Happy Holidays!
This thread provides some paddle thickness measurements and observations on the effects on the shenogi. It also asks for feedback how everyone deals with the below described observations to allow the WE to get a “close-to-perfect” edge / shenogi.
The observations come from sharpening a single bevel Japanese knife at 14.0 degrees on the one side which leaves a 8 mm shenogi. This is far larger then a folder so it really highlights what a difference a slightly thicker paddle means to the actual sharpening angle.
I’m attaching a single pic taken from a cell phone as the shenogi is too wide to readily demonstrate the observations on a scope. Please note that this is a knife still in the sharpening stage and the edge needs a lot more work. The plan is to make it shine, eventually, and NOT ever put on a micro bevel. But, I’m pausing the sharpening as I investigate the second shenogi or what could be called a second bevel (which is NOT the desired effect).
I’m a few weeks into my new WE Gen 3 with a lot of grits etc, have now sharpened a couple dozen knives and have moved on to some high quality knives. I’ve done a number of them extremely well, but am noticing that some of the paddles are of different thickness. The observation came to light (pun intended - use of USB scope - often - “go slow and study”) when I was cleaning up an Isikawa Bunka, White #2- SINGLE BEVEL.
Without listing every paddle thickness measurement, and noting that some paddles have more strokes at more pressure then others at this time, I can confidently say most paddles have at least 12 knives on them and should be at least mostly broken in (I think ???) except for the 50/80’s which have three knives, but A LOT ( hours and hours) of strokes. The thickness of the paddles varies from a lowest reading of 29.8m mm to a largest reading of 30.78mm. Measurements were takes on the left side, center, and right side of each paddle along it’s “sliding” axis - aka along the length of each paddle.
Most interesting to observe is that the 50/80’s, which are newest and have the outlier thicknesses of 30,78 - 30.65 depending on where the reading was taken. Bizarrely enough, one paddle had the center reading at 30.73 while each end was 30.78 while the other paddle has the center at 30.7 with each end measuring 30.65. I used a “cheap” Pittsburg (Harbor Freight brand) digital caliper but know and verified it reads identical to my Draper (medium+ quality) dial caliper and “wiggled” the caliper to find the tightest smallest) reading without “squeezing too hard”. Each of the 100-3000 grits measured “substantially” lower at 29.85 to 30.3 mm thicknesses.
Is this paddle thickness enough to change the angle the substrate hits the edge? It seems so.
Once again, I had been sharpening a micro-bevel on whetstones for “ease of sharpening” prior to getting the WE, and decided t o get rid of that micro-bevel and restore a beautiful straight edge on the Shinogi. What a PAIN (topic already discussed in another thread - sort of)! I THINK I’m committed to never putting on a micro-bevel again unless I want it to be a permanent solution…
Back on topic, I had to break out the 50/80 and spend too many hours grinding away until I hit the Apex. that last 1/4 mm seemed to take forever… I was using the Low angle adapter, 14.0 degrees on the one side, sharpening only the one side while feeling for a burr and using the scope to observe the edge and any Sharipe markings left, verifying the angle every so often etc. After finally getting very close to the Apex, I moved to the 100/200 etc. confirming my micro-adjust jam nuts were still secure. It was late and I was tired. I decided to quickly get up to 800 “just to see” and after 25 or so passes with each grit, I observed a strange phenomenon. The total Shenogi is about 9mm, but, I observed about 3mm (easily visible with the naked eye) “at the Apex” had clearly a smoother / shinier appearance.
So the question is, how does everyone deal with this? In this case, I am ONLY using WE diamond paddles. I’ve been told to check the angle every time and adjust with the micro-adjustment knob to get a precise angle. This seems a PITA.
Is my technique in play? I’m trying to hold the paddle in the same position every stroke (1/4 up from the bottom), but KNOW in fact I have been sometimes holding further up as when grinding away in the lower grits one can easily feel and hear when the diamonds are really grinding (pulling off metal) vs. when they seem to be more running along the surface. Does this make sense? I’m describing both the resistance and sound made as I do an edge-leading stroke.
Another avenue to investigate is: Are the paddles/rods loose-tolerance such that a slight variation of holding position (resulting “angle of attack” for lack of a better term) results in enough of a change of paddle angle on the blade to visibly affect the surface finish? I measured the bore of each paddle as best possible, and it wasn’t particularly easy getting the calipers in perfectly parallel to the bore and “squeezing” and aligning just enough to feel the widest reading without “digging in to” the plastic bore, but think I did a reasonable job. The results were measured bores of 6.65 mm up to 6.83 (measured each paddle at both ends). Most were 6.71 - 6.75 mm. Note ONE of the 50/80’s were an outlier at 6.81 / 6.83 and ONE 1500/2200 was a low outlier at 6.65/6.87. The rest were 6.72-6.75.mm.
I tend to believe that I still have technique and consistency of “angle of pressure” to master, but wonder if the system is accurate, but just not “super accurate” given how paddles wear over time and / or just have thickness tolerances that must be dealt with. There is clearly enough of a gap between the inside bore of the paddles and the outside diameter of the rods to allow sliding, but is there too much? There are clearly different bore diameters, but does this matter for this level of work? Is it only when we havea large shenogi that this matters?
I hypothesize that the break in of stones matters A LOT. I also hypothesize that the 50/80’s are indeed thicker, and may always be so, but that is to be determined as they break in and the “tall” diamonds continue to get knocked off.
One thought I have is to check the angle on each paddle ( or thickness of the paddle) once, then note somehow if any single paddle leaves a more acute or obtuse sheniogi. This seems like an approach that lets me do it once and not have to re-check angles every time. But, this will change, perhaps, as the paddles continue to break in. Or, I could, if I find an outlier paddle, should I send the outlier back to WE in exchange for a more "center of allowable tolerances one? If this were an industrial / professional use-case, I would absolutely do the latter as quality control / quality audit, incoming inspection parts rejection but realize the thickness will change as the paddles wear in and the surface diamonds break off.
Does anyone or does WE publish a spec on acceptable ( what I hypothesize to be paddle bore and / or thickness tolerances)?
In conclusion, I’m looking to understand how everyone deals with this. Do we really just need to measure the thickness or angle every time? Do we do so only for “newer” paddles until they are broken in and demonstrate acceptable sharpening results? Do we just scrub away and observe the edges and then, if there is an issue we adjust the angle?
Share your thoughts and experiences!
-Henry
