VIDEO: Why polish and reprofile? -- answered

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unit
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VIDEO: Why polish and reprofile? -- answered

#1

Post by unit »

Nothing crazy here, just a visual demonstration of what edge modification can do for a knife.

It also shows what a smaller angle edge bevel will do.

Hope you find this as interesting as I did...

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#2

Post by HellHound »

Scalpel edge for edc, why thank you so much :D
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unit
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#3

Post by unit »

HellHound wrote:Scalpel edge for edc, why thank you so much :D
I have been EDCing this purple Endura for a few weeks (with the 10 degree per side profile). It is fantastic and so long as I use it sensibly, it is PLENTY durable for my needs!

It gets used a lot...and I am submitting it to progressively harder uses, and the durability has surprised me a little.
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Murdoc
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#4

Post by Murdoc »

Amazing test!

Thanks for that. We all kinda of knew which knife would cut best, but the big difference together with the objective and reproducible measuring method is really great!

Dennis
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unit
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#5

Post by unit »

Murdoc wrote:Amazing test!

Thanks for that. We all kinda of knew which knife would cut best, but the big difference together with the objective and reproducible measuring method is really great!

Dennis
Thanks, yeah, no big shock in the ranking, but the relative differences (magnitude) were surprising to me.

Many people will state how great a knife works or feels after I sharpen it for them, but this jig allows them to see and feel precisely the differences. It is also allowing me to test a few things and learn a lot in the process.

Expect to see more "tests" from me with this sort of apparatus. I am working on a few things.

I also have a bunch of other videos (link below) for anyone interested...mostly modification and sharpening technique sharing.
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Ken (my real name)

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#6

Post by Scottie3000 »

Great video! That is a great visual demonstration of sharpening angle. Excellent narration BTW.
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#7

Post by Evil D »

May i suggest, laying a wash cloth or sponge or something down on the base of your rope stand so you don't accidentally ding your edge on the metal when the rope finally cuts... :D

Also there are a billion tiny variables that could effect the amount of force it takes to cut the rope, such as how tight the rope is tied which is likely different no matter how hard you try to make it the same, how long you take pressing through the rope can allow it to cut through with less overall pressure because it has more time to work its way through, as well as any extremely small sawing motions you might be making and not realizing it. If you really wanted to eliminate these variables you could make some kind of setup that held the knife and pushed down with a weight so that the force applied to cut is exactly the same and in the exact same motion every time.

But...all that aside i'd say you still proved a point nonetheless. What kind of things are you cutting with the 20 inclusive edge? How long would you say it takes before you see shiny spots on the edge?
~David
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#8

Post by Scottie3000 »

I welcome more videos! I would like to see how you round an polish the spines of some of your spydies.
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#9

Post by Willamette »

Evil D wrote:May i suggest, laying a wash cloth or sponge or something down on the base of your rope stand so you don't accidentally ding your edge on the metal when the rope finally cuts... :D
+1 on that, watching that took a day off my life. :eek:
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#10

Post by unit »

Evil D wrote:May i suggest, laying a wash cloth or sponge or something down on the base of your rope stand so you don't accidentally ding your edge on the metal when the rope finally cuts... :D

Also there are a billion tiny variables that could effect the amount of force it takes to cut the rope, such as how tight the rope is tied which is likely different no matter how hard you try to make it the same, how long you take pressing through the rope can allow it to cut through with less overall pressure because it has more time to work its way through, as well as any extremely small sawing motions you might be making and not realizing it. If you really wanted to eliminate these variables you could make some kind of setup that held the knife and pushed down with a weight so that the force applied to cut is exactly the same and in the exact same motion every time.

But...all that aside i'd say you still proved a point nonetheless. What kind of things are you cutting with the 20 inclusive edge? How long would you say it takes before you see shiny spots on the edge?
Thanks for the thoughts.

You are correct, but I would point out that I did numerous cuts that were not in the video that demonstrated that the variability in the rope tension is invisible in the test results (all cuts with a blade registered the same weight). I ran the test at least 3 cuts per blade. If these variables impact the results (I am sure they do) they are well under the measurement ability of this scale.

The only time I contacted the base was on my first cut with the factory edge...yeah it sucked, but I know a guy that can restore edges pretty well :D I was going to use one of the other cuts with this blade in the video, but opted to leave this in to demonstrate the point of why sharper is preferred by some (control).

I do not want to make any sweeping claims about much other than to say that this simple apparatus and test is more than adequate to demonstrate the point. There are in fact a pile of variables...even if there were not, it is still only really pertinent to push cutting rope...which is but one use of a knife...and as you see below, it is not even a use I frequent all that much.

