Sharpmaker Question

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
PharmD921
Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:28 pm

Sharpmaker Question

#1

Post by PharmD921 »

I have had my Sharpmaker for a while now. Just recently really learned how to use it well. I have sharpened all the knives in the house to the point they will easily push cut the thinnest wrapping paper the wife has. I screwed up the "edges" of the medium stones working on some fillet knives when I first got it, so I ordered new stones, which i received today.

The wife already managed to drastically dull a wusthof paring knife so I decided to take action.....here in lies the rub. Sharpening that knife, and subsequent wusthof steak knives I noticed the new stones leaving small chips in the edges. This absolutely did not happen to these knives the first time around. I decided at that point to try some harder steel. I went and "dulled" a D2 griptilian on a piece of stainless cable, then proceeded to work. In about 5 min I have it as sharp as I ever did without any of those DAM chips in the blade.

For you guys who know more than me....which I am sure is most of you...why did new stones bring about those little chips and what can I do about them?

I kept the old stones because the "flats" are still good, only the edges got demolished by the fillet knives.

Second: I ordered the ultrafine stones as well. If I use those on the 30 degree back bevel side is it possible to get the "mirror" I see some folks on here have on their blades? I have no other equipment but the sharpmaker and all the stones that go with. Up until a couple weeks ago I was totally useless at sharpening a knife.

Oh and I also have a new EDC a Spyderco Chaparral...my first Spyderco
Cliff Stamp
Member
Posts: 3852
Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:23 pm
Location: Earth
Contact:

#2

Post by Cliff Stamp »

What do you mean when you say you screwed up the edges of the medium stones, what exactly happened to them, how are they damaged?

It is possible the edges on the new stones are a bit uneven, can you feel it with your finger pad/nail?

Yes, you can mirror polish with the UF stones, just go very light and use a little water for the finest polish.
.357 mag
Member
Posts: 1258
Joined: Tue Dec 07, 2010 4:29 pm

#3

Post by .357 mag »

I believe Sal says in the video to rub the new stones together to get rid of imperfections. But I could of been dreaming..

As after as the UF stones, yes you can get a mirror polish.
PharmD921
Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:28 pm

#4

Post by PharmD921 »

My original set of medium stones...the edges seem as if i took an axe and chopped them and scraped the crap out of them. I feel this is from a stupid amount of pressure used to try to sharpen the fillet knives...hence the purchase of the new medium stones.

On the new stones I was not using the edges at all. I was sharpening on the flats only. I even took them and scrubbed them with a pad and comet to remove any "grit" that may have been present. Did not help. FWIW the chips (5-7 of them) are scattered all along the edge, not just one part.
PharmD921
Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:28 pm

#5

Post by PharmD921 »

.357 mag wrote:I believe Sal says in the video to rub the new stones together to get rid of imperfections. But I could of been dreaming..

As after as the UF stones, yes you can get a mirror polish.
I had thought of doing that, but wasn't sure if it was a good idea.
User avatar
phaust
Member
Posts: 1113
Joined: Wed Jul 22, 2009 6:20 pm

#6

Post by phaust »

PharmD921 wrote:My original set of medium stones...the edges seem as if i took an axe and chopped them and scraped the crap out of them. I feel this is from a stupid amount of pressure used to try to sharpen the fillet knives...hence the purchase of the new medium stones.

On the new stones I was not using the edges at all. I was sharpening on the flats only. I even took them and scrubbed them with a pad and comet to remove any "grit" that may have been present. Did not help. FWIW the chips (5-7 of them) are scattered all along the edge, not just one part.
Mine have become that way, and I haven't ever pressed hard. One corner in particular is really bad for some reason, and like you, I almost exclusively use the flats.
PharmD921
Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:28 pm

#7

Post by PharmD921 »

phaust wrote:Mine have become that way, and I haven't ever pressed hard. One corner in particular is really bad for some reason, and like you, I almost exclusively use the flats.
I use the corners a bunch, but that kitchen knife was still pretty sharp, just needed touched up. I initially only planned on doing 3 passes on the meduim stones and then moving on to the flats of the white stones
User avatar
1623
Member
Posts: 810
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 6:38 am
Location: New Hampshire

#8

Post by 1623 »

I think this comes down to pressure.

It doesn't take much for the stones to do their job especially on the corners, and from what I understand even less pressure should be applied as you progress through the grits.

When I get down to the Ultra Fine I'm pretty much letting the blade float across the face of the stones.
-Jodi

It's not just in my head, it's in my heart.
PharmD921
Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:28 pm

#9

Post by PharmD921 »

1623 wrote:I think this comes down to pressure.

It doesn't take much for the stones to do their job especially on the corners, and from what I understand even less pressure should be applied as you progress through the grits.

When I get down to the Ultra Fine I'm pretty much letting the blade float across the face of the stones.
I think my original post is getting lost in the replies and discussion of how i mutilated the first set of med stones. I am really wanting to know why that paring knife chipped while using the flats of new stones when it did not using the older stones.
akaAK
Member
Posts: 832
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 1:41 pm
Location: TO Canada

#10

Post by akaAK »

Possibly the edge, which may have seemed sharp was only a bur, this would explain how it became dull so quickly and then potentially the second sharpening "broke" chips of stressed steel out of the edge.

I use the sharpmaker exclusively as well but am by no means close to an expert. Someone else with more knowledge may chime in.

Welcome to the forum by the way.
Cliff Stamp
Member
Posts: 3852
Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:23 pm
Location: Earth
Contact:

#11

Post by Cliff Stamp »

Do the flats of the new stone feel the same (flat/smooth) as the flats on the other stones?

How big are the chips?
PharmD921
Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:28 pm

#12

Post by PharmD921 »

Cliff Stamp wrote:Do the flats of the new stone feel the same (flat/smooth) as the flats on the other stones?

How big are the chips?
To my hand they feel the same. When sharpening the D2 grip they seemed to feel more aggressive/coarse than the older stones. I attributed that to the flays of the older stones seeing many blades. The chips are tiny maybe 1/64 ish long...slightly less deep than 1/64.
PharmD921
Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:28 pm

#13

Post by PharmD921 »

akaAK wrote:Possibly the edge, which may have seemed sharp was only a bur, this would explain how it became dull so quickly and then potentially the second sharpening "broke" chips of stressed steel out of the edge.

I use the sharpmaker exclusively as well but am by no means close to an expert. Someone else with more knowledge may chime in.

Welcome to the forum by the way.
The dulling was my wife...she cuts green peppers like she is going after solid steel and bashes the knife into the cutting board...which is usually the glass one we have sitting out and not the nice ones we actually have for cutting things.
Cliff Stamp
Member
Posts: 3852
Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:23 pm
Location: Earth
Contact:

#14

Post by Cliff Stamp »

How much speed/force due to you use?
arjay18
Member
Posts: 250
Joined: Wed Jul 27, 2011 8:32 am
Location: Philippines

#15

Post by arjay18 »

PharmD921 wrote:The dulling was my wife...she cuts green peppers like she is going after solid steel and bashes the knife into the cutting board...which is usually the glass one we have sitting out and not the nice ones we actually have for cutting things.
Why would anyone use a glass cutting board? Why is even there glass cutting boards, they kill edges really quick.
PharmD921
Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:28 pm

#16

Post by PharmD921 »

Cliff Stamp wrote:How much speed/force due to you use?
Speed has always been slow, old stones and new. Force was as much as I could use previously, now not so much. With the kitchen knife and the new stones I wasn't pushing hard at all. The same amount of force I used when I got them scary sharp, and chipless, using the old stones.
Cliff Stamp
Member
Posts: 3852
Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:23 pm
Location: Earth
Contact:

#17

Post by Cliff Stamp »

With heavy force then even small irregularities in the surface of the stones are likely to damage the edge. Decrease the force until the surface of the stones evens out, or lap them to even them out.
PharmD921
Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:28 pm

#18

Post by PharmD921 »

Cliff Stamp wrote:With heavy force then even small irregularities in the surface of the stones are likely to damage the edge. Decrease the force until the surface of the stones evens out, or lap them to even them out.
With the new stones on the kitchen knife I was using minimal force. I killed the old stones pushing like a mofo. To lap the stones can I just rub them together or what would you suggest I use to lap them?
Cliff Stamp
Member
Posts: 3852
Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2005 2:23 pm
Location: Earth
Contact:

#19

Post by Cliff Stamp »

I would just use them and let them wear in, but you can rub them together, lightly to speed up the process.
PharmD921
Member
Posts: 10
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:28 pm

#20

Post by PharmD921 »

Cliff Stamp wrote:I would just use them and let them wear in, but you can rub them together, lightly to speed up the process.
I rubbed them together some and sharpened a large knife of unknown steel that we keep in the drawer. Got it nice and sharp and no chips in the blade. I think I will dull and sharpen this knife a few times to get some use on the stones.

Thanks for the help.
Post Reply