Who has a good, reliable method for sharpening serrated blades?

[Mr. Whippy]

This is what I really need.  I actively avoid using my serrated blades because I haven't found a good way to sharpen them, RELIABLY.

Anybody? 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Spyderco Sharpmaker mate

It's the only truly reliable answer to sharpening icky serrations

[Gadget Guy]

Have you tried the Spyderco Sharpmaker?

[Mr. Whippy]

I have one, but I've never really been able to get the same sort of "like new" sharpness.  On a chainsaw chain, if the cutting teeth are not all filed to the same angle, the chain won't cut smoothly (or straight).  I assume my problem is not getting each serration filed at the same angle (analogous to chainsaw example).

[Dunc]

May I ask what knife you are trying to sharpen ?


Dunc

[Mr. Whippy]

I have a few.  The combo blade on the Craftsman Professional (Schrade ST5E apparently  ), serrated blade on a Gerber multilocks, and Spyderco locking folder.

I've actively avoided using the blade on my Vic Spirit and serrated blade on my LM Wave, just cuz I haven't had much success sharpening the serrated blades of kitchen knives yet (they are my guinea pigs.    )

[Dunc]

I have a few.  The combo blade on the Craftsman Professional (Schrade ST5E apparently  ), serrated blade on a Gerber multilocks, and Spyderco locking folder.

I've actively avoided using the blade on my Vic Spirit and serrated blade on my LM Wave, just cuz I haven't had much success sharpening the serrated blades of kitchen knives yet (they are my guinea pigs.    )

Leathermans and Gerbers may need a little adjusting , putting a book or CD cases under one end to change the angle . Vics and Spyderco's should be fine on the 40 degree edge angle . Your biggest friend will be a marker pen , use the pen to paint the serrations so when you start to sharpen you can see the metal coming off . Give me a minute and I'll find a thread I done about sharpening a Spirit .

Dunc

[Dunc]

Here you go 

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,1201.0.html


Dunc

[Mr. Whippy]

Awesome!  The marker ink is a great tip.  I'm gonna try it on the kitchen cutlery and see what I get first, but I suspect I've only been sharpening a part of each serration.

Top shelf link and write up! 

[Dunc]

Awesome!  The marker ink is a great tip.  I'm gonna try it on the kitchen cutlery and see what I get first, but I suspect I've only been sharpening a part of each serration.

Top shelf link and write up! 

Glad to be of help . When you do the Spirit just do it very gently and then look to see what ink has gone . I do it very slow and try to do tweo or three up and down strokes on each serration and keep repeating .

Dunc

[Zack]

I have one of those Smith's pocket diamond hones I got free with the purchase of my Vic Tinker.  Its great to keep in your bag or pocket to help with touching up a knife.  I keep mine in my work bag for if I ever need to sharpen something at work.

[Splat]

I can only add to the accolades for the Sharpmaker. I've had mine for ... 3 months and love it. Every now and then you can find someone on Ebay with them new for lower than the average price. I lucked out and found such a person and wound up only paying around $37 for a new Sharpmaker shipped to my door. I've done scissors and plain knives so far but I can't see serrations being anything difficult with the Sharpmaker.

[NeitherExtreme]

I do the raised sharpmaker like already mentioned. What I do is take the sharpmaker lid and flip it upside down. Then I set the edge of the base in the notch on the side of the lid. Then I line up the wall of the lid to the two holes in the base. (If that didn't make sense, maybe I can post a few pics.) That way I know I'll be able to use the exact same angle every time I sharpen.

[Splat]

Yeah, pix pix pix!!! 

[specgrade]

I've had good luck with a rat tail file.

[NeitherExtreme]

Yeah, pix pix pix!!! 

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