Amatuer needs your sharpening wisdom!

rickppoole

rickppoole

Joined
Jun 1, 2007
Messages
290
Dear folks,

I need help in picking out a sharpening system to purchase (and with knowing how to use it!). I'd like to find something that will handle the blades I currently own as well any of the basics I might purchase in the future. My price range would be less than $40.00 (ideally) but EASE OF USE is the most important feature to me. I really don't want to screw up a nice blade due to inexperience, and I am completely green about all things relating to metallurgy.

I own:
a Benchmade Rant (440C)
and an SOG Seal Pup (AUS6)

Last week I picked up two Becker Knives at an estate sale. One is a slightly used but still sort of sharp BK7 ($60) and the other is a BK77 that is VERY sharp and sold for $120. I believe the first knife is made from 0170-6C, and the second is made from S30V. None of these steel names mean much to me (besides the 440).

So I now own four fixed blades made from four different materials and I have no idea if I can buy something that will take care of all of them and still be somewhat easy to use. Please help!

Thanks for reading this far, what an incredible resource this forum is.

-Rick
 
personally i use a set of wheels that are made from cardboard. there are some cheap wheels and good ones. the cheap ones are made of pressed white paper and the good ones are darker cardboard. i have a set of both, the cheap ones that didnt run true came from koval and the good ones from razor sharp systems that i picked up from a friend who had an extra set. i can put a hair splitting edge on a knife in minutes compared to a longer time for the other sharpeners which i have also used in the past. i used to spend over a half hour or more sometimes depending on how bad the edge was to start with. they take some practice to get good with but in the end its worth the time. i used the backside of a hacksaw blade to practice on, just dont go into either wheel with the edge or you could end up with a blade between your eyes. if you want any more info just drop me a line.
 
I'm afraid I don't know very much about wheels. Do you mean something like that wheel on a grinder? I like your idea about practicing on something like a hacksaw blade so I don't screw up the more expensive ones.

I don't own any power equipment and I have very little experience with sharpeners, other than the giant electric sharpener that my wife uses on her chef knives. I don't think any of my fixed blades are thin enough to fit through her sharpener and it sounds like a risky idea anyway...

I was hoping for a recomendation on something simple that would work on any of the knives I own and that I could become competent at with a little practice.
 
the wheels i use are made of cardboard, one that has been rolled in white glue and then in grit. the other wheel has slots cut every few inches to reduce heat and help break the burr. white rouge is applied to help in removing the burr and put a mirror finish on the edge along with making it scarry sharp. i dont have the link right now but if you google sharpening wheels, i think its the 3rd linkdown
 
That bad huh? I've sharpened a kitchen knife or two using the electric and it looked like it wore them a bit thin (and scratched).

I've seen sharpening stones, sticks, the little pull through devices, and two or three methods I'm not sure what to call yet. It seems like there are as many ways to sharpen as there are knives!

Can anybody recommend a basic all purpose method that is:

1. Easy to learn
2. Flexible enough to work on a broad variety of knives (and steels)?

Much thanks,

-Rick
 
Lanskey sharpeners are a bit cumbersome but work pretty good after a slight learning curve.
I am biased to the spyderco sharpmaker. Its a great sharpener and pretty idiot proof. Do a search either here or google and u will come up with more stuff to read than u know what to do with.
 
Get a bench stone, preferably diamond such as DMT. They come in various grits, but red (fine) will be all you really need to put a decent edge on the knives you mention. An ultra-fine will be useful in attaining a fine polished edge. There are lots of books on sharpening -- do a search -- and Buck has a good section on its web page. Bench stones are versatile and you can hone practically anything on them.
 
you cant beat the job you can do with these wheels. i have been sharpening knives for about 24 years, at least 14 years with the wheels. i have used belt sanders, lansky type sharpeners and bench stones. i would rather spend a few minutes sharpening a knife than a half hour or more and use the remaining time saved doing something else. for the initial investment in a set of wheels, you can make your money back and then some with a set. deer season one year i made over $700. there are a few other members who use them also and agree that they are the best way.
 
I like the Spyderco Sharpmaker for beginners (I was one [no.... still am one] not too long ago), plus it'll handle a variety of blade styles (including serrations) and will also sharpen scissors and other such stuff.
 
Thanks so much for all the information. Who would have believed you could buy a belt sander for under $40!?

I definately have some reading to do...
 
StretchNM said:
I like the Spyderco Sharpmaker for beginners (I was one [no.... still am one] not too long ago), plus it'll handle a variety of blade styles (including serrations) and will also sharpen scissors and other such stuff.
Click to expand...

+ 1 for Sharpmaker for beginners (non-beginners, too).

Good results, easy to learn. even comes with a DVD on how to use it. Lotta folks never need more.
 
richard j said:
you cant beat the job you can do with these wheels. i have been sharpening knives for about 24 years, at least 14 years with the wheels. i have used belt sanders, lansky type sharpeners and bench stones. i would rather spend a few minutes sharpening a knife than a half hour or more and use the remaining time saved doing something else. for the initial investment in a set of wheels, you can make your money back and then some with a set. deer season one year i made over $700. there are a few other members who use them also and agree that they are the best way.
Click to expand...

I will echo that.. I do all my sharpening on a set of wheels. I have a sharpmaker , Edge Pro , stones.... they are all gathering dust. I picked up a 8" variable speed bench grinder , lowest setting is 1800 rpm which is where I leave it , from no edge to shaving edge in no time flat. and with less chance of having "stone" scratches on your blades ;)
 
rick or anyone in this post tonight who wants to see for themselves what kind of job these wheels can do are welcome to mail me their knife return shipping paid and i will sharpen it for free and send it back. one thing, i will not be responsible for loss of blood or digits or stitches if you get cut.
 
rickppoole said:
That bad huh? I've sharpened a kitchen knife or two using the electric and it looked like it wore them a bit thin (and scratched).

I've seen sharpening stones, sticks, the little pull through devices, and two or three methods I'm not sure what to call yet. It seems like there are as many ways to sharpen as there are knives!

Can anybody recommend a basic all purpose method that is:

1. Easy to learn
2. Flexible enough to work on a broad variety of knives (and steels)?

Much thanks,

-Rick
Click to expand...

Spyderco Sharpmaker only:
First stage
SpydercoSharpmaker05.jpg

Last Stage
SpydercoSharpmaker06.jpg

Same for other side. Repeate it 20 times, change stone - in no tme you'll have shaving sharp blade.

After some time switch to DMT Dia-Sharp benchstones.

Thanks, Vassili.

Here the links to paper wheels:
http://www.sharpeningwheels.com/products.html
http://users.ameritech.net/knives/paper.htm
 
Much thanks to everyone for their input. I don't know everything about sharpening yet, but I'm starting to get a feel for just how much there is NOT to know. ;)

I'm going to try the Spyderco Sharpmaker. The wheels sound great but I don't have a grinder yet and the wife is starting to ask questions about how much all these knives are costing.

Thanks again,

-Rick
 
Id say just a normal pocket stone. You can get one at just about any hardware store for like $3. I can get my knives hair-popping sharp in about 5 mins without fail.

Good luck!
 
i also highly recommend the sharpmaker ,,im also new to sharpening ,,but with this system its pretty much idiot proof,,also try the Dmt hones,,,also work great ,,,very portable ,,can carry one in your pocket and forget its there,,,
 
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