Angle sharpener vs freehand

RugerNurse said:
Not a debate on which is better but does one offer better long term results that the other?
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I have few guided sharpeners and other ideas too and
use diamond full size stick almost excusively since three decades
nothing to debate ...
 
DeadboxHero said:
3. Using a guided system removes more steel to make a flatter bevel than a freehand convex one.

This also means it takes more time, especially with the smaller stones.
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That may be true initially, but after that I think that guided systems are taking off *less* steel, because every stroke is refining the edge. In contrast, when freehanding, some of your strokes are going to be too shallow, so you're taking off steel and not making the knife sharper. Other strokes are going to be too obtuse, and then you're making the knife duller, requiring more strokes and more steel removal to get the apex right again.

Note: when I say "you," I mean me. :)
 
catspa said:
What Jason said makes a lot of sense to me, basically because I’ve believed the same for a long time. I would also observe that nowadays he can’t say “I have a sharp knife” without hurting somebody’s feelings. I think he does the right thing by calling it as he sees it, and not appeasing the feelings of the irrational among us.

So I think we’ve established that some guided systems can produce more even (i.e. matching each other) bevels than many people can hold freehand. The question is, does that matter? Before you say, “Of course it does, you moron!” (don’t worry about hurting my feelings, I left them behind me long ago), kindly consider the chisel and plane iron blades. Sufficiently sharp to cut a wood shaving you can read a newspaper through (a fun Neanderthal trick), they have only one bevel. The other side is flat, or within a few thousandths.

So each individual must decide for themselves the importance of “even” bevels for each steel/heat treat/geometry. If this particular knife needs them, set up the guided system. If not, down the freehand road I go.

Just like Ford vs Chevy, Colt vs Smith, Cheerios vs corn flakes, this is a question that can produce volumes of discussion without a clear winner.

To the OP: there is no universal “better”, there’s just “better for you” - considering your own situation and preferences. Fast or slow, cheap or expensive, high tech or old school, all choices YOU will make on the path to getting and keeping YOUR knife sharp. Not exclusive choices either, you can mix and match a wide range of abrasives with no penalty. You can switch back and forth between methods any time you choose.

My path to sharp, or Jason’s or Garry’s, might not be the best for you. We’ll all probably continue refining our own best practices until the day we can no longer lift knife, and then somebody else will take up our gear and knives, and the whole process will start over for them while we’re being fed applesauce with a spoon. It’s all circular.

Parker
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I love my Wicked Edge 130!! 😍 I have perfect bevels on my knives, scissors, and CHISELS too. lol
 
Superiority ?
Hmmmmm , The proof is in the pudding !
Or in the knife sense ....
Sharpness or edge retention !
I can make a knife scalpel sharp ... No problems there at all !
But what about edge retention ?

Do you need a scary sharp knife ? Or do you need a knife to stay sharp for a long time ?
ANd how about edge maintenance ?

Now , everyone has their FAV sharpening method ! Can't argue that !
Also cant argue the point that - what works - WORKS !
Butt! & it can be a huge butt !
Have you tested the edge ? Some form of repeatable and consistent test ?
Sharpness is only one thing , also consider edge retention and edge maintenance .

Personal preference is just that . Just cos you prefer one method over another , does not make the other bad or wrong or anything else ! ( Except to you - cos it's personal preference )
Pushing personal preference is .......................................

As for superiority ? There would need to be some actual testing . Some results that can be compared realistically .
Without such , opinion is valueless ! What is one opinion divided by 8 billion opinions ?
To put opinion to bed ! We would require a test methodology that anyone / anywhere can do .. And the result would at the very least be comparable ! ( In a realistic sense )
Also , there would need to be some sort of control over the variable ( knife / steel - same knife ) . THe more variables you introduce , the less comparable the results .

Saying one method is superior to another without testing / evidence ... Is like saying one woman is more attractive than an other and never having laid eye's on either !
 
3D Anvil said:
A straight razor effectively has a built-in guided sharpening system. But yeah, a chisel or a knife with scandi grind (or just a huge bevel) can be free-hand sharpened with total precision.
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So an educated hand can match or even surpass the precision of a guided system. It depends on the type of the blade.
 
tokerblue said:
It's already been posted. Use the guided system for the main angle. Use a stone to knock off the burr. Just like you would freehand.
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There is no main angle at the back side of a chisel or plane. Straight razors guide themselves to the right angle. Might be a rather complicated to try to attach a straight razor to a guided system and adjust the system to match the razor’s angle.
 
Tapio said:
There is no main angle at the back side of a chisel or plane. Straight razors guide themselves to the right angle. Might be a rather complicated to try to attach a straight razor to a guided system and adjust the system to match the razor’s angle.
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There are sharpening guides that essentially perform the same function as the spine of a straight razor, but that's not really free handing. It's just another guided system.

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