beginner knife sharpening?

baldegale said:
i wanna get into knife sharpening, i was wondering what were some good (budget) stones to start with?
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The Worksharp field sharpener is the best place for a beginner start. It's $30

Has two diamond grits, a ceramic rod and a loaded leather strop.

Has built in training aids that are optional in use.

I'd hold off on the DMT stuff for now.
 
DeadboxHero said:
The Worksharp field sharpener is the best place for a beginner start. It's $30

Has two diamond grits, a ceramic rod and a loaded leather strop.

Has built in training aids that are optional in use.

I'd hold off on the DMT stuff for now.
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you can easily buy/make your own guides though, cant you?
 
baldegale said:
you can easily buy/make your own guides though, cant you?
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You could but that's a waste of time. You just need to learn how to sharpen and hold an angle. When you get good you don't use guides.

You say budget, I give you an option that is $30 and has a multitude of features to get your feet wet.

Jonny recommend the DMT stuff that works too. So does the Venev, Atoma etc.

Keep in mind though, it's skill not tools.
 
I would add :
  • cheep steel is going to frustrate you; learn to sharpen on something with some integrity such as an inexpensive but genuine Japanese kitchen knife (~$40)
  • Avoid the Norton 220 water stone.
  • Avoid cheep no name Arkansas stones
(and you thought I was going to say just get an Edge Pro)
(surprise)
 
DeadboxHero said:
You could but that's a waste of time. You just need to learn how to sharpen and hold an angle. When you get good you don't use guides.

You say budget, I give you an option that is $30 and has a multitude of features to get your feet wet.

Jonny recommend the DMT stuff that works too. So does the Venev, Atoma etc.

Keep in mind though, it's skill not tools.
Click to expand...
i guess i shouldve specified that by “budget” i meant something that wasnt $100+ per stone, and yeah skill comes into play, but so does tools. i want to personally get something that i wont have to/want to replace shortly down the line, yanno? whole reason i got into knives, so i stopped buying the good ole $3 ozark trail knives
 
DeadboxHero said:
You could but that's a waste of time. You just need to learn how to sharpen and hold an angle. When you get good you don't use guides.

You say budget, I give you an option that is $30 and has a multitude of features to get your feet wet.

Jonny recommend the DMT stuff that works too. So does the Venev, Atoma etc.

Keep in mind though, it's skill not tools.
Click to expand...
i guess i shouldve specified that by “budget” i meant something that wasnt $100+ per stone, and yeah skill comes into play, but so does tools. i want to personally get something that i wont have to/want to replace shortly down the line, yanno? whole reason i got into knives, so i stopped buying the good ole $3 ozark trail knives
 
Wowbagger said:
I would add :
  • cheep steel is going to frustrate you; learn to sharpen on something with some integrity such as an inexpensive but genuine Japanese kitchen knife (~$40)
  • Avoid the Norton 220 water stone.
  • Avoid cheep no name Arkansas stones
(and you thought I was going to say just get an Edge Pro)
(surprise)
Click to expand...
id be learning on an S30V PM2 and a CPM-154 fixed.
 
Worksharp field sharpener is a good beginner tool to sharpening, I own one and their great for what their intended to do as well as microbevelling and touch ups. Far easier and faster than anything else I've used for touch ups.

Its the sharpener I've used that has the least learning curve and it's quite easy to put an edge on knives that will slice receipt and phone book paper with ease.

They also make the pocket sharpener which is two grits for $15. I personally prefer the option with a strop as I like to finish with that on my field sharpener but I've been meaning to pick up the pocket sharpener to use at work as I can throw it in my safety vest.

For low cost bang for your buck these are good set ups but you can also get a dual grit Lansky diamond stone in M/F or C/F and some angle guides to go with it. I like the Lansky option for budget because the non slip rubber works so you don't need to worry about a base and their two very functional grit levels for a good price.

While learning the more you can simplify it and take out points of failure (consistent angle) the better results you achieve.
 
Get a Norton JB8 combo stone for $25. When you can consistently get any knife sharp enough to impress yourself and everyone around you, the world of sharpening is yours and you can start experimenting with other stuff.
 
baldegale said:
i guess i shouldve specified that by “budget” i meant something that wasnt $100+ per stone, and yeah skill comes into play, but so does tools. i want to personally get something that i wont have to/want to replace shortly down the line, yanno? whole reason i got into knives, so i stopped buying the good ole $3 ozark trail knives
Click to expand...
Of course I know, I'm using $400 Vitrified CBN stones :D

I'm just saying the worksharp gets you started and that really anything will work to a certain point.
 
Sharpening Supplies has a set of DMT double sided 6" diamond plates in a case that acts as a holder. Costs the same as buying the plates separately.
This will handle whatever steels you have, though the size is better for EDC knives than a chef's knife. Treat it right and it will last.
Otherwise a set of Shapton Pros (320, 1K, 5K) will run you about $135 if you shop around.
 
If you sharpen small knives, I recommend DMT Aligner.
You can experience guided sharpening with it, and the stones can be used for free hand sharpening/touch-up.
50 bucks or less.
 
I Think a great option to begin is the Dmt coarse, even the interrupted surface 6” that is cheaper.
With this stone and a bit of polishing compound on paper over the stone you can have and impressive edge on that para2 s30v (is actually what I use on that knife).
This option is fast, meaning less chance to change your angle doing multiple passes, on those steels is easy to cut the burr off and with a little refining by stropping gets you an amazing level of sharpness.
 
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