05-18-2018, 11:48 AM
Since it seems like it's been a long time since I've seen low numbers on a knife, I decided to see what I could get out of a more refined edge yesterday.
I sharpened a vintage Gerber Balance Plus 4" paring knife on the Kallys. I picked up a pretty complete set when I was Ebaying vintage Gerbers many years ago, and I've always liked them a lot. Balance Plus knives only say "High Carbon Stainless". The only information I've seen is the steel is either 440A or 420HC. I haven't been able to tell much difference among the knives I have, but the steel is very good.
The bevel was set on a Blaze 120 grit with two passes/side. I didn't measure the angle, but a little under 15 dps I reckon. Refined on a Deerfos 800 grit with 2 passes per side, then deburred on a leather belt with 4µ pdp. I need to clean and reload the leather, because it took Way too many passes, like 12-15, to get a clean edge.
I brought the knife in and checked- consistent low 60s. About 10 passes on 1µ PDP on a hone, good. 47-48 all along the edge. Easily hanging hair splitting.
I measured the knife this morning to see how much it lost overnight- back up to 55-60. Shoot. Another 10-12 passes on 1µ PDP- Nice, 43-44.
That's about what I was hoping for. Since I've been spending so much time with coarser edges, it's good to know that more refinement still works, no muss no fuss, for quick low numbers.
The three finger test immediately verified that 1µ PDP is not slick at all, and still shaved my face without harshness.
I sharpened a vintage Gerber Balance Plus 4" paring knife on the Kallys. I picked up a pretty complete set when I was Ebaying vintage Gerbers many years ago, and I've always liked them a lot. Balance Plus knives only say "High Carbon Stainless". The only information I've seen is the steel is either 440A or 420HC. I haven't been able to tell much difference among the knives I have, but the steel is very good.
The bevel was set on a Blaze 120 grit with two passes/side. I didn't measure the angle, but a little under 15 dps I reckon. Refined on a Deerfos 800 grit with 2 passes per side, then deburred on a leather belt with 4µ pdp. I need to clean and reload the leather, because it took Way too many passes, like 12-15, to get a clean edge.
I brought the knife in and checked- consistent low 60s. About 10 passes on 1µ PDP on a hone, good. 47-48 all along the edge. Easily hanging hair splitting.
I measured the knife this morning to see how much it lost overnight- back up to 55-60. Shoot. Another 10-12 passes on 1µ PDP- Nice, 43-44.
That's about what I was hoping for. Since I've been spending so much time with coarser edges, it's good to know that more refinement still works, no muss no fuss, for quick low numbers.
The three finger test immediately verified that 1µ PDP is not slick at all, and still shaved my face without harshness.