Spyderco Forums

When I heard that the Aqua Salt line was being discontinued I had to buy a couple. I now have three, but none of which are very sharp. I compared them to a FFG Endura that I have had for a while now and haven't sharpened yet and it is still quite a bit sharper.

This is my first experience with H1 and with a blade that is not FFG, so I am not sure if it is the steel or if I am just not used to a thicker edge. I really like these knifes and am not displeased with them at all. I was just wondering if anyone could provide some insight as to whether or not I should try sharpening them or if this is as good as this blade can get.

I have a H1 Spyderhawk and found that out of the box, it could just barely cut hair off my arm. I touched it up on the Ultra Fine rods and its seemed to get a little bit better.

Its a little softer than some other steels, but it'll get harder with use. The more you use it for cutting, the more it will harden. Eventually you should be able to get a great edge on it.

Someone told me that it can eventually get so hard, that its no longer easy to sharpen. I don;t know how hard it can get, but it would suck if it came to that.

it gets better with use. I promise :)

I LOVE H1, but I live 5 minutes from the beach and boat a lot so...yeah im sure you see why. I want a Warrior SOOOOO bad :p

My SE salt I spends all it's time on cable installer duty, mostly boxes, but does a lot of trimming of coaxial and Cat5E, it doen't hold an edge like s30v, but it can take a VERY sharp edge with a little work, and it touches up quickly. :)

I went and got an Atlantic salt cos it looked like a straight razor and had a nice hollow grind (I'm weird right?)

It is a razor all right! stainless too =p
edge isn't as good for shaving as my Opinel though..

HotSoup wrote: Someone told me that it can eventually get so hard, that its no longer easy to sharpen. I don;t know how hard it can get, but it would suck if it came to that.

I think they were pulling your chain! H-1 is neat stuff but not magical, and it does not harden up that much in my experience. Yes it hardens, but not as much as this person apparently indicated to you.

To the original poster: It can get better! I have done a lot of work with/to my H-1 and it is fantastic stuff. Here is a video showing how I get it exceptionally sharp. If you want a straight razor, it will work great, but will require frequent stropping to stay there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um6MvhCucaQ

Dear Rambo241:

Thanks for your post and your continued interest in our products.

H-1 is a truly unique steel that behaves very differently from traditional materials. Most people know it as a completely rust-proof material, which it is. However, it is also radically different from traditional steels in that it is an austenitic steel. It does not go through a heath-treating process to achieve its hardness like martensitic steels. Instead, it "work hardens." The physical processes of grinding, using, and sharpening the blade actually cause the structure of the steel to develop microscopic stresses in the areas that are worked that bind the material together and increase the hardness in those specific spots.

When I first came on board with Spyderco, I was unfamiliar with H-1 and its properties, so I bought a few knives made from it and have taken every opportunity to cut with it. At first, I had the same experience you had with the plain edged blades. They were certainly sharp, but not exceptional. However, the more I used and sharpened them, the better they got and the longer they held an edge. My most used blade now cuts as well or better than my best knives made from traditional steel.

Serrated H-1 blades are another story entirely. Because of the intense work hardening that occurs durring the grinding of the serrations, they come out of the box with an awesome edge and hold it extremely well. My Jumpmaster cuts the toughest rope like butter and rarely requires a touch up.

Be patient and think of your H-1 knives kind of like a meat cutter does his--use 'em, sharpen 'em, and use 'em some more. As you do, you'll find they wear "in," not "out."

I hope this helps.

Stay safe,

Mike

Thanks for the advice everyone! I think it's time to start work hardening my salts :D

It's also quite possible that your endura had a slightly more acute edge than the Aquasalt.

Give it a few strokes. It should sharpen up nicely :)

Work hardening isn't responsible for not being able to get them shaving sharp from the beginning of use. I've had a rock salt, aqua salt, pacific salt, aqua salt, and tasman salt and had no trouble with any of them. A blade's grind also doesn't affect the edge or sharpening it (unless the stock is so thick you that it limits the edge size, I suppose).

What are you using to sharpen it with? What is your process?

..........

They are dropping the entire H1 line? that's too bad

Great explanation of the h1. I wondered why the serrated ones were so sharp, can't even use them to cut vegetables as they tear into the cutting board and are hard to use quickly

Aimless wrote:They are dropping the entire H1 line? that's too bad

The entire line? Including the folders?

No, not the entire line. The Aqua Salt and Rocksalt fixed blades are going away. Some of the PE folders (Sal said the PE Tasman doesn't sell nearly as well as the SE) will go, but on the whole, I think the folders are pretty safe.

I really wanna get a Rock Salt.

I only had one..Ladybug but could never get it as sharp as my others even with ultra fine rods..Eventually it developed too much side to side play and i sold it, but the edge was very easy to get mirror.