Sharpmaker HELP!

[adammg]

I just bought a Sharpmaker, I watched the video and read the manual, but I still can't achieve the sharpness I want, I am trying to sharpen a fairly new Delica Waved PE, Its not really dull but I am wanting to touch it up. So I set the medium rods in the 30 degrees angle using the corners and sharpened it that away 20 strokes per side then switched to the flat side of the medium rod and did 20 strokes per side as well. After that I took the fine rods and did the same, 20 per side on the corners, then 20 per side on the flat fine rod. I tried to cut some paper afterwards and it wasn't slicing like it did new. Any one got any suggestions? I also have a dull Delica I can get back using the same techniques with more strokes.

Thanks,
Adammg

[whitefeather]

It sounds like you may not be down to the edge yet. Try the "sharpie" trick. Mark both sides of the edge with a sharpie then take several strokes on the sharp maker. Examine the edge to see if the marker is removed all the way to the edge. Go back to the brown stones if you still have marker on the edge. Follow the link to a good read on knife sharpening.

http://forums.egullet.com/index.php?showtopic=26036

[adammg]

Thanks, I did try the marker trick earlier on my dull knife and it did take off the marker, maybe I need to speed more time on the brown stone before moving on, do I need to get the knife to slice paper easily on the brown stone before switching over to the flat then fine stone? Btw how much pressure is needed? I don't know if I am applyin enough or too much, what I have been doin has been hurtin my palm after alot of strokes, maybe too much pressure?

[diceman]

Very little pressure. I was using too much at first, as well.

[whitefeather]

Use light pressure. If your palm is hurting you are applying way to much pressure and are probably rolling (bending) the edge.

You should be able to cut paper when you finish with the corners of the brown stones. Be very careful at the end of your stroke so as not to round off the tip.

I like to work on one side of the blade @30 degrees until I pull up a burr along the entire length of the blade then switch to the other side until the same results are reached. You can feel the burr by pulling your finger away from the edge. (I hope that makes sense)
Then I start alternating sides with very light pressure to remove the burr before switching to the 40 degree setting for the micro bevel.
Touch ups are a breeze after you have your back bevel and micro bevel set.

It is of utmost importance to keep the blade vertical at all times. Take your time and use light pressure. I read where someone else said 1-2 pounds pressure. I wouldn't know how to measure the force but light is better than heavy.

[adammg]

ty both very much and anyone else who reads this and wants to add more. Sorry I am such a noob but really loving learning all this. I've been alternating between each stroke and not getting a burr, guess thats been alot of my problem, been afraid to work one side at a time cause don't wanna end up with a awkward edge. I tried lighter a few mins ago and it did seem to work now so I'mma throw this in and see what I can't get.

Once again thanks a heap,
Adam

[whitefeather]

I've been alternating between each stroke and not getting a burr, guess thats been alot of my problem, been afraid to work one side at a time cause don't wanna end up with a awkward edge.
Once again thanks a heap,
Adam

It's not neccessary to pull up the burr. That's just the way I like to do it.

[adammg]

Just tried it alittle on my dull one... seemed to work pretty good, did so many strokes on one side then half that on the other. Is this a proper method or is there another ratio to use?

[whitefeather]

On blades with a bevel on both sides I use the same amount of strokes for each side.

Did you read the article that I linked for you? Are you using a micro bevel?

Good Luck......Practice practice practice......You'll get the hang of it.

[bh49]

If you edge is even at the beginning, than it should be about the same amount of strokes on each side.
If you are learning, may be it is not a bad idea to grind only one side on the corners of medium rods (or coarser stones, if you have them) until burr is formed, just try to keep it small. Thank switch to the second side, until burr is formed on the opposite side, than make 10-15 strokes alternating sides to remove burr. Than switch to flats and do 10-20 stokes alternating sides.
Use only light pressure. If you press hard against corners, you will be bending edge and weakling it, which is bad.
It is very helpful to get microscope (about $20 at Radio shack) or 10X lens.
Clean rod often, I wouldn't do more than 30-40 passes on each corner without cleaning. If you want to reprofile you will need to get coarser stones than medium.
Good luck.

[krazichinaman]

I think the problem for you is that you are not sharpening the edge. You mentioned that you are sharpening at the 30 degree angles. You should be using the 40 degree to sharpen the edge. If you are using the 30 degree you are dealing with the primary bevel and not the mico bevel. Try it again on the 40 setting and you should see results.
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Sharai.4Sex

[Killdozer]

I have a sharpmaker and it gets all my knives shaving sharp BUT my Delica 4 Waved. That knife, which I love, just seems to be jinxed for sharpening. I see my affliction is not alone.

Have you sharpened anything else with success? Go grab some kitchen knives and make your wife happy and get some practice on something big and easy. Saves some metal on that knife too.

Someone else once posted a neat trick, in addition to the classic sharpy he would use a level bubble. He took the little water filled cylinder with an air bubble out of a cheap level and attached that to the spine of his knife in order to see if he was holding it perfectly vertical. Neat. He posted pics too because like I just found out this is impossible to describe accurately with words.
-Mat

[Blackhair]

I was having trouble with my Sharpmaker at first until I started sharpening with the 40 degree bevel.

At first, I thought that a 40 degree angle wouldn't be as good, because the edge would be more obtuse. But it really doesn't make a noticeable difference in cutting performance, and seems to sharpen better.

If you have the patience to sharpen at a 30 degree angle for a long time, it will take on a thinner bevel, and you'll see moderately better cutting performance. But for me, 40 degrees is more than adequate.

[vampyrewolf]

Just gonna link you to my post... because I don't feel like typing it all again.

http://spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30774

[Agent Starling]

adammg,

When I sharpen the PE Delica i go by the video as you did, and used the tests to tell when I was finished with each stage...I found that when the 20 strokes didn't make the knife shaving sharp, for example, I'd give it another 5 passes or so and test it again. Repeat until the knife is shaving sharp, then go on to the next stone...with the Delica IIRC I don't think it took more than 5-10 extra passes on each stage to get the knife sharp.

Agent Starling

[A. Stanton]

Go back and watch the dvd again. You got to "crack" those new stones first by rubbing them together. Without doing this, it will take a while to make them abrasive.

[bigbre04]

Out of curiosity. Does anyone have one of those dvds that they wouldn't mind if i borrowed i have a sharpmaker, but i never saw the video. Is it on youtube? PM me if you do have one that i can borrow. Im excited my Caly 3 Is on its way to me via UPS :D . Also does it make a huge difference if you use the stones without cleaning them? Once again just curious.

-Alex

[cgjones]

Out of curiosity. Does anyone have one of those dvds that they wouldn't mind if i borrowed i have a sharpmaker, but i never saw the video. Is it on youtube? PM me if you do have one that i can borrow. Im excited my Caly 3 Is on its way to me via UPS :D . Also does it make a huge difference if you use the stones without cleaning them? Once again just curious.

-Alex

You can purchase the DVD directly from Spyderco or New Graham for about $5.

[bigbre04]

Thanks, ill do so i didn't realize that it was available like that.

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: I hold my knives lightly with thumb and two fingers to ensure a light enough touch. Just enough force to keep my caffeine saturated hands from shaking. As if you were shaving an over inflated baloon. :spyder: