anomad

[anomad]

The scissors attachment is a great idea 000Robert. I used to go around the office and adopt all the neglected scissors, bring them home and put them through my rehabilitation program. Kept me in good graces with the ladies of the office! I might be able to take my performance up a notch with this machine.

[anomad]

I’m delighted with the results, so far, even with the humble 1000 grit diamond stones. One thing I wanted to do was set a few kitchen knives properly so I could touch up the apex easily with the sharpmaker. Check, it works very well. I sharpened a 12″ machete… Going over the top is fun.

You’re right, I am trying to stay in a safe orbit around the opening of the rabbit hole and not get sucked in!

I even got out an old book to entertain me while I attempt to stay in orbit…

[anomad]

Question:

If you were new, like me, and ready to purchase something beyond the 800/1000 diamonds what would you get?

I am guessing the 1500/lapping films or the 1500/2200 are the logical progression. But I would like to hear from other’s who have “been there done that”.

[anomad]

Good call to touch that one up in my opinion. The factory edge was barely biting into that paper. Nice video too.

[anomad]

Welcome aboard Thomas B. In my experience, yes. I can sharpen a soft steel cheap paring knife down to a fine angle so it will split hairs. But it will be dull after cutting an apple into slices.

What Clay said in the link MarcH provided above jives with my game processing experience. I don’t have any S35VN blades so I can’t recommend angles or anything. But you don’t want to be so acute it falls apart or so obtuse you aren’t getting the most out of it. Cut some stuff with the factory edge, see how it does. Measure what it has and make your adjustments from there.

My “hunting” usually looks like walks in the woods with a gun more than bringing meat home – LOL!

[anomad]

Been working on some of my favorite knives now that I have a little practice. I kind of laugh at myself because some of you have years and years and thousands of sharpening sessions under your belts. Microscopes, spreadsheets full of data etc etc.  I know almost nothing in comparison. I do know I was very happy this one came out very nice. It is one of my favorite knives.

[anomad]

Today was an “ah-hah” moment. For obvious reasons, practice makes perfect. It was like a light bulb turned on for me today. I did 5 knives with very satisfying results.

I had gained enough confidence over the last few days of tinkering around to do some knives I am more attached to. One is a Chinese D2 el cheapo from everyone’s favorite prime online store. It had a boring factory edge that I had touched up to “it’ll shave, except for that one” on the sharpmaker. I took it back to 15 degrees per side. It is kind of lop-sided now. But hairs jump out of the way when they see it coming.

[anomad]

The new WE130 came in the mail today. Finally… LOL! I was waiting like a kid at Christmas. To start figuring out what the heck I was doing and rub on the stones a bit I put a 20 degree per side edge on most of a 26″ machete that I regularly abuse around the property. I figured that would cut down the “10-15 knives” I need to break in the stones. Then I switched over to some el cheapo kitchen knives I had in a drawer. One example was particularly awful and had a 20 degree edge on one side and a 24 degree on the other. I didn’t re-profile, just adjusted to what was there.

After kind of figuring out how it all works I decided to go after a Cold Steel Safemaker 3. This awkward short little knife has a large belly and I knew it needed a new bevel cut in. The WE130 made short work of making it a perfectly even 18 degrees per side. Although I could spruce up the tip a little. I had put this knife in the drawer a long time ago. Knowing it needed a profile and dreading doing so on the sharpmaker.

So, day one and I’m already looking at more stones to take things to what I can do with the Spyderco extra fine ceramics. Also need to start taking notes on geometry to make touch ups on the sharpmaker easy. I have decades of experience with that system and it holds it’s own against the WE130. They will be a good team. I could go on about that for pages… I’ll have to use my loupe and think about micro bevels.

The 1000 grit diamond stones leave a satisfactory toothy edge in my estimation. Better than most factory edges you’ll get on a sub 100 dollar knife, I’d guess. The geometrical consistency is fascinating.

 

2 users thanked author for this post.

Richard, Marc H

[anomad]

Knifecenter talked about the “SelectEdge” when it came out. He said it was basically just a narrower angle and better sharpening job than your run of the mill Benchmade. Sounds like that one you got is a winner. I’d want to look at it under magnification.

I have almost no idea how factories sharpen knives. But I can say even the budget knives I have picked up in the last couple years have better than expected edges. makes sense that higher end stuff would be much better.

I remember one Cold Steel Bushman I got a long long time ago looked like it only was sharpened on one side. I used a file and some sandpaper to get it close to what was on the sharpened side. Took a little work and since they were only 13 dollars or something back then I didn’t really mind.

[anomad]

Hey thanks.

I have read the knowledge base thoroughly so hopefully I don’t ask too many “dumb questions”. LOL

I did not get the pro pack. Just the extra 800/1000 grit diamond stones and the aluminum base. Anxious for its arrival. Hopefully this week. I have a bunch of rarely used knives waiting to break in the stones before I get into the stuff I care about. All have very decent sharpmaker edges on them. So I will really have to see what I can do before taking them to the new system.

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