Removing thumb stud to sharpen?

Big_Red

Big_Red

Joined
Feb 23, 2009
Messages
669
Recently I bought four of the DMT diamond stones along with a strop. I reprofiled a RAT Izula and two of my Benchmades to a 30 inclusive edge, mirror finish, razor sharp.. Let me first say that it is very rewarding although quite a time consuming process.

I had to remove the thumb studs on the BM's to sharpen at that angle. It's not a big deal and I'll probably be able to leave them on for touch ups on the strop, but do you guys have to always remove the thumb studs for sharpening?
 
I usually hang the thumb-stud over the edge of the stone and hold the blade at a compound angle to the stone to sharpen the base of the blades on my Benchmades. The only times I've removed a thumb-stud is for serious re-profiling or edge thinning
 
If I'm doing any sort of serious sharpening or stropping yes I take of the thumbstuds of my benchmades. It takes me about 15 seconds and it gives me much better control not having to stroke the strop at a funny angle. I'm just glad that benchmade has removable thumbstuds, Kershaw and many others use pressed in thumbstuds and they are a biioootch to remove!
 
Sharpened a BM 940 to a steeper angle and got it to some serious sharpness, took the thumbstud off every time I sharpened it.
 
Benchmade 710, 94x and the 912/913 Striker I had to remove the studs. I’m sure there are other models as well. The Striker studs I replaced with medium length as opposed to the large/tall studs that come from the factory.
 
I always remove the thumbstud on my 710 when doing serious sharpening. I leave it on for stropping.

Stitchawl
 
Thanks guys... that answers my question.

The two BM's reprofiled was a 940 and 950. The 940 has hex screw as the thumbstuds making them very easy to remove, whereas the 950 has some sort of black textured stud. I took two pairs of pliers wrapped in duck tape for protection to unscrew the 950. uh.
 
The teeth in a small socket fit right into the depressions on the 950. I don't remember the size but it is a common one. I didn't have to remove mine sharpening at about 30 degrees but when I lowered it to about 22 I did.
 
^^^great suggestion!!!!

I could probably get by without removing them on the 950, but it would have been close. Knowing me, I certainly would have scuffed/knocked the anodizing off the studs though.
 
The tall studs on the 950 Rift, 912/913 striker use a 3/16” socket.

Most of the other studs are a T6. NO HEX. Having two T6 drivers will help but a needle nose with tape will work on one side to keep it from moving. Make sure it’s a quality T6 driver. Removing thumb studs on Benchmade is fairly easy. If you use a cheap Ace hardware bit driver or similar, it will break off in under 2 seconds.

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