Alright I need a sharpener

I don't think I heard "DMT Aligner" in this thread. I suggest this system for learning. Use it as your training wheels until you know enough to freehand.

In my case, I started off with a DMT 6x2 Whetstone (one of the red polka dotted ones.) I could get an okay edge with it. but I wasn't particularly good with it. Then I got the Aligner system and learned about raising a burr, destroying it, and getting an overall good edge.

Over time, the Aligner became a burden. It takes some time to set up, and you have to get it in the same position every time to get the exact angle you had last time... So I decided to take a stab at freehanding once again. To my pleasant surprise, I was much better than last time. After a little more practice, I was able to get the "feel" for sharpening, and now I do all of my sharpening freehand, and I can get about as good an edge as you can get with my tools. I don't claim to be an expert by any means; I'm still learning and changing my methods after 2 years. So don't expect to be really good at it after a day, a week, or even a month. Maybe not even a year.

I think the thing is that you have to WANT to learn. If you don't want to learn this art, you're probably never going to be good at it. I like all aspects of knives; I try all kinds of knives, steels, I flip balisongs, I sharpen freehand, I've tried powertools... So it's something I simply enjoy, and so I've been patient with the learning process. That part is going to be up to you.

Good luck, have fun.
 
I'd like to tap into the BF brain here if y'all don't mind. Would you recommend the Tri-Hone to a relative beginner? I say relative, as I do have some experience with stones, I spend a few years in high school as a meat slicer, and got pretty good at keeping my knives SHARP on the stone we had a work. What it was, I have no idea though..
 
Cavalry_Scout said:
I'd like to tap into the BF brain here if y'all don't mind. Would you recommend the Tri-Hone to a relative beginner? I say relative, as I do have some experience with stones, I spend a few years in high school as a meat slicer, and got pretty good at keeping my knives SHARP on the stone we had a work. What it was, I have no idea though..
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I don't think that you would feel 'under-stoned' (unstoned?) with that Smith's Tri-Hone. It looks like they have a mix of Arkansas and ceramic stones on there and I have always had luck with Smith's Arkansas stones.
 
Well my plan right now is using the smith tri-hone on cheap crap knives and getting good at sharpening then getting an edge pro to do my good knives once I've done a decent deal of sharpening.
 
oops, that question was for CS in relation the the trihone question.
 
Bill86 said:
Well my plan right now is using the smith tri-hone on cheap crap knives and getting good at sharpening then getting an edge pro to do my good knives once I've done a decent deal of sharpening.
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Sounds like a plan. :thumbup:

The Edge Pro Water stones eat S30V for breakfast, and other tough steels.

The 120 and 220 grit stones cut extremely fast..
 
OP, if you want to just keep your knives sharp - shaving sharp, and don't really want to mess with all that setting up and water and oil and what not, you're gonna end up getting a sharpmaker.

If you want to make sharpening knives a hobby or a diversion to labor at, then you're gonna end up getting all of the above systems.
 
Picksmith said:
I picked up a basic 3 stone Lansky kit the other day for $25 on sale at a local sporting goods place. I like freehand sharpening generally, but there is no question it took less time to reprofile a dragonfly with the rig. The fine 600 stone put a nice sharp edge on it, but I still finished on arkansas black and my strop.
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You got a number or website? I have a knife and a knife to practice on and could stand to sharpen some kitchen knives. I just want to keep the edges I have and maybe sharpen up the kitchen knives some. $25 seems easy enough
 
I have a Spyderco Persistence and may get a Delica or a Benchmade Mini Grip as my next knife. I have some cheap $5 knives and then the kitchen knives. The Tri hone, the 3 stone Lansky, or what would you suggest?

I did for a while have a couple of stones that I tried to use to keen up straight razors, and then I had the Handamerican system with the leather on the board, a diamond paste and then a strop. DOnt know that I messed up too bad but I know I did not have the best edges. Sold them all. I wont have a lot of knives but I do want to keep the ones I have sharp so that I will use them. I wont be spending $100 or more on a knife and if I do, then will be willing to invest to get the better system. From what I have read, it is one of those three or try to find the Sharpmaker by Spyderco on sale somewhere.
 
bill, when you get the xm passaround knife i'm sure you'll like the edge i put on it. i used a worn 400 grit belt to convex the edge but i finished it off on the paper buffing wheel. for a quick and easy sharpening system you should get a set of paper wheels and be done with it. after years of hand sharpening, which probably caused a lot of my hand problems, i'll never go back.

i had a lansky type system called an ez sharp which at the time was a good setup. when my friend art summers showed me the wheels and i bought my first set i quickly gave the ez sharp away to my cousin. i dont miss it one bit. even on the same blade it never clamped up the same which caused the angle to be different.
 
