I finally acquired a Lansky

[Sean]

I waited way too long for this one but finally purchased another Lansky sharpening system.  Great
job it did on the knives that needed the edges re-profiled like the Pacific Salt, Benchmade Griptilian,
and a Buck 110 that came as dull as a spoon.  Good job boys at Lansk. 

[Pacu]

I need to invest in a good sharpening system like that.

[Sean]

We've used them for years up here but I wore out my original one and seeing I usually buy and use new
knives/tools I can keep them sharp with the Spyderco Sharpmaker.  With those two systems
it covers my needs quite well.

[Pacu]

http://www.lanskysharpeners.com/outdoor.php

here's a shameless plug as i'm taking a hard look at them

Which system did you go with there Sean?

[Sean]

Just the standard unit.  I don't have to use it often anymore with a sharpmaker otherwise I might have
gone with the diamond one.

[Poncho65]

My Dad bought the standard diamond setup a few weeks back and it does pretty good But of the 2 I prefer the Sharpmaker I am sure if you can get use to the clamp system you could put a beautiful edge on 1 cause after just a little use I put a very nice bevel and edge on 1 of my knives As of late though I have been using some DMT diamond benchstones and have been freehand sharpening everything

Of course in the end I will still probably end up with a Lansky myself as well

[Sean]

That's great you can freehand sharpen. 

Accurately, I cannot all that well.  As long as I keep my knives sharp
the Sharpmaker does a great job of keeping the edges.  The one thing the Spyderco will not do though is put a bevel on a blade without a hell of a lot of work if it's been neglected and non-existent.  The Lansky really excels at this and if you have a precious piece of steel and don't want it scratched up or an uneven bevel this system shines. 

[cncguy]

I run across some very neglected knives and they take me forever to bring back on my Sharpmaker. Are you saying the Lansky is quicker when you are restoring a badly blunted edge? I'd look into getting one if that was the case.

[Sean]

Yes as far as I know the system is one of the fastest ways to put a bevel on a blade unless you are
skilled enough to do it on a belt sander.  It clamps into a bracket and you just grind away.  Anybody
can do it and well... I just took an old Buck knife that had no edge at all, you could actually run your
finger forcefully down the edge and it was so smooth.  It took about 15 minutes and I had a beautiful
bevel back on it using the 3 stones, rods, and a little oil then I just put the finishing touches on it with
the Spyderco unit and it was amazing. 

[ringzero]

I run across some very neglected knives and they take me forever to bring back on my Sharpmaker. Are you saying the Lansky is quicker when you are restoring a badly blunted edge? I'd look into getting one if that was the case.

WAY quicker!

Sharpmaker, and similar systems, work for touch ups, but with a really dull blade take so long as to be impractical.

My standard Lansky system will set a new bevel on a blunt blade in just a few minutes.

I can get a reasonbably sharp edge with a Sharpmaker, but not a "Hair Popping Sharp" edge like the Lansky.

I've tried and tried, but I have finally accepted that I simply don't have the manual dexterity to achieve "Hair Popping Sharp" edges using either a Sharpmaker or freehand with a bench stone. 

Using the Lansky, "Hair Popping Sharp" is easy.

.

[Benner]

That's it, I'm just gonna have to invest in a Lansky.  I can't put it off anymore. 

[Magnus]

you can also buy an additional "very course" stone, if you really want to grind quickly, along with "very fine" and "very very fine" ones to get your knives even sharper

[cncguy]

Thanks for the info! That sounds like it would be a time saver for me, but how does it work on a longer knife, say a kitchen knife. Can you do the full edge without re-clamping?

[Sean]

Yes & yes I agree with ringzero and magnus.  Large kitchen knives might be a bit of a challenge.  You might
have to re-clamp on a large knife.  It seems to me I've done it before with my original lansky on some of my
mom's kitchen knives she wanted sharpened.  A little more work but worth it.
Once the bevels put back on if the lansky is pretty much your only system you can lightly tough your knives up
by using their light stone.  If you do have the sharpmaker then I would use that for lightly bringing them back.
You shouldn't really have to use the course stones again for awhile.

[jzmtl]

How do you control angle with lansky? I know the clamp and ramp system, but you don't really know what exact angle you get thou. For example if I want to put on a 20° edge and a 30° microbevel how do I know what setting is 10° per side (or does it go that low?).

[Magnus]

How do you control angle with lansky? I know the clamp and ramp system, but you don't really know what exact angle you get thou. For example if I want to put on a 20° edge and a 30° microbevel how do I know what setting is 10° per side (or does it go that low?).

the holes you put the rods into have degree markings on them.

