 The Oboe BBoard
|
Author: rgombine
Date: 2016-02-12 00:00
Wondering if anyone has used Spyderco bench sharpening set up.
I sharpen my Landwell knives (Med) on a fine India stone (dry) using Tom Blodgett's (Jende) "nickel/dime" method, finishing on a metal y-shaped steel that I got from Weber reed's. It works ok -- I can get a consistent edge without a ton of edge wear or curvature. When I can no longer get an edge w the steel I go back to the stone.
The problem is I am sharpening the knife constantly, and I would love a more convenient method to dress the knife while scraping. The steel is 35° and ideally I would have a 35° V shaped desk sharpener but this is not commercially available.
So my questions are 1. How critical is this 35° angle? -- the iSpyder gadget would allow me a 40°; would that be sufficient?. 2. If I used a higher grit stone to finish the knife would I last longer between sessions on the steel?
I know knife sharpening can be a contentious topic, but look forward to everyone's insight!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: cjwright
Date: 2016-02-12 09:30
If you look at the blodgett book it talks about refining the burr. That india stone is probably about a 300-420 grit. Blodgett's system using 5000, 8000, and 15000 grit to really polish the burr. The more polished it is, the stronger it is and longer it will keep your knife sharp.
I'd start looking for another stone that is finer. You can use it on your knife after the india stone.
BTW, I use his shapton stones every day. I use the 320, 1500, 5000, 8000, and 15000 stones. Pricey, but i need my knives razor sharp for my reeds.
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: rgombine
Date: 2016-02-12 12:03
Thanks Cooper. Have you used any kind of crock stick setup or do you just use the stones?
Also, was thinking if getting stones getting 500 grit instead of 320 b/c that is the lowest grit compatible w Shapton diamond lapping plate. Do you have any thoughts on that?
Post Edited (2016-02-12 19:32)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: cjwright
Date: 2016-02-13 10:01
I've tried crock sticks in the past but they're just a good even sharpening surface. You end up bowing your knives. The whole concept of the Shapton system is to keep your blades perfectly flat.
I have a 500 glass plate, but I bought a gigantic diamond stone from RDG that I use for the roughest surface, and that works better.
Blog, An Oboe In Paradise
Solo Oboe, Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: rgombine
Date: 2016-02-14 08:22
Hey Robin. Glad to see you at least dipping a toe in!
I did decide to get some Shapton stones and see how it works out.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mschmidt
Date: 2016-02-15 08:25
This is what I use:
http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=33019&cat=1,43072,67175,67177&ap=1
Nicely polishes the edge, but cuts reasonably quickly. If I really need to remodel an edge, I have 800x and 1200x water stones (also the King brand).
Mike
Still an Amateur, but not really middle-aged anymore
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: rgombine
Date: 2016-02-15 23:22
Ok. So now my 5000 grit Shapton has arrived and I have a nice edge.
1. To folks that go to higher grit, how much difference do you think it makes? I feel a slippery slope!
2. I am using a steel y-shaped burnishing rod. When I get to the point that I can no longer get a satisfactory edge w the rod, how low a grit should a go back to? 1500? (I have a 320 ceramic, a 600 diamond, a 1000 water stone, and a 1500 ceramic)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: huboboe
Date: 2016-03-16 04:19
I agree with Cooper - the Shapton stones are the finest I have used in 50+ years of making reeds. I use my own sharpening fixture (see the westwinddoublereed.com site ) rather than the Jenda system. Cooper has gone the Ferrari route, going all the way to 15,000 grit. I go from 350 to 600 grit diamond stones initially to a 1500 grit Shapton to refine and maintain the edge. This gives me a clean, crisp chip and a smooth cut surface. I find no need to go to a finer grit, and can finish several reeds before going back to the Shapton stone.
To my mind, the most important long term thing in sharpening is to keep the same angle on the blade each time you go back to the stone. This is impossible if you sharpen by hand. Some sort of fixture that keeps the knife always at the same angle is necessary to edge from becoming ever steeper and needing to go back to a coarse stone to re-grind your initial angle.
The Westwind fixture is currently dedicated to Westwind knives, but I have a universal model in development which will work with all knives and adjust to your preferred angle. As Robin said, the angle is a matter of preference, though in the woodworking industry, a 30º edge is pretty universal except for specialty planes. It is my preferred angle...
I don't feel that an additional steel or similar appliance is necessary. If you sharpen at a consistent angle to a fine edge, the knife will scrape just fine. All the steen does is hook the sharp edge a bit more, which may give a bit more life to a dulling edge but rounding the edge means you will need to sharpen more off of the blade the next time you go to the stone...
Enjoy your Shapton stone...
Robert Hubbard
WestwindDoubleReed.com
1-888-579-6020
bob@westwinddoublereed.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jennetningle
Date: 2016-04-09 09:20
I feel that I'm in the minority among oboists. Or maybe I'm a speaking up for the silent majority - I just don't want to have to use four to six different stones to make my knife work. I have a Spyderco Double Stuff stone - they don't indicate an exact grit but one side is very fine and the other is an even finer ceramic. And that's pretty much all I use. I've just put up a blog post and a video about the way I use this stone - it's less scientific than many other approaches I've seen but I love the simplicity and it works for me. And I'm very high volume, reed wise, so I do have to keep the knife optimal pretty much all the time...
Jennet Ingle
www.proneoboe.com
_________________________
Jennet Ingle
<www.jennetingle.com>
<www.proneoboe.com>
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
