TangoSierra

[TangoSierra]

MarcH
I place take readings with the angle cube set at the half way point of the stone and then place the stone at the bottom in it’s lowest position, then I place the mid mark of the stone at the blade edge and then follow a reading with the lowest point of the stone at the blade edge. The angle cube is left at the same spot on the stone for all the readings. I use the mid point placement for my final comparison.

[TangoSierra]

I did not have as much trouble keeping the angle for the second knife I sharpened at 20 degrees as I did with the first trying to get a 15 degree angle. Tonight I took the second knife and tried to steepen the angle to 15 and I discovered what may be a flaw in my WE that may be causing my problem. The adjustment bar is not centered in my Gen III (2016) vice which I think is causing my problem. With a set of calipers I measured the distance from the edge of the vice base to the 13 degree mark. The left measured 0.9915 of an inch and the right 1.0265 inches for a difference of 0.035. I then measured from edge of the vice to the inside edge of the L bracket when the arms are set to the dimple closest to 20 degrees and got 1.897 on the left and 1.927 on the right for a difference of 0.03. That may not seem like much but set at 15 degrees, the stone doesn’t touch the blade on the left side until the stone is raised high enough to clear contacting the vice on the left side. The first photo shows the damage to the vice caused by the stone (and I was wondering why the feel on the left was so rough compared to the right stone). The second photo shows the stone not making contact with the blade.

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[TangoSierra]

I finally got around to sharpening my first knife on the WE last week. Decided to jump in with my most used kitchen knife, a 45 year old Chicago Cutlery 10-inch Chef’s knife that is part of a set my wife and I got from her uncle (who was a CC sales rep) two years after we got married. I know I said I would practice on unused cheap knives before tackling my more important knives but I couldn’t wait to see if I could restore my baby.  This knife had very little bevel left and was extremely blunt. I imagine when it was new it had a 20 to 25 degree bevel but I went for a 20 degree angle. Progression started with the 100 grit stone and I took each step up to 1,000. I had difficulty keeping the bevel angle the same on both sides. As I would finish with each grit level I would check the angle with the digital level and the difference would be anywhere between .5 and 1.0 of a degree. Then I would then correct the discrepancy before moving on to the next grit level. Ended up with 19.4 on the left and 19.8 on the right after finishing the job. (Is this discrepancy within normal tolerances?) Not the prettiest job but OMG, it just slices tomatoes so incredibly thin with what feels like only the weight of the blade doing the job. Before it was only capable of smashing tomatoes unless I made a puncture with the tip of the knife before slicing and I could never slice as thin as I can now.  What is it going to be like when the stones are broken-in?

Last night I tried the WE on a 6″ CC utility knife. Decided to try a 20 degree bevel but did not like the cutting ability after using the chef knife at 20 degrees.

I wasn’t able to strop the knives after sharpening but I can’t imagine the knife cutting better than it is now. I did receive a cheap barber’s strop today which I will have to try. I can’t believe USPS is doing Sunday deliveries from Amazon.

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Alan

[TangoSierra]

Another question if you guys don’t mind. What power of magnification do I need for visual inspection of the blade for sharpness?

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Mark76

[TangoSierra]

I think I will cut out the area I was talking about to store the digital angle gauge and enlarge the cutout area for stones to accommodate space for the 1500/glass plates and the kangaroo strops.

[TangoSierra]

Fuelboat,

Thanks for that info, but I was actually inquiring what should have come, or used to come in the slot I described and was empty in the kit I received.

[TangoSierra]

I was thinking of picking up a piece of 12×12 steel plate from a local welding shop. I got one for $10 a few years ago for another project. I will drill a hole and tap some threads so I can bolt the WE to the plate.

I had not unpacked the Angle Gauge so I didn’t realize it was small enough to fit in the WE case. Thanks for that advice.

What is the cutout in the foam that is shaped like a small tap wrench for?

