Ladybug owners, some advice please

[Mancer]

Hi, I purchased a Spyderco Ladybug for my buddies Bday, he wanted something small and sharp to use (something very small)



I gave it to him around 2 weeks back, a few days l8tr he comes back to me and says its blunt, and he hasnt done much cutting (and no heavy cutting on it) at all, he says he used to to cut biltong (what u guys call beef jerky).

I took it back, it had NO EDGE, none, nothing, you couldnt even cut yourself if u tried, trying the shaving my arm trick gave me a rash, so I put a 40 deg angle back on, she was razor sharp.



that was last tuesday, its now friday, I call him to say Hi, he says its blunt again, and this time he says he has not used it to cut a single thing since its been sharpened.



My responce is that its bullsh..., it cant lose the edge if it hasnt been used, and even if it was, to lose it so fast sounds weird.



Has anyone ever had this prob?, can it be that the blade metal is somehow faulty?



Or do you guys think what Im thinking, and that is that Im not been told the whole truth here?



Thanx



MaNcEr



It's Time To Kick @$$ 'N Chew Bubble Gum

[Tom Percy]

I've had my Ladybug almost as long as my Endura. It cuts everything from plactic bags to boxes and fruit, and I've never had a problem with edge retention. Actually for a knife with such a fine edge (probably close to 20d) it holds it razor edge for a long time.
If he's having that much of a problem, have it checked by Spyderco.

[Mancer]

Yeah many thanx Tom, if he has said he was using it on soft items and this was happening that would be fine, but to say he hasnt cut 1 thing with it since I sharpened it, well that cant be right, how can aa blade of that sharpness lose its edge by itself without doing any cutting.

I find it very unlikely and even impossible.

Seeya

MaNcEr

It's Time To Kick @$$ 'N Chew Bubble Gum

[dePaul]

Hi MaNcer!
Could it be that the blade is somehow out of the center rubbing the "liners"?

[Mancer]

dePaul good one, I didnt think of that, but, I did have the blade for 2 days when I purchased it, I always have a habit of oiling the blades and checking them out well (since my Gerbers where blunt on arrival), the blade was razor sharp, and when folded in most definately didnt go near the sides then, ot when I sharpened it last tuesday.

Even if it was, the degree the edge gets taken of is astounding.

It really is so blunt, that you pull it across your finger with pressure, and you wont get cut, this knife is a suicidal mans nightmare,lol

I cant understand how it can be happening, Ive said to him he must give the blade to me for a week, Ill test it out and see if it happens with me.
But still curious if anyones had such a prob before.

Once again thanx for the reply, the rubbing comment was a good one, didnt think of that.

Seeya

MaNcEr

It's Time To Kick @$$ 'N Chew Bubble Gum

[Jeff/1911]

MaNcEr,

While we're talking about sharpening Ladybug's...How do you do it? This is a 50/50 blade you are talking about right?

I have tried sharpening my Ladybug w/ my 204 Sharpmaker and using the technique for serrated blades w/ the corners of the white stones. Should I be using this technique for the plain edge part of the blade too? Or do you try and use a different technique for that tiny plain edge part by itself?

Jeff/1911.

[CalypsoKid]

MaNcEr,

Maybe your friend is pulling your leg, so to speak. He or she probably knows that you are a Spyderco Knife Knut (TM) and is out there rubbing the edge on brick and the bringing it back with that pitiful "This ain't sharp", etc. He's playing a practical joke on you, maybe trying to convince you that Sal is getting his aluminum mixed up with his fine steels. Ha!.

Anyways:

A guy I worked with had a neighbor who bought a VW and was bragging about what wonderful gas mileage the car was getting. This was back in the '70s when the price of gas was through the roof. My co-worker started sneaking over at night and putting a gallon or 2 in the car, always checking the odometer so he didn't put too much. Pretty soon the guy is getting 42-45 MPG and taking the thing up to the local VW dealer to check out this marvel of German engineering. The mechanics never could figure it out, but he took it up there 2 or 3 times.

One night, Ben got caught by the guy's wife, but she agreed to be quiet about it, if he would quit putting the gas in.

Now, the car is only getting a measly 24 MPG and the unhappy owner is back to the dealer cussing about the miserable gas guzler he bought and can they do something about it.

So maybe your friend is playing a joke on you?



~CK

Edited by - CalypsoKid on 7/20/2001 9:04:23 AM

[Jeff/1911]

Calypso Kid,

I was wondering the same thing.

MaNcEr - Never mind about my sharpening question...I just used the normal techniques for each blade type, finished the plain edge portion on stage 3 w/ the serrations and it's now ridiculously sharp. Grin.

Jeff.

[Mancer]

Yeah, I donno, doubt he would do that, but ya never know.

I sharpen mine as follows:
The plainedge portion gets done with all 4 steps, but, one i get to step 3 (with the corners of the white stone) I do the entire blade (not just the 50), then finish off the plainedge with step 4 (the flat on the white stone)

So yeah, step 3 for the teeth and all 4 for the plainedge.
It comes out very very sharp.

But something very strange about this, he knows I spent a good R300.00 on his gift, and when I recieve it, it was so worn that I couldnt put a 40 deg edge on, had to backbevel to 30, then put a 40 on.

When I get it back ill test it for a week and see what happens.

thanx guys

MaNcEr

It's Time To Kick @$$ 'N Chew Bubble Gum