Spyderco Forums

FeCl3 - agressive liquid. Protect eyes from evaporations. Use glass or plastic ware. And also, use gloves. In the rest process differs from the usual a little. Put blade a liquid. To wait some hours. Carefully wash out water. It is ready. Process time can differ because of a different steel. At wor...

Very nice and even result. Looks almost like a black DLC coating.

Could you describe your procedure with FeCl3 in more detail? Especially how to use it safely.

Unless the blue grows on me, I plan to try to swap the M390 blade into my S30V Para 2 which has black scales. Due to the design of the Para 2, I would think it should be easy and work out fine.

If they have a problem, it would be their own fault for selecting blue for their exclusive.

sonictek wrote:I have trouble keeping the blade fully flat on the flat sides so I use the corners for now (still practicing). Mike

It helps to stand so you can look down at the SM from above as you sharpen. Then you can easily see when it's flat against the rod and when it's not.

I've been using Tuf-Glide for about 5 or 6 years. A little goes a long way. I still have about half of my original half ounce bottle (with the great needle applicator).

Tuf-Glide is supposed to "bond" to the metal. I guess it really does.

Contrary to the instructions, I mostly use the flats when I'm using the Sharpmaker on plain edge knives. I mainly reserve the corners for serrated knives.

(I also freehand on waterstones. :eek: )

They are all very long lasting. Where they differ is mainly in how well they lock up, how strong they are and how easy they are to release one handed. But they are all pretty strong. I'm not so crazy about lock backs because I've found some of my lock backs have slight vertical blade play which only...

It's kind of ironic that I got two of my 20CP Para 2's from W&W. They crossed the border from Canada to the US just fine. I guess it's not so easy going the other way.

I wish KW had also offered the Para 2 in the same CF/M390 combo. I'm not thrilled about the BBS choice of Blue G10 for the M390 P2. Unless it grows on me after I start using it, I'll probably end up swapping the M390 Para 2 blade into my black S30V model.

This steel is stainless or carbon? Also if stainless how does it compare as far as edge retention to spydercos other popular steels. Like where does it sit with vg10, 154cm, s30v, zpd? I love my military, and carbon fibers pretty cool, so I may preorder one. It's a 3rd generation powdered stainless...

When I find a model I really like, (e.g., 20CP Para 2, Super Blue Caly 3.5, M390 Millie & Para 2), I usually buy (or preorder) one or two extras as pre-need replacements. If I later find something in the same category I like more, I figure I can always sell off some of my unused extras down the ...

Got a question about the Manix 2. Does the lock eventually break in and get easier to release or do they stay as stiff and hard to release one handed as they are (at least as mine is) when new?

Also the compression lock of the Superleaf is an advantage, imo. But even though I'm another one who is not a big fan of the Manix 2 platform, I agree that the M4 blade plus sprint status trumps the VG-10 Superleaf.

I thought the Para 2 was a heck of a lot easier to release the lock with one hand than the Manix 2 was. Also, the size and weight difference is more significant than it may appear from the photos and the specs.

With my constrained budget, I skipped the XHP Millie in favor of getting two of the M390, although I did like the brown scales. :rolleyes:

Howes had some new 20CP Para 2's up for sale at a fairly reasonable price earlier today. They sold out pretty quickly though.

I would go for the Para 2 because imo it is simply the best all round large (=/> 3.5" blade length) folder Spyderco has ever made and probably the best production folder ever made.

I think M390 is better than S90v assuming RC is 61+. By "better," I don't necessarily mean in respect to edge retention although I'm sure it is close, but for some reason I prefer the way it cuts. Plus the new generation Millie is apparently still quite a long time away from becoming a rea...