Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker

[ecallahan]

Yeah, I do my bevel-setting and at least some refinement on bench stones or diamond hones. One of my favorite strategies lately, for both simple stainless like 420HC and more wear-resistant stuff like S30V, is to set the bevels with an XC or Coarse diamond hone to full apex. Then, apply a very, very minimal microbevel on the Sharpmaker with the corners of either the medium or fine ceramic rods. That tiny microbevel with the SM's ceramic rods does a nice job cleaning up the burr remnants and also narrows the apex a bit more. So, with that med/fine ceramic micro atop the XC/C diamond scratch pattern, it makes for a vicious slicing edge. Each complements the other - and that's what I think is the best aspect of using the SM. It's a very good enhancement tool, used very minimally. For cleaning up edges, my SM replaces any need for stropping after sharpening, most of the time.

I imagine you use very light pressure? Also, why the corners and not the flats?

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I imagine you use very light pressure? Also, why the corners and not the flats?

As light as I possibly can - I equate it to simply brushing dust from the surface of the hone, nothing heavier.

Using the corners vs. flats is a preference thing for me. I've tended to perceive that the corners leave a little more 'bite' in the edge, whereas I've usually felt the flats tend to burnish or polish more. The corners focus pressure against the edge, which I think tends to make the abrasive dig a little deeper, leaving the edge a little more toothy. This can be either good or bad, if the applied pressure is too heavy - when focused at the corners, that pressure can also roll or heavily burr the edge, or chip it if the steel is harder. But this is why I emphasize going as light as I possibly can.

The corners vs. flats difference is also emphasized by Spyderco's own guidance in using the rods. Their recommended strategy for sharpening involves using the corners first, for setting bevels, then refining on the flats. That suggests to me that they're also aware the corners will be a little more aggressive, removing metal more quickly due to the focused pressure at the corners. All of this assumes the rods will be cleaned frequently - if they get loaded up with swarf (which happens faster at the corners), then it'll lose aggressiveness and trend toward a more burnished finish.

 

[Guy McVer]

Can I just say how awesome it is that you can grab a stick and use it in your hand? I've done this a bunch of times because it's quick and easy since the Sharpmaker is already out. It's a simple and obvious thing to do but I really love that the triangle sticks are totally useful without inserting them in the base. They sell them seperately too so it's not a bad option if you only want the sticks. This applies to other rod based platforms, but the flat surfaces and the groove make this just a bit better for hand sharpening than those.

If you for example had the sharpmaker set up at a camp site and you wanted to take one of the rods with you on a hike or something. You just walk over, grab the stick out of the base and walk away with it, seriously pissing off everyone you came with!