07-07-2021, 02:46 PM
(06-30-2021, 01:05 PM)TZ750G Wrote: My suspicion is that I have good - but unpredictable - stropping skills.
Well, that suspicion was confirmed since my last post !
Suddenly, I was sharpening in the 80's, and not the 30's.
Huge disappointment, and concern I had "lost my touch."
So, back to the bench...........
I pulled out one of my "mules," a SPYDERCO Native 5
with a MAXAMET blade. On intake, I measured 121g
on my SP50A. This is a fabulous result for a mass-produced blade,
but was in the ball park with my OTHER native5 in Maxamet,
that showed 133g at receiving.
My BEST intake was a "high end" Japanese kitchen knife @ 112g
I had spent a number of lab sessions with that first knife (121g)
and was going nowhere! I then started the whole sharpening process again,
and went through front to back!.
Then I carefully "set" the bevel at about the factory angle,
but a little smoother with a DMT diamond steel plate
about u25. BESS= 325g.
Next up was a NORTON 8,000 grit (notionally u2.6)
that I passed edge trailing about 20 laps. Possible improvement.
Out with the Dan's Whetstone large (5" x 12") white
translucent, for a nice polish, but no sharper.
The Dan's Whetstone large BLACK Arkansas in 4" x 16".
No sharpness improvement to justify the effort.
The two Arkansas stones are a physical pleasure to use,
provide good feedback, and in the large size are luxurious to use.
Maybe better on a softer metal than the high-alloy
Maxamet that sometimes tests at 69-70 HRC.
Made a couple of passes on the DMT u6.0 plate,
and thought "wow, THAT is too course."
Same thing with the DMT U3.0 steel plate.
10 trailing easy passes, and done.
PT50A = 110g On the right path!
A progression of 20 laps each on 3M film
at u3.0 and u1.0, and now down down to 70g !
Moving to my trouble area, the strops.......
20 laps on a cowhide strop with the expectable
green stuff - and back up to 90g.
AHA, finding a weak spot in my approach.
20 laps on the cow strop with u1.0 diamond
paste = 70g - heading the right way again!
20 laps gently on u0.5 diamond pasted strop, and down to 60g.
10 easy laps on plain cow leather strop, and 50g.
10 easy laps on a plain Shell Cordovan horsehide strop, and I see 39g.
I'm back in the game !