Sharpening suggestions for a complete rookie.

[Benner]

I got rid of that stone in the end and went for the Sharpmaker.  Do bear in mind this thread is nearly 2 years old now.

[Raukodur]

I only have the one knife, will the stone be sufficient for me?

[Benner]

I only have the one knife, will the stone be sufficient for me?

If you can freehand sharpen yes.

But don't you have multitools and kitchen knives as well 

[Craig]

My question: does anyone know what the factory angle(s) (profile and/or edge) are for Leatherman multitools?  Do they vary by tool or are they the same across the board?  Thanks.

Greg

32 degrees according to this

http://www.leatherman.com/products/faq.asp?c=2#3

I'm not much good at sharpening but I find stropping the blade using metal polish or similar helps.
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,13046.0.html

[glkdc58]

Benner: thanks for the tip about the Sharpmaker being good for "touch ups" but bummed to hear that it falls short for blunt tools - I assume it just doesn't remove enough metal - perhaps the sharpening rods are just not course enough?

As for the Lansky, I'll have to watch the video again, but it seemed like the "angle" holes that the rod passes through, being over-sized, would allow for a fair amount of sloppiness on the sharpening angle.

Craig:  thanks for the LM angle and the link to same.  I want to try stopping as well, it really seems like a great way to finish off the blade.  I've read that a leather belt makes a good strop.  You mentioned metal polish on the strop - good to know.

Greg K

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

You can get diamond rods for the sharpmaker, but they ain't cheap (mine cost £60!) but they do speed up re-profiling jobs

[glkdc58]

Excellent to know about the diamond rods, I am re-enthused about the Sharpmaker, will check on the price here in the U.S.

Greg K

[glkdc58]

A quick check at Amazon.com: they sell the Spyderco diamond rods for $46 - quite a lot considering that the Sharpmaker system sells for $54.

Greg K

[Dunc]

I never let my knives go really blunt so the Sharpmaker works very well for me . A few strokes often keeps my EDC blades hair shaving sharp .

Dunc

[Benner]

A quick check at Amazon.com: they sell the Spyderco diamond rods for $46 - quite a lot considering that the Sharpmaker system sells for $54.

Greg K

Soon adds up huh.

For the price of just the diamond rods you could get a full Lansky kit. 

[glkdc58]

I guess the key is to get em sharp, then it's easy to keep em sharp.

[Dunc]

I guess the key is to get em sharp, then it's easy to keep em sharp.

   Yes very much so .


Dunc

[Magic Bus]

The Sharpmaker works well for me and is quick too. Ideal for the busy gent about town who spends his time dashing from appointment to appointment. 

[glkdc58]

Lots of love for the Sharpmaker.

Benner:  a couple years ago here you were very interested in developing your skills at freehand sharpening - did you pursue this or abandon this notion altogether after disposing of your DC4 whetstone?  I'm just wondering if you found it less effective or more work than it was worth (for once in my life I'm leaning towards doing something the easy(ier) way, with a Sharpmaker and or Lansky).

[Benner]

I tried it for a while, but in the end I was spending say 10 mins sharpening a blade and getting an OKish edge when a Sharpmaker gave me a great edge in about 2 mins.  It is still a skill I'd very much like to learn, but the lazy git inside me likes the easy option.