Knife sharpening gadgets advice wanted

Iagent · **on:** March 30, 2012, 02:11:58 AM

I am thinking about getting a knife sharpening tool. Currently, I have been using a Smiths Diamond Sharpener. I hate to admitt, but I have a little trouble keeping a consistent angle. I was considering the Spyderco Sharpmaker. Any other recommendations?
Thanks in advance.

SeparateMass · **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2012, 03:25:39 AM

The sharpmaker is a great system, easy to use and very affordable. But If you have the money a wicked edge system or edge pro apex will give you ridiculous mirror edges but they do cost at the least 3 times as much as the sharpmaker.

If you want a good system but don't want to spend a lot like me get the sharpmaker and buy the ultra fine rods to go with it and I will do everything you need.

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Iagent · **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2012, 03:39:14 AM

Thanks for the quick response! I checked out both of those, and wow, very cool setup. I will watch the You Tubes on them later tonight. I have a feeling that the Sharpmaker will do, for my needs though.

jerseydevil · **Reply #3 on:** March 30, 2012, 03:56:10 AM

I recently got myself a Lansky, and I love it. It's easy to use and man does it put a great edge on my blades. I used it a couple of weeks ago to change the angle on my Case Sodbuster Jr, and the job got done quickly and with great results. The set I have has coarse, medium and fine stones, as well as a stone for serrated edges. The price was right too from Amazon, and a local store sells extra stones if I feel that I ever need an extra coarse or ultra fine one.

Iagent · **Reply #4 on:** March 30, 2012, 05:31:11 AM

Very interesting. One question about the Lansky. Does the clamp mar the blade, oris it aluminum? I like the system, and price, as long as blades remain unscathed.

Thanks for yet another fine tool for me to consider.

dks · **Reply #5 on:** March 30, 2012, 08:15:54 AM

Quote from: Iagent on March 30, 2012, 05:31:11 AM

Very interesting. One question about the Lansky. Does the clamp mar the blade, oris it aluminum? I like the system, and price, as long as blades remain unscathed.

Thanks for yet another fine tool for me to consider.

aluminium, airplane grade, whatever that means nowadays..

I use mine often and I am happy with it.

I have the deluxe version, though 3 stones should be enough for most people.

The problem with the Lansky is that it has 4 fixed angles.
If you want or need a different angle for your edge it will not work.

Also, not good for really long (works fine for large kitchen "cook's" knives) or really thick knives (the clamp will not fit them)

I also tend to freehand sharpen any knives with recurves or blades on LM multitools.

edcgear · **Reply #6 on:** March 30, 2012, 01:22:27 PM

At the moment I wait for one Lansky system delivery... Decided on this one, while it is stupidproof...

Sparky415 · **Reply #7 on:** March 30, 2012, 02:32:08 PM

I use the Lansky system, it takes all the skill out of the job which is good for me

dks · **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2012, 03:01:37 PM

also note that there are other fixed angle sharpening system too.

e.g. from exduct:
http://www.exduct.com/Special-Limited-Products/SP931D-Precision-Sharpener.html

http://www.exduct.com/Taidea-Sharpeners/T0931S-Precision-Sharpener.html

http://www.exduct.com/Taidea-Sharpeners/T0931S-Precision-Sharpener.html

Or if you prefer to stay with Smiths:

http://smithsedge.com/products/product.asp?id=32&cid=4

Beerplumber · **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2012, 04:10:37 PM

I'm quite happy with my lanskey. I keep meaning to grab a set of the diamond hones, figure they should be faster on s30v or 154cm. I wish they would do a course serrated hone as well but I've only found the medium and fine do far. The mediums good but pretty slow if serrations are damaged.

Stay multi my friends

16VGTIDave · **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2012, 04:45:33 PM

I have a Lansky system, but I use a DMT Aligner clamp. It just seems to work better for me. Because it is a composite material, it can flex so virtually any angle is possible. Lee Valley carries both. I put masking tape on the blade before I clamp it to prevent any scratching and to improve the grip of the clamp.

That said, for everyday sharpening I've moved on to a variable speed bench grinder with paper wheels. http://www.sharpeningwheels.com/index.html Much faster to achieve a polished, shaving sharp edge. Just not as pretty/perfect as the edge from a guided system. Maybe I need more blood / less coffee in my veins?

Dave

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Steinar · **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2012, 05:04:54 PM

I have a Sharpmaker myself and I'm very happy with it. I have heard good things about Lansky and the Edge Pro Apex as well. (Though I have heard the latter is the best to work with, it also ends up spreading a little slurry around on the bench.) Those three are the only systems I have heard consistently good opinions of. I really like the simplicity of the Sharpmaker, fewer things to break. I generally prefer ceramic hones over diamond or natural. I'm a klutz, so controlled removal of the steel is important to me. Do get the diamond hones for the Sharpmaker in addition to the ultra fine ones, if you go for the Sharpmake, because reprofiling with ceramic hones is really no fun at all.

Styerman · **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2012, 07:56:14 PM

I have both a Lansky and a Sharpmaker , havent touched the Lansky in years . Too messy and time consuming . I would like to try out the Wicked Edge , but it's not in the same class pricewise .

Chris

Iagent · **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2012, 08:29:37 PM

Quote from: Styerman on March 30, 2012, 07:56:14 PM

I have both a Lansky and a Sharpmaker , havent touched the Lansky in years . Too messy and time consuming . I would like to try out the Wicked Edge , but it's not in the same class pricewise .

Chris

You hit on something I was wondering about. I tend to avoid using something with a lot of setup, even if I have te tool in the shop.

Mike · **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2012, 09:17:33 PM

Whatever system you choose, remember ..... there is always a learning curve. Read the instructions, check out other people's You Tube video's, take it slow, have patience. Also keep in mind it isn't a race, it's more important to get it right than to do it fast. The fast (fast being a relative term) part will come after you have put the time in to learn the system.

Best of luck!
Mike

Iagent · **Reply #15 on:** March 31, 2012, 01:33:51 AM

Quote from: Mike on March 30, 2012, 09:17:33 PM

Whatever system you choose, remember ..... there is always a learning curve. Read the instructions, check out other people's You Tube video's, take it slow, have patience. Also keep in mind it isn't a race, it's more important to get it right than to do it fast. The fast (fast being a relative term) part will come after you have put the time in to learn the system.

Best of luck!
Mike

Good advice! One of my fears is accidentally scraping the side of the blade with a diamond hone. I dd that once to a nice USA Browning, ad I still can't forgive myself for that:(

Styerman · **Reply #16 on:** April 02, 2012, 04:38:25 AM

Buy an inexpensive , but reasonable quality paring knife ( Henkel or Victorinox , with molded handles ) . Scratches really don't matter in the kitchen , plus you get brownie points with the better half .

Chris

cobra4246 · **Reply #17 on:** April 07, 2012, 01:15:53 PM

I have both a Lansky and a Sharpmaker I use the Sharpmaker way more than the Lansky.Which ever one you buy take one of your lower end knives and use that knive to learn how to use the system. Better to learn with a low end knife than a more expencive one.

RayzBladz · **Reply #18 on:** May 03, 2012, 07:15:36 PM

Check out the KME diamond system on Youtube, and then buy one. You'll never look back.

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