today i sharpened a pocket knife by the company signet

[boblob]

it is kind of a copy of a swiss army knife
i raised a burr on both sides on 140 then on 800 then deburred then on cardboard
but this signet pocket knife dosnt cut printer paper nicely
i checked with strong flashlight no burr is present ......
why is it ? i sharpened a real swiss army knife and made it to cut printer paper fine
why is this blade so bad ?

 

[boblob]

i do not know what steel is the blade made from
but the steel is crap for sure from my expiriance

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

The knife company is Signet? I only know of signet rings but I surely am not up on all the various pocket knife companies out there any more.

First thing to rule out is you. This is usually the culprit even on substandard steels. You can usually get at least a short-lived edge. Not always of course but typically.

What makes you say the steel is crap? Not saying it isn't, just want to understand your assertion.

 

[boblob]

The knife company is Signet? I only know of signet rings but I surely am not up on all the various pocket knife companies out there any more.

First thing to rule out is you. This is usually the culprit even on substandard steels. You can usually get at least a short-lived edge. Not always of course but typically.

What makes you say the steel is crap? Not saying it isn't, just want to understand your assertion.

I know how to get a knife sharp
i sharpened a victorinox sak and made it printer sharp easily
but tried to get this one sharp multiple times and dont get it printer paper sharp like i want to

 

[Rangen]

A strong flashlight may not be a sufficient tool to establish that there is no burr.

With crappy stainless steel, a burr is almost always the way to bet. It's gummy and lets go of burrs very reluctantly.

Unless your cardboard is pasted with an abrasive, it's likely just pushing the burr around. Persistent burrs in gummy steel have to be ground off.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

I know how to get a knife sharp
i sharpened a victorinox sak and made it printer sharp easily
but tried to get this one sharp multiple times and dont get it printer paper sharp like i want to

Okay. So you tell us what you think the issue is then.

 

[M1k3]

it is kind of a copy of a swiss army knife
i raised a burr on both sides on 140 then on 800 then deburred then on cardboard
but this signet pocket knife dosnt cut printer paper nicely
i checked with strong flashlight no burr is present ......
why is it ? i sharpened a real swiss army knife and made it to cut printer paper fine
why is this blade so bad ?

Hold the knife parallel with the ground, cutting edge pointing up.
With an overhead light source, look at the apex.
If you see reflections of light, the apex hasn't met.

 

[boblob]

Hold the knife parallel with the ground, cutting edge pointing up.
With an overhead light source, look at the apex.
If you see reflections of light, the apex hasn't met.

no reflection and no burrs
already checked that
edit**** with a very strong flashlight

 

[boblob]

A strong flashlight may not be a sufficient tool to establish that there is no burr.

With crappy stainless steel, a burr is almost always the way to bet. It's gummy and lets go of burrs very reluctantly.

Unless your cardboard is pasted with an abrasive, it's likely just pushing the burr around. Persistent burrs in gummy steel have to be ground off.

no it is just plain cardboard and i dont have diamond abrasives

 

[boblob]

Okay. So you tell us what you think the issue is then.

i do not know

 

[boblob]

The knife company is Signet? I only know of signet rings but I surely am not up on all the various pocket knife companies out there any more.

First thing to rule out is you. This is usually the culprit even on substandard steels. You can usually get at least a short-lived edge. Not always of course but typically.

What makes you say the steel is crap? Not saying it isn't, just want to understand your assertion.

its the left blade that looks like a swiss army knife

 

[Blank Blades.]

no reflection and no burrs
already checked that
edit**** with a very strong flashlight

I recommend feeling for a burr with your fingers. Rather than using a flashlight. I think as far as visual means go magnification is really needed for it to be completely reliable. Especially on cheap, soft stainless knives (or soft steel of any kind).

Its very likely the burr is there you just can't see it even with the brightest of lights. With the human eye. In the unlikely even it isnt a burr remaining that is causing this. It could be a few other things, but without knowing anything about the knife its hard to be certain.

Like when the burr came off, if it did, it could have taken some of the apex with it, leaving a larger edge radius, and making it duller. This usually happens with very large burrs when it does.

It also could be that somehow through the sharpening process the apex got rounded. For soft steels this ends up being easier to do also.