Favourite sharpening system

[Craig]

What's your favourite method for sharpening? I've got a Lansky system and it works pretty well especially if the blade is stropped using metal polish afterwards. But I've never really tried any other way so I'm interested to see what other people think is best.

I'm considering getting a Sharpmaker as it looks a bit less fiddly than the Lansky although i Guess there's is probably some skill involved in keeping the blade upright.

[Benner]

Sharpmaker for me.

[Anthony]

Other; a leather strop.

Unless the edge of a knife is dinged, I simply use a strop with green compound to get a razor sharp edge.

[Gareth]

Something very satisfying about getting a good edge with benchstones and a strop.  I suspect a Sharpmaker would give more consistent results though (given my moderate skill at a benchstone).

[crls1]

Free hand sharpening for me, There is something really satisfactory about it.

Carlos

[Magnus]

how does the sharpmaker deal with nonstandard angles?  one thing that has always annoyed me about the lansky is having to re bevel most knives with it so it fits one of its angles.

[Zed]

I went with bench stone, shame i dont have the skill part  although i have had some sharp edges from it, my esquire is razor as is my commander, i cant seem to get the same edge on my wave though 

paul

[Dunc]

how does the sharpmaker deal with nonstandard angles?  one thing that has always annoyed me about the lansky is having to re bevel most knives with it so it fits one of its angles.

Use something like a book and of course a marker pen and a magnifying glass if your eyres arent as good as they used to be .

This thread explains in more detail http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,1201.0.html


Dunc

[Magic Bus]

Sharpmaker for everything apart from my F1 which gets stropped.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I can free hand sharpen (thanks Dad ) but the Sharpmaker is just so easy and consistent

I do use either a DMT or a Falkie mini stone for when I'm out and about though

[Craig]

how does the sharpmaker deal with nonstandard angles?  one thing that has always annoyed me about the lansky is having to re bevel most knives with it so it fits one of its angles.

Use something like a book and of course a marker pen and a magnifying glass if your eyres arent as good as they used to be .

This thread explains in more detail http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,1201.0.html


Dunc

That's a really useful link, Dunc. Thanks

[Sean]

Have both the Lansky and the Sharpmaker.  Like them both very much.  I originally bought the
Sharpmaker and it works great keeping an edge on newer knives that already have a bevel.
I recently purchased the Lansky because the one thing the Sharpmaker won't do in a reason-
able amount of time with limited effort is put a bevel back on a blade that's been neglected.
I had such knives arrive to me recently and the Lansk quickly restored the bevel. 
I feel "covered" with both systems. 

[Styerman]

My most used system is the sharpmaker . I have a Lansky , too fiddly , too messy , haven't used it in years . If I need to reprofile I use my belt grinder . I also have about all the flat stone types out there , they have their applications . I like strops , very handy both in the field and in the shop .

All that said , the Sharpmaker get's 95% of the work . Casual edge maintainance is done by the strops . I have a strop belt for the bench grinder , does killer work , but slightly dangerous .

Chris

[Mike]

Bench stones and some skill. It took a little practice to get the hang of, but is worth being free from guides and extra stuff to touch up and sharpen my knives.

Mike

[Styerman]

Everyone should know how to freehand with a stone . Japanese waterstones are a good starting point . Get two so that you have a variety of grits , and can true them up .

Do not store in the garden shed , if they freeze when wet they will crack .

Crack

[ratslash7]

Hand sharpening for me as well. The key is the marker and magnifying glass...oh... and practice!

[Sean]

I was yakking with some wood carvers one day and they were noting the overlooked method of
stropping the blade on a piece of leather with compound.  This in a lot of cases will bring back
the edge razor sharp and what is trying to be avoided, that you take a bit of a hit on using the
Sharpmaker and definitely the Lansky is the amount of steel your taking off the blade each time
you sharpen.
I always strop with my whittlers and wouldn't dare touch them with a stone however they are of
a different animal.

[Splat]

I either own or have tried all of these and my vote goes to the Edgepro. Best damn sharpener I've ever used. Next would be a belt sander but that's if you like convex edges.