Yes Sir, snorkem is right. The Edge Pro is by far the fastest, most easily learned, foolproof, and VERSATILE machine on the market today.

Here's a great test- ask anyone who has an EP what they use when they want a perfectly precise edge. It's really not a contest. If you've got the dough, get the EP Pro. You will never ever regret it.

Other stuff is nice too. The next thing to get is a Kalamazoo 1x42 belt grinder. Get 8x3 DMT Diasharps in every grit. Get a bunch of fancy Japanese water stones. There are a myriad of sharpeners, but if you want to sit down with a dull knife and come out with a perfect edge a half hour later, ON YOUR FIRST TRY, there is no comparison.

You will hear all about freehanding. In all honesty, the EP is the quickest way to show you what perfection in freehand is, and it takes zip to learn to use it. Learn to freehand NEXT. That way you will already understand what makes a knife sharp, and you will have saved countless hours of frustration.

If Edge Pros didn't work as prescribed, they'd be a dime a dozen. Try to take one off user. You won't get far. There's a reason for that.
 
Does sharpening with a Gerber diamond sharpener, DMT Mini-Sharpener (fine), DMT Diafold (coarse/fine) count as freehand sharpening?

I have been using the first two for around 4 years, initially with water and stopped using water as lubrication on my folders and kitchen knives.

It was tricky to both get a steady grip on the knife with my left hand and holding the sharpener at a roughly determined angle (gut feeling / common sense ?) on my right, this requires steady hands, some eye-hand coordination and lots of patience, practice to get it right. Right now, I am still trying to improve on my skills.
 
I think the Sharpmaker is easiest to get started.

1) You need have the ability to hold the blade vertically while sharpening. Not too hard, if you pay attention.

2) You need to match the angle of the stone to the angle of the edge. Paint the edge with a Sharpie and to a dry pass to see if the stone angle is too steep or too shallow. A little tricky, but you can noodle it out.

3) If the angles don't match, you'll want a diamond rod to reprofile the edge angle to match the stone angle. Expensive, but worth it.

4) You'll need to recognize the burr the forms along the edge when you've removed enough metal. Not too hard, but you will have to develop a feel for it with your fingertips.

5) You'll need to learn how to remove the burr by the time you've gotten to your finest stone. This is tricky, but doable.
 
well just to understand sharpening and hand sharpening I bought a smith tri-hone. I'm not too sure of what I was doing or anything just seeing if I could do something. I just cleaved cardboard with a 25 year old never sharpened kitchen knife I just gave a shot at. I'm addicted, good fun and rewarding. Yeah Richard next check it's paper wheels. I can't wait to see that convexed XM-18.

EDIT, wow this REALLY crappy knife just shaved hair off my arms O_O.
 
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Ankerson said:
Sounds like a plan. :thumbup:

The Edge Pro Water stones eat S30V for breakfast, and other tough steels.

The 120 and 220 grit stones cut extremely fast..
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I just watched your 5 part series on sharpening a CS tanto with the EdgePro Apex. Man is that a cool sharpening machine.

How come when it got to the highest stone and tapes there was some weird squawking sound? Like fingers on a chalkboard or something. It didn't make those sounds on the lower grit stones. I thought it would get quieter as you moved up.

How come some of your knives look like mirrors for the Apex? Do you strop or is there a higher tape that you use. It was impossible to see a closeup of the edge becasue of video and movement.

Great videos! :thumbup:

Yeah Richard next check it's paper wheels. I can't wait to see that convexed XM-18.
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He better not screw that one up - I'm still waiting for the video to come up. I can't see it yet. Is it done?
 
cziv said:
I just watched your 5 part series on sharpening a CS tanto with the EdgePro Apex. Man is that a cool sharpening machine.

How come when it got to the highest stone and tapes there was some weird squawking sound? Like fingers on a chalkboard or something. It didn't make those sounds on the lower grit stones. I thought it would get quieter as you moved up.
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I've not tried the EdgePro, but I've noticed this same type of noise with my Lansky, when using the Fine/UF ceramic hones. It always coincides with that moment when the edge is just becoming scary sharp. I've come to think of it as a very good thing to hear, because it means I'm doing it right. ;)
 
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