I have carried this purple knife (20 inclusive VG-10) for a couple weeks now. I have cut a few cardboard boxes, opened numerous packages, letters, pried out a few office staples, prepared a few meals, checked many pieces of meat on the grill (while "sampling"), stripped a few wires (about 10 20 guage wires prior to soldering), and yesterday I opened about 20 toys after cutting the cake at my son's birthday party. I can still pick out a hair on my arm and shave it with a whisper of a stroke with any part of the blade (except the 3 tiny compressions where I pried the office staples).

Is this edge strong, robust and durable enough for anyone? NO WAY, but I find it to be fine for my needs and uses. Would I do it for a friend? Not most of them...it requires maintenance a bit more frequently than a thicker edge, and most of my friends will not appreciate the additional level of needed care (By "care" I mean in how they use the knife...some of these guys seem to enjoy demonstrating what their knives can do with feats beyond what any good edge should be asked).

I think nothing of pulling out a strop once or twice a week and touching things up...it takes a couple minutes tops.
Thanks,
Ken (my real name)

...learning something new all the time.
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#11

Post by unit »

Willamette wrote:+1 on that, watching that took a day off my life. :eek:
Fear not, it is easy to fix.

I have a rubber mat that I will use when it really matters (like when I hand over work for a friend to demonstrate the effectiveness of the sharpening I did for him/her).

I wanted to try and keep as much noise out of the video as possible. I did not want any perception of covering anything up. As it is, I hated to put the towel between the rig and the scale, but this scale is convex and the apparatus wanted to slide around without it.

I want to convey the image that anyone can make this and do testing of their own...it is basic stuff. I also want to convey that this is not my invention...while I built what you see, many other people have used similar types of rigs to assess sharpness long before I was polishing edges.
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Ken (my real name)

...learning something new all the time.
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#12

Post by prime77 »

Well done on the video unit. The results were interesting. And the video was short and to the point. I have enjoyed some of your other videos as well. Kinda of off topic here but could I put in a video request with your thoughts and how you use your DMT stones? I'm thinking of going that route I'm my sharpening process.
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#13

Post by unit »

prime77 wrote:Well done on the video unit. The results were interesting. And the video was short and to the point. I have enjoyed some of your other videos as well. Kinda of off topic here but could I put in a video request with your thoughts and how you use your DMT stones? I'm thinking of going that route I'm my sharpening process.
Thanks!

If it is knives and sharpening, it is not too far off topic.

Let me know more about what you would like to see (either here, or post it on my Youtube page). I would imagine I can figure out some way to answer your questions either in print or with video...just temper everything with objectivity...there are lots of ways to get results and my opinions represent what works for me. There are lots of things I have not yet tried and lots of other methods for achieving stellar results.

I end up sharing (shamelessly plugging) most of my videos here in some manner most of the time anyway....
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Ken (my real name)

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#14

Post by nozh2002 »

I really like to see you doing this!

Few suggestions based on my own experience.

1. Electronic scales usually slow and have some latency - mechanical will show result instantly. I have mine postal scales from Office Max.
2. Rope/thread tension play significant role in result. I uses spring based lamp clip to make sure tension is same. You may check to see what difference would be with different tension.
3. Vertical speed of blade when you cut play significant role slower you move - better result you get. I use now metronom (69 beats a minute) and move step by step blade down one mark at a time.
4. Even with this results will vary a lot and should be not one measurement but several. I do 21 and take median as an average.

Thanks, Vassili.
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#15

Post by gull wing »

Great show! That was very well done.
It takes a lot of talent to sharpen on a bench stone, I commend you.

I've tried stones and just can't master it, so I use an Edge Pro to get the reprofile, then paper wheels to "convex" and polish the edge. :)
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#16

Post by Mr Blonde »

That was a great video, thanks for sharing! I'm looking forward to more of your videos.
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#17

Post by A.P.F. »

Super video, Ken, well narrated and easily understood.
Regards, Al

The "soul" of hi-tech materials like G-10, H1, ZDP, Titanium, carbon fiber, etc is found in the performance. That appreciation of the "spirit" comes out in time, after use. It's saying, you can depend on me! I'm there for you no matter what! - Sal Glesser
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#18

Post by SUDS »

I thought that was a very good test and was pretty accurate. I would like to see more of your videos
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#19

Post by unit »

SUDS wrote:I would like to see more of your videos
Please do! Just click on my link below (or here). Most of my videos feature Spydercos and things I have done to/with them.

Thanks for the kind words everyone!

I intend to do more videos and demonstrations. I will likely employ some of the suggestions offered by people who have viewed this. Ideally, I will be able to keep things simple enough that everyone can enjoy it and if so inclined do it themselves.
Thanks,
Ken (my real name)

...learning something new all the time.
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#20

Post by brianch »

Very good demonstration! That is one sharp :spyder:
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