Best foolproof sharpener for a beginner?

A

alanmcmichael

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May 2, 2009
Messages
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I have a daughter in her twenties who likes backpacking, hiking, camping, etc. I have given her a Benchmade Griptillian and a Mora carbon steel fixed blade knife. I usually do the sharpening when they get dull (actually the Mora is brand new and hasn't been sharpened yet) but I would like her to be able to do it herself.

I use a Spyderco Sharpmaker but would like to find something even simpler for her to use, like a sharpener with a fixed guide that you just pull the knife through. Are there any you would recommend?

Thanks!
 
Without a doubt, through your research, you will come across and hear about the edge pro and the wicked edge. Both use a guide and are great in getting very even bevels. Only catch is that the cheapest base kit for the edge pro is $165 and the wicked edge base kit is $275. Adding more stones just cost more money.

That aside there is something called a DMT aligner where it utilizes a clamp system with a guide and diamond stones. It's very affordable at sub $50 for a set of coarse, fine, and extra-fine stones. As for pull through sharpeners many individuals, myself included, do not recommend them and isn't always effective at making an edge sharper. This is about as much advice I can give you and I'm sure there's more qualified and knowledgeable member who can help you.
 
For the Mora you should just get her a waterstone and show her how to use it- the scandi grind is dead simple to sharpen on a waterstone and doesn't take very long to do.

I have nothing simpler to offer than a Sharpmaker, though, and you already know all 'bout those, considering that you use one.
 
I would also like to reccomend a whetstone. They're so basic and easy to use, and they've been around so long. I don't like all these new confangled sharping methods. They way I see it if a whetstone was good enough for my grandfarther's and his grandfarther's, well they're good enough for me. Besides they're therapeutic.
 
I was horrible at sharpening knives. I have had a Lansky, stones and steel's and an electric. I bought a sharpmaker about a month ago and for the first time in my life I can get any knife sharp as a razor.
I don't think it would be to difficult for your daughter. I mean if she can hold a knife straight, she can get it sharp.
 
These are all very helpful responses, thank you. I have been interested in getting a waterstone and trying my hand at keeping a convex grind on my Gransfors Bruks axe. And I have been pretty successful at keeping my knives sharp with the Spyderco Sharpmaker, especially with the diamond sleeves. I found that when it takes a long time to get a burr I get distracted or impatient and screw things up, so I use the diamond sleeves a lot to get started on dull edges.

I use the technique I learned from Joe Talmadge of getting a burr on one side and then switching to the other side until I get a burr there, then removing the burr.

I think I will get a waterstone and another Sharpmaker and see which one my daughter likes.

Thanks, guys!
 
Get her a DMT Diafold. Sharpening is not difficult once the basics are learned, and there are plenty of instructional videos and books around.
 
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