like the blue Ti is the only one available I've had the BHQ version in my toolbox for a few years. It's not something I use a lot but it's come in handy a few times

https://www.bladehq.com/?search=anglefinder

[Jeb]

Way to think out of the box Willm... I think one of these and a keen eye would be close enough to setup to sharpen our knifes.

These pan out, I am in line for one please and thank you. If it helps to make a run on these I will buy a couple, I know several guys that would love one...

[WilliamMunny]

Different idea:

Feel like I would need to draw this….

Place two semi circles (one coins with a 90° cut out, the other cut in half) on top of each other. Pivot in the center, possibly spring loaded. You would push the knife into the opening to read the angle. You would just need to find a way to clear the apex of the knife edge.

Like I said, had to draw it, almost as good as a CAD, after all it’s 5:30am waiting to take my sone to wrestling practice.

IMG_6554.jpeg

This looks practical. I wonder how one would make it so it is accurate, though. Perhaps an electronic gauge would be better?

I think it does not need to be super accurate, if you can get within a degree or two it would put you in a great starting place. Also, the larger you made the gauge the more accurate it would be. I envision something between the size of the top of a soda can and a US dollar coin.

But yes, like a caliper it can be digital to get even more accurate.

Hi WilliamMunny,

That's really good design idea. Thanx much. We'll make up a few to check it out. Would you mind checking out one of the early prototypes?

sal

Absolutely, I would love to help out any way I can.

The key would be an open pivot for the apex of the knife to sit in. Might need to run on a t-track/dovetail/pin and screw/etc.

I can hit you up on the normal email if you need more details or even make a wood model, but the basic concept is there.

Thanks!

[Evil D]

It's a cool collectable but one of my next purchases is going to be a laser goniometer. I don't particularly sweat my exact angles all that much but it seems like an interesting thing to own (at least the ~$100 version, I can't justify the $500+ one).

[JNewell]

Blade HQ offers several versions of the Dog Tag one by Audacious Concept. Looks like the blue Ti is the only one available I've had the BHQ version in my toolbox for a few years. It's not something I use a lot but it's come in handy a few times

https://www.bladehq.com/?search=anglefinder

Hadn't seen those - they're cute and look fairly robust. The biggest questions is my vision! I might google $100 laser angle measurement devices and see what comes back for search results, though a thick Sharpie is an awesomely effective tool.

[Jeb]

It would be really nice to have the hash marks and the numbered degrees stamped in the guage too, instead of this poor paint that's not much better fingernail polish lol.

It's hard to find good well made tools anymore. Heck I don't mind paying extra...Guess anything might work as good as my Sharpie and my ceramic stone to detect what angle I need to setup on...lol

[SpeedHoles]

It would be really nice to have the hash marks and the numbered degrees stamped in the guage too, instead of this poor paint that's not much better fingernail polish lol.

It's hard to find good well made tools anymore. Heck I don't mind paying extra...Guess anything might work as good as my Sharpie and my ceramic stone to detect what angle I need to setup on...lol

I guess it depends on what tools you're referring to exactly, and where you're looking, but in all fairness, tools have never been better, nor more prevalent in options, than today. But that can be an entirely new thread discussion.

[Jesla]

Spyderco challenge coin?….