Angle guide

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Bean1983

Joined
Jun 8, 2023
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Is there such a thing as an angle guid that attaches to the spine of a blade, and is adjustable, or some other way to ensure you are using the proper angle when sharpening on a flat stone or plate?
 
There are quite a few sold on line. One is called The Razor Edge. I have seen others as well.
 
I believe Norton makes an inexpensive plastic guide and Hapstone makes a more expensive version made out of metal.
 
How are such devices not sacrificial by design? How long does the initial angle setting last?
 
There are some guides that you can 3d print. You can mount it on your blade and use it. You can find the angle you want.
 
I've used a Buck Honemaster (no longer made) for several decades. The lips are a bit worn bit it still works fine. A search for Knife Angle Guide will turn up several by various makers. A cheapo alternative is to tape a coin on either side of the blade to achieve the angle you want.
 
Careful, the two I've tried out seriously scarred the knives' finish. I do not recommend them if you like polished knives.
 
Alberta Ed said:
I've used a Buck Honemaster (no longer made) for several decades. The lips are a bit worn bit it still works fine. A search for Knife Angle Guide will turn up several by various makers. A cheapo alternative is to tape a coin on either side of the blade to achieve the angle you want.
Click to expand...
I also have an old Honemaster, works good but you can get by a lot simpler as Ed suggested. My buddy uses one of those clips that hold office papers together.

Parker
 
TC said:
How are such devices not sacrificial by design? How long does the initial angle setting last?
Click to expand...
DMT's Aligner clamp is designed so it can be used with a bench stone, with extendable arms adjustable for angle and sliding on the table alongside the stone. Used that way, there's no chance for the guide to be worn down or abraded by the stone itself. An example video below. And the clamp is made of a tough FRN-like plastic, which minimizes the risk of marring blade finishes, so long as the clamping surfaces are clean. Another advantage is, you can use the full surface of the stone for sharpening, without worrying about the guide coming off the stone. That also allows for a more natural, sweeping sharpening stroke, as would be used freehand with the same stone. The device is a pretty good training aid for learning freehand sharpening, used this way.
 
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Obsessed with Edges said:
DMT's Aligner clamp is designed so it can be used with a bench stone, with extendable arms adjustable for angle and sliding on the table alongside the stone. Used that way, there's no chance for the guide to be worn down or abraded by the stone itself. An example video below. And the clamp is made of a tough FRN-like plastic, which minimizes the risk of marring blade finishes, so long as the clamping surfaces are clean.
Click to expand...
Ah, that's the one I was thinking about when I said Norton made one.
 
Obsessed with Edges said:
DMT's Aligner clamp is designed so it can be used with a bench stone, with extendable arms adjustable for angle and sliding on the table alongside the stone. Used that way, there's no chance for the guide to be worn down or abraded by the stone itself. An example video below. And the clamp is made of a tough FRN-like plastic, which minimizes the risk of marring blade finishes, so long as the clamping surfaces are clean. Another advantage is, you can use the full surface of the stone for sharpening, without worrying about the guide coming off the stone. That also allows for a more natural, sweeping sharpening stroke, as would be used freehand with the same stone. The device is a pretty good training aid for learning freehand sharpening, used this way.
Click to expand...

Not bad...and I'm an admitted DMT fan of sorts. I've gotten used to free-handing though. Takes a while to train the "muscle memory", but once you've gotten the hang of it, as sharp as you will is possible.
 
TC said:
Not bad...and I'm an admitted DMT fan of sorts. I've gotten used to free-handing though. Takes a while to train the "muscle memory", but once you've gotten the hang of it, as sharp as you will is possible.
Click to expand...
That Aligner clamp was the last guide I used before transitioning to freehand. It's kind of what made things 'click' for me, for the feel of it with a bench stone.
 
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I remember seeing a contraption back in the day.
If I recall correctly, it was made of metal, clamped onto the blade and had a roller bearing that rolled along the stone as you sharpened.
It would not have been adjustable as the metal ball ( bearing ) would have been the guide. It was the same on each side with one bearing being the.guide for both sides.
I wish I could remember where I saw that and what it was called? I believe it was in a catalog of some sort or maybe in the back ads of an older knife publication.
Looked like it would have worked well enough for what it was. Anyone else ever seen or had anything like this?
 
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