Sharpening S90v

-Lucky-

-Lucky-

Joined
May 11, 2010
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Ok, so I've got a Para 2 CF S90v that I just acquired in a trade on the way to my house, and I plan on using it. I also have no sharpening system...what do you guys and gals recommend? I wanna be able to keep a nice hair popping sharp edge on it, at the lowest cost. I have basically zero experience sharpening knives so I need something thats easy to pick up.

Thanks! ;)
 
Spyderco Sharpmaker is simple to use and fairly inexpensive. I have one and love it.
 
You will not need to sharpen it. If it is fairly well cared for knife (only about 7+ days of use anyway), it will be sharp. If you want to polish the edge which is nice, you will need something a little extra whan what the Sharpmaker can offer. Edge Pro & Paper wheels would be your best chance.
 
204 Sharpmaker will fix you up. They are simple to use, very versatile (watch the video) and portable. They do not require electricity to operate. They are affordable and can give you a very fine edge that pops hair. The UF rods are a good upgrade option if you want shaving sharpness.
 
I say a lansky system...thats what i use, and i can put a mirror edge on anything...check out bluntruth's vids on youtube...he does one on sharpening. For the paras, if you use a clamp system make sure you pay attention to how the blade is clamped in. Sometimes it can flop back and forth as you sharpen. not a big deal just something to watch
 
Get the Sharpmaker, and a 6" utility stone from the hardware store (about $10), or a coarse diamond hone (usually about $20). Diamonds are a little faster, and definitely cleaner.
The Sharpmaker will do 90% of what you need. Theoretically if you sharpen often enough you will never need anything else (it just about never works out that way, but some people do manage it).

If the knife does go flat out dull, you will probably need the coarse grit sharpener. All you need to do is take the edge bevel back a bit so the Sharpmaker can get at the edge again. Try to match the 30 degree angle (15 degrees per side) that the Sharpmaker grinds at. Practice on some cheap kitchen knives to get a feel for it, and use the sharpie trick to see where you are grinding (paint the edge, where it is still black, grind more).
Some people stick a coarse stone or sandpaper on top of the Sharpmaker rods to keep the angle the same.


If you're really adventurous, you can grind back the edge bevel way more than necessary, and just use the 30 degree setting on the Sharpmaker for a micro bevel. Awesome cutting ability.
This is the path to the dark side. Forever will it dominate your destiny.
 
Regardless of what sharpener you get, nothing surpasses never losing your edge altogether.
 
I don't plan on sharpening my S90V Para2 until I get my Work Sharp Knife & Tool Sharpener(which is effectively a mini-belt sander). Given modern day abrasives + power tools, I don't feel the need to go with diamonds unless I'm taking the blade to my diamond-paste strops:thumbup:.
 
knifenut1013 said:
The 6k belt will have a tough time with that steel FYI.
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Which is why I also have the 320-1200MX Micro-Mesh belts. Having more "in-between" grits will make everything go MUCH faster and smoother compared to simply jumping over the Grand Canyon going from the P220 to the 6000 belt:p.

If I can sharpen CPM-M4 on Paper Wheels with only 2 different grits, this will be a cakewalk by comparison:thumbup:.

But you never know, S90V might kick my ass. I am of course, a little worried that going up to the 1200MX belt might be an exercise in futility given that the SXXV series steels aren't exactly known for keeping a fine edge. But I'll probably do it anyway to see if the thing takes a nice mirror polish.
 
S90V will take a nice polish and work well like that but its not easy getting there. Any less than 1 micron and you will notice a loss in performance.

I'll just say sharpening M4 is easier ;)
 
knifenut1013 said:
S90V will take a nice polish and work well like that but its not easy getting there. Any less than 1 micron and you will notice a loss in performance.

I'll just say sharpening M4 is easier ;)
Click to expand...

It's also a very aggressive cutter with a polished edge, more so than M4. :)
 
Ankerson said:
It's also a very aggressive cutter with a polished edge, more so than M4. :)
Click to expand...


Yeah, that M4 gets real sticky to the touch when polished but the S90V retains a nice toothy polish that just seems to rip into things. Probably my favorite of all the "S" class steels.
 
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