[TangoSierra]

Fuelboat,

Did you choose the Paperstone Base because it would be easier to drill a mounting hole for the F&S  than it would have with the other base choices, or was there a different reason?

By the way, IT’S HERE!  Now that the GO price is up to $199 my deal looks even better. Only $66 for the cam locking system and micro adjustments.

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Alan, Organic

[TangoSierra]

 

Organic,
I’ve had the McHenry & Williams 710 for fifteen years and find it to be a very useful EDC, especially when eating out and the restaurant knife leaves a lot to be desired for cutting the food. I also have a 15 year old Benchmade 941 Osborne which was my EDC when going into Chicago because the 710 exceeds Chgo blade length limits. Unfortunately, I can’t find the Osborne the last couple of years. I hate it when I hide things and can’t remember where I put the item.

As to the auto knife; here in Illinois this last August it became legal for holders of an Illinois FOID card (Firearm Owners Identification Card) to carry an auto knife (except in Chicago and maybe a few suburbs). So, last month when attending my nephew’s wedding in southeast Tennessee I stopped at Rocky Mountain Knife Works which is just an incredible store. Big as a Super Walmart and 99% about cutting tools and I couldn’t resist purchasing the Benchmade Rukus II along with a Leatherman Charge AL This was the first time I’ve purchased a knife in a dozen years but now the juices are flowing again so I ordered online a Spyderco Manix 2 in CPM S110V. I think I’ve found my EDC (for awhile) in the Spidy which is only 3 ounces and was the sharpest out of the box production knife I’ve purchased in my limited experience.

I just checked and the WE is due to arrive tomorrow. I’m normally very patient when waiting for a purchase to arrive but this time I’m like an eight year old on Christmas Eve. Good thing I’m retired so I’ll have all the time in the world to practice sharpening.

This was my folder collection prior to last month. All purchased in a six week period in 2002. Like the Osborne, I can’t find the Kershaw.

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Mark76, sksharp, Organic

[TangoSierra]

Benchmade Rukus II

Benchmade Deploys New Rukus II Black Class Auto

 

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sksharp, David, Marc H, Mark76, Organic

[TangoSierra]

I’ve had that Benchmade 710 for 15 years and it has spent a lot of time in my pocket. I live in Rural North Central Illinois and when I go to visit family in Chicago I can’t carry it because it exceeds Chgo blade length limits. Can’t carry any knife when I go to VA clinics or hospitals either. In Illinois this past August it became legal for holders of an Illinois FOID card (Firearms Owners Identification Card) to carry an automatic knife, except in Chicago and maybe a few other suburbs. So when I was in Tennessee last month for my nephew’s wedding I stopped at Smoky Mountain Knife Works and picked up the Benchmade Rukus II Automatic (http://knifenews.com/benchmade-deploys-new-rukus-ii-black-class-auto/). That store was incredible; large as a Super Walmart and almost all knives, and packed with customers. I hadn’t purchased a knife in a dozen years and the Rukus got the juices flowing so I ordered the Spyderco Manix 2 in CPM S110V just after I got home from Tennessee.  The Spidy was crazy sharp out of the box and has become my main EDC. I also have a Benchmade 941 Osborne and Kershaw Avalanche somewhere in the house but I haven’t been able to find them for the last 4 or 5 years. I hate it when I hide something and can’t remember where I put it.

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[TangoSierra]

Thanks everyone for the welcome. To those who offered advice, thank you.

I already had the following future purchase list put together before I ordered the WE.

Kangaroo strops
5/3.5 Micron Diamond Paste or 4/2 Diamond Emulsions
1500 stones/Glass Platens
6 Micron Film sheet

Not sure about 1200/1600 ceramic stones.

When I was considering the GO, I had the stones that come with the F&S Pro on the futures list but now I don’t need to worry about that.

I’m really stoked and can’t wait for the system to arrive and start practicing.

Here are a few of the knives that need restoration and a few others that will benefit from some WE maintenance.

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wickededge, sksharp, Mark76, David, Organic, Marc H

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