best knife sharpener

[mauiblue]

I used the Lansky sharpening system for years. Then I discovered this forum and started using the Spyderco Sharpmaker and the EdgePro sharpening system (Professional model). By far the EdgePro is my favorite but if I want to do quick sharpening job, I'll break out the Sharpmaker.

 

[Mick R.]

At your price point, I would say the Sharpmaker, hands down. Over the last 35 years I've used about everything out there in the under $60 buck range and the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker beats them all, imho.
http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1215

 

[jonnyt16]

Isn't the Sharpmaker set for 30 degrees? So how well does this work for edges that are 20 degrees and lower?

 

[Tiger Dude]

Actually, the superior benefits of stropping are well documented.

http://mse.iastate.edu/fileadmin/www.mse.iastate.edu/static/files/verhoeven/KnifeShExps.pdf

Buzz

Your link does not support your statement.

The link states that plain leather stropping had no benefit versus 6000 & 8000 grit japanese waterstones. To gain benefit a .5 micron chromium oxide compound must be added to the strop, and the benefit was minimal. Different people will make different assumptions about stropping - with or without abrasives.

 

[hardheart]

The major conclusion of the study is that of the three honing methods studied, the best method for removing the bur and setting the edge angle is clearly a final polish on leather loaded with a polishing compound such as the chromium oxide or diamond compounds used here.

ten characters, for whatever reason

 

[Hard H2O]

For ease of use and relative cheapness I have a GATCO professional kit. I added their extra fine and ultimate finishing stones. Then I have $2.00 in scrap leather from Tandy that I load with the white and red polishing compunds from Sears. The compounds were under $5.00 for the two sticks.

After the GATCO and stropping I am very pleased with the edges I can produce.

The GATCO will do 11°, 15°, 19°, 22°, 25°, and 30°.

 

[rootsmart]

I think I will get the spyderco. But I understand what stropping is, but what do I need to do it? Also.is the 20 degree angle ok for my cyclone, or should I wedge the sharpmaker up to make it a lower degree? Thanks!

 

[Artilary6]

I am new to sharpening also, but with the help of the people on this forum, I learned how to use the Sharpmaker, and it works to produce a really sharp edge. I really wish I could give some usefull advice, but i'm pretty new to sharpening myself. Good luck with it though, your in the right place and the Sharpmaker works really well as long as your edge angle is not too large. If it is, it sounds like you're already aware of how to compensate for that by tilting the Sharpmaker. If you want to reprofile your edge using the Sharpmaker, there is lots of info about how to do it using sandpaper strips and double sided tape on this forum.