KME+Grizzly+Wet Sand paper Help?

[T Folts]

I have been sharpening Single bevel grizzlys with wet sand paper. I started with 180 grit to get the gind angle, then 320,400 and 600.Then I jumped to 1550 grit. I used a 10X magnifier to see the progress. My question is because the head is not hair shaving sharp so my question is how do you know when to progress to the next finer grit paper? I know the 180 is to get the bevel set then I went to the 320 and so on.
Thanks for help.
Terry

[bjordnolf]

When the scratches are consistent all the way across the bevel you move to the next grit.

[Scott Gray]

Also it takes a little bit of work to initialy remove enough metal to change the angle. One of the keys for me is to make sure the back of the head (side opposite of the bevel) is completely flat before you start, remove any burr that is there from the factory. One other thing that I do is as I am finishing the head on the finest paper either 1500 or 2000 grit I make one pass on the bevel side and one on the flat side. I do this as a finishing process for about 5-10 strokes. To get them hair poppin' I finish them of on either a piece of leather or a piece of cardboard. I would give Ron a call at KME too for other pointers.

[Old York]

Dumb question, but I have to ask - are you using silicon carbide wet sandpaper?

[T Folts]

Old York:
Wet dry sandpaper from the hardware store.
Terry

[Scott Gray]

Wet dry here also

[Matabele]

Hey guys, how do you set the edge angle to 25 degrees on a KME? Ive ground a grizzly down to about 25 degrees using a file but the KME jig always wants to grind at a steeper angle, looks about 45 degrees to me.

Maybe Im missing something but it doesnt seem possible. Would be a great shame as I bought the KME specifically to sharpen the grizzly with a 25 degree bevel.

Sorry dont mean to hijack your thread T Folts, just curious.

[Daddy Bear]

The KME knife sharpener is infinite in adjustment, the KME broadhead sharpener is not. I do not believe it is possible to use the broadhead sharpener and maintain an angle of 25degrees or lower. I believe Ron has measured that sharpener at around 30degrees or maybe more.

I also use a file on the Grizzly to set the bevel and sharpen the edge. I'm not a big believer of using a fine honed shaving razor edge on the poor quality steel used in most production broadheads. Such steel is unable to hold that edge and will quickly dull when going through the hair of hide, gristle and sinew. I prefer a working edge such as used by Hill, Bear, and many other past and present big game hunters which will hold up far longer.

[Scott Gray]

I read somewhere that Ron said 28 degrees or so with a grizzly with his broadhead sharpener. I am headed over to my brothers place in a few to help him get some grizzlys sharp using the KME.

[Soilarch]

Back to the original question:

Since you've got a magnifier...you work until all the "scratches" are the same side.  If you can't get the 600 scratches with the 1550 you need to find some 1000 or some 800.

Around here I can find, and I use 220, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, and 2000.  I can usually skip the 1500 but on some metals it saves time.  It means you have to buy more paper...but your paper will last longer and the job will go quicker.

It also *seems* to go quicker if "scratch" in one direction for awhile, then change and "scratch" perpendicular.  I don't worry about direction of "scratching" until you start worrying about burrs.  For me that's usually around 1000 grit.

[Dr. Ed Ashby]

I'll leave the KME sharpener part of the answer to Ron, but Scott makes a critical point. The very first thing you want to do is true up the flat side of the edge. When you're doing the initial resetting of the bevel, work the bevel until you turn a distinct and pronounced wire edge along the entire length of the edge before going to the finer grits.

Ed
TGMM Family of the Bow

[Rangeball]

I had recently considered the KME broadhead sharpener and email Ron some questions, and got this response-

"Thanks for the interest and for writing. The broadhead sharpener is a fixed angle guide. It will sharpen different size broadheads at slightly different angles. Very wide heads like the old Pearson Deadheads will sharpen at around 24 degrees or a bit lower, while narrow broadheads like the Grizzly will sharpen at around 29 degrees."