sharpened to 20° per side, 20.5° for the strop on a KME system.
Reprofiled I’d say, moderately easily on a 300 grit diamond stone. Didn’t want to use the 140 as I’m still relatively new to this. then up to 600 grit and 1400 grit diamond. Stropped on KME kangaroo leather strops with wicked edge diamond paste, went 3.5 micron -> 1 Micron -> 0.5 Micron.
I could really do with using my 5 micron paste I reckon, as it’s not a perfect mirror, and some scratches are visible in the right lighting, but it’s the closest I’ve gotten to a true mirror.
I’ll be honest, it’s not as sharp as I want it to be, it shaves and splits hairs, and push cuts paper, but push cuts aren’t effortless, the knife doesn’t just glide through on contact. that’s something I’ll be working on in the future as I learn more hopefully.
You’ll notice I also reprofiled the choil and made it sharp all the way to the ricasso (If I’m using my terms correctly). Honestly, it’s not the cleanest, you can see where the side of the kme stones came into contact, but I’ve always disliked the way the unsharpened portion of spyderco knives interact with the light on well sharpened knives, and the way you feel it grinding against the stones as you sharpen. I’m sure there’s a reason to keep it, but I chose to get rid of it so it’s sharp all the way to the base.
One thing I will say, it’s sticky sharp, which I didn’t expect, I sharpened spy27 and Micromelt PD1 to the same level, Spy27 isn’t really sticky at all, whilst micromelt is somewhere inbetween, but the MagnaMax is enough that I’d definitely classify it as sticky.
I had a look under a microscope and, I don’t see a burr, but I do think I stropped at just the tiniest bit too high an angle and put a slight secondary edge on it.
Anyway, I’m pretty new to this, I’ve sharpened a magnacut UKPK twice, two dodgy paring knives, a dragonfly in pd1, and a spy27 manix twice. Each time I get a little better, although honestly I don’t really know why, other than I guess being more confident to use pressure and knowing I’m not just going to eat away at the blade. Figured I’d be open and honest about my experience rather than declaring this is a perfect mirror polish that can cut a flying 50 cal round!
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sharpened to 20° per side, 20.5° for the strop on a KME system.
Reprofiled I’d say, moderately easily on a 300 grit diamond stone. Didn’t want to use the 140 as I’m still relatively new to this. then up to 600 grit and 1400 grit diamond. Stropped on KME kangaroo leather strops with wicked edge diamond paste, went 3.5 micron -> 1 Micron -> 0.5 Micron.
I could really do with using my 5 micron paste I reckon, as it’s not a perfect mirror, and some scratches are visible in the right lighting, but it’s the closest I’ve gotten to a true mirror.
I’ll be honest, it’s not as sharp as I want it to be, it shaves and splits hairs, and push cuts paper, but push cuts aren’t effortless, the knife doesn’t just glide through on contact. that’s something I’ll be working on in the future as I learn more hopefully.
You’ll notice I also reprofiled the choil and made it sharp all the way to the ricasso (If I’m using my terms correctly). Honestly, it’s not the cleanest, you can see where the side of the kme stones came into contact, but I’ve always disliked the way the unsharpened portion of spyderco knives interact with the light on well sharpened knives, and the way you feel it grinding against the stones as you sharpen. I’m sure there’s a reason to keep it, but I chose to get rid of it so it’s sharp all the way to the base.
One thing I will say, it’s sticky sharp, which I didn’t expect, I sharpened spy27 and Micromelt PD1 to the same level, Spy27 isn’t really sticky at all, whilst micromelt is somewhere inbetween, but the MagnaMax is enough that I’d definitely classify it as sticky.
I had a look under a microscope and, I don’t see a burr, but I do think I stropped at just the tiniest bit too high an angle and put a slight secondary edge on it.
Anyway, I’m pretty new to this, I’ve sharpened a magnacut UKPK twice, two dodgy paring knives, a dragonfly in pd1, and a spy27 manix twice. Each time I get a little better, although honestly I don’t really know why, other than I guess being more confident to use pressure and knowing I’m not just going to eat away at the blade. Figured I’d be open and honest about my experience rather than declaring this is a perfect mirror polish that can cut a flying 50 cal round!