[Sean]

If mem serves me and I am at work so can't check for sure but I'm pretty certain you have to
work with a 17, 20, 25, and 30 degree with the clamp.  So I would put your 25 or 30 degree
angle on it then you could micro it at 17 or 20?

[Poncho65]

That's great you can freehand sharpen. 

Accurately, I cannot all that well.  As long as I keep my knives sharp
the Sharpmaker does a great job of keeping the edges.  The one thing the Spyderco will not do though is put a bevel on a blade without a hell of a lot of work if it's been neglected and non-existent.  The Lansky really excels at this and if you have a precious piece of steel and don't want it scratched up or an uneven bevel this system shines. 

I actually just got the hand of it last year The diamond stones have been a big help as it takes less strokes and effort than with a traditional stone

Really it just takes practice and some dull knives When I first started I couldn't get them were I wanted at all, but with time, patience and watching some youtube videos of others sharpening I got down a few different techniques and viola I can shave with them now

Like I said though I will probably still get a Lansky as I love the bevel you can put on one so easily

[GotUCovered]

I'm thinking about picking up one of these Lanksy kits.  What is the difference in the way the diamond hones perform vs the standard hones?  Why would you pick a diamond over the regular, or a regular over the diamond?

[Sean]

I think the diamond stones will last longer.  I wore out my original lansky kit.  The stone's wear away from the center.

[GotUCovered]

I think the diamond stones will last longer.  I wore out my original lansky kit.  The stone's wear away from the center.

Do the diamond hones give a better edge?  How long did yours last?

[GotUCovered]

Also, what is an "Arkansas Stone".

[Magnus]

diamond hones don't give a better edge, they just last longer, and they only make the polishing hone in a normal type anyway and that is the one that gives the best edge.  The arkansas hones are just made of natural stone, I guess to try and win over traditionalists that prefer natural stone to synthetic.

on a related note, how do you guys store your extra hones? the storage case only has room for 5 hones, which leaves me with 3 hones and a stand hanging about.

[Poncho65]

Also, what is an "Arkansas Stone".

It is novaculite and quarried mostly in Arkansas http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novaculite will explain it some better

[GotUCovered]

Ok so I went to pick up a Lansky kit today  .  The store was out of all of the kits, dangit!  So as I was walking out and headed towards the register there was a Standard Kit sitting in the middle of a t-shirt table halfway under a shirt!  Now mind you, this is a HUGE store, Bass Pro Shops, so finding a specialty knife sharpening kit sitting on a random table in a place where I just happen to be walking is pretty fortunate.  I snagged that badboy and headed back to pick up the extra hones that were included with the Professional kit that they were out of!

The kit is fantastic and puts a near perfect bevel on the blade.  I say near perfect because I'm a newb to sharpening.  With practice it would easily be perfect.  The hones are easy to clean with the included oil.  The kit is highly recommended and great for the beginner or professional alike!

[Sean]

glad you like it.    it's a great aid.

[jzmtl]

the holes you put the rods into have degree markings on them.

But the actual angle would depends on how far the blade sticking out of the clamp, no? So a fillet knife that you can get edge just sticking out of clamp or a cleaver too wide to fit clamp would have entirely different angle at the same setting (yeah I know example is a bit extreme)

If mem serves me and I am at work so can't check for sure but I'm pretty certain you have to
work with a 17, 20, 25, and 30 degree with the clamp.  So I would put your 25 or 30 degree
angle on it then you could micro it at 17 or 20?

Are angles per side or inclusive? Looks like inclusive but never found confirmation either way.

[Sean]

I am thinking the angles marked are per side?  I remember reading someone who mentioned that you
should eyeball the stone against the angle of the bevel on your knife and go with that unless you want
to change the bevel.  Those markings are approximate I would think.  The other thing is the hole is
fairly large and if you make a habit of putting your finger on top of or underneath the rod or perhaps
not at all will affect the angle.  I wouldn't worry about it too much just experiment with the 20,25, and
30 degree and see which one you like best.
On the sharpmaker the angles are inclusive right?  On the lansky it just wouldn't make sense that the
angles posted would be inclusive.  I am not trying to be a know it all here just learning as we go along
here as well. 

[jzmtl]

Yeah sharpmaker is inclusive, which is what made me wonder about lansky's. If it was per side then at minimum you can only do 34° inclusive, and up to 60° inclusive which is just insanely thick.

[Sean]

Yeah that's right, I am sure on the Lansk' it's per side.  Anyhow I don't get too caught up with
it I just stick it in the hole and start grinding away!