Best sharpening equipment with $125

M

MSTR

Joined
Nov 23, 2015
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6
I currently have no sharpening equipment. I would prefer to not have to use lubrication on anything. I'm open to learning freehand or maybe just using something like the sharpmaker. However, I would like to achieve shaving sharp blades.
 
Welcome, you are gonna get a lot of answers to this one, and probably a few questions to boot.
Have fun with your decision and enjoy your stay here.
Russ
 
DMT Coarse diamond plate and 1 micron diamond compound on a strop. These two items will allow you to do a lot with very little. The coarse DMT can set bevels, repair damage, and sharpen to a scary sharp edge if you finish with light pressure. Stropping wth 1 micron diamond after the coarse plate removes any remaining burr and takes the edge to a level of sharpness that will rival most any edge. I particularly like this combination for highly wear resistant steels because it provides them with an awesome cutting edge that's easy to maintain.

You could add a DMT fine or E-fine but it would be best if you started with one stone and mastered it before adding more.
 
Regardless of the media you choose it comes down to establishing good technique. That takes time and practice. There is no substitution or best anything that replaces experience.
 
pjwoolw said:
Regardless of the media you choose it comes down to establishing good technique. That takes time and practice. There is no substitution or best anything that replaces experience.
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This!

Not having sharpening experience and jumping on a dmt coarse is a quick way to find out how fast you can ruin a knife. As fast as it can set bevels it can destroy them.

Get a DMT diafold in coarse/fine, a ceramic rod (usually at or under $5), and the two pieces Jason mentioned.

I know I am not adding much aside from some portability, but being able to practice when you get a chance to will help significantly. Especially with a ceramic rod, you can "feel" it when you aren't on the bevel straight but you can "hear" it more so, it will have a slight "ring " to it.

You should still be under $100, so spend the remaining on a Spyderco Byrd line or a factory second Kershaw and use that for practice.
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By the way, you Do have some sharpening equipment, the bottom of your coffee mug has bare ceramic ring, or the top beveled edge of a car window will work. Some mugs/baking dishes are more coarse than others and I have used each of these on my $50 sodbuster(s) or $350+ sebenza.

Learning how to free hand will be worth it in the long run, you have the drive, now see it through.
 
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MSTR said:
I currently have no sharpening equipment. I would prefer to not have to use lubrication on anything. I'm open to learning freehand or maybe just using something like the sharpmaker. However, I would like to achieve shaving sharp blades.
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Face shaving or arm hair shaving?
Do you have any sharpening experience?
Do you have a paring knife in the kitchen and a coffee cup?
Take a few minutes , grab a coffee cup and paring knife, turn cup upside down, and get some experience sharpening ... it doesn't take a lot of equipment or high grits or skill to shave arm hair, just don't wobble the blade too much as you rub it on the unglazed portion of cup ... keeping thumb on spine helps with wobble/keeping angle

raise a tiny bur, cut it off at elevated angle how to sharpen a knife - Joe Calton
this guy tests by face shaving :) give it a try, four five kitchen knives in a row , it should give you a feel for it
have trouble keeping angle? use metal binder clip on spine

got some metal polish and pair of old jeans? that can take you face shaving according to these electron microscope before/after pictures at scienceofsharp burr-removal-part-1/


While you can sharpen without lube, lube does some nice things,
like keeps the dust down,
keeps flushing the dust off your stone/abrasive so it doesn't load (keeps it cutting longer)
keeps the stone/abrasive from prematurely dulling/wearing (keeps it cutting longer)

you just have to accept it, you will have to wipe the blade, so you might as well get a towel and use lube liberally (water, dishsoap, though it doesn't take much) ; tabletop or lunchtray helps contain the mess , otherwise you're having to clean carpets and what not :)

dollar tree had stones for $1 but I haven't seen them in a while,
but you can usually find good basic stones at your local asian grocery store for under $3 tax included
after that its hardware store under $10 ($7 at home depot)
back to asian grocery you can find king waterstone for about $20
 
I would buy the DMT system, to help not mess up your angles. Then buy a used Spyderco system for quick touch ups, and you should still have enough for a strop. You really shouldn't need anything else brother. You may find things that you want to try, but you don't need anything further
 
Just getting into it, freehand, and no lubrication etc - take a look at one of the sharpening blocks I make, link thru my signature below.
 
I have a pile of stuff, but if I had only $125 to spend, I'd get a sharpmaker and the diamond rods. You still may be spending a long time getting your edge to burr if it's not already below 20 degrees though.
 
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Shaving sharp with a DMT extra coarse
https://youtu.be/968sVA6LsZ0

It's all in the skill my friend.

I recommend the work sharp guided sharpening system as another option not mentioned.

Any of the tools mentioned will work


Higher end water stones, ceramics and diamond plates work best for powdered steels though.

My king stones won't cut s90v
 
I use a bench grinder with paper wheels or a 1x30 Harbor Freight table top belt sander. Either set up is within your budget and will produce the edges your after (fast).


photo5.jpg
 
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I have always enjoyed my full lansky setup. It can be a little much when reprofiling, but the edges are amazing. I have a family of Norton waterstones that have been used once, and bc I can't seem to figure out the correct techniques, they just sit in a drawer with 5 or 6 high end strops that are rarely used. I nearly ruined a blade on a new benchmade adamas with the waterstones and have been leary of using them again. Good luck sir...
 
DeadboxHero said:
Shaving sharp with a DMT extra coarse
https://youtu.be/968sVA6LsZ0

It's all in the skill my friend.
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He's got good technique; no denying that. It REALLY helps that he's sharpening a very easy knife. Santoku blade shape is just SO easy to get sharp. Plus it's a Shun, so it's made of VG-10, which takes a nice edge. Plus the thin blade shape. Again, not doubting his skill. That sharp from a DMT XC is pretty impressive. But it's an easy blade.

Brian.
 
I have been sharpening for 40 yrs I have tried many different stones and systems the one I use now that takes care of my needs are DMT stones in Course (Blue) Fine (Red) and Very Fine (Green) plus a strop with buffing compound.
 
bgentry said:
He's got good technique; no denying that. It REALLY helps that he's sharpening a very easy knife. Santoku blade shape is just SO easy to get sharp. Plus it's a Shun, so it's made of VG-10, which takes a nice edge. Plus the thin blade shape. Again, not doubting his skill. That sharp from a DMT XC is pretty impressive. But it's an easy blade.

Brian.
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Yea, I cheated.

Vg10 and that super thin grind are a dream to sharpen.

But there were a lot of small chips in the edge.

Not uncommon with alot of the Shuns I encounter.

Mostly due to bad cutting boards or techniques.

Some of my favorite knives.
 
Read lots regarding the knives you own, and the types you like. There are good techniques for every style, and each will have a range. Speed, cost, ease of use. If you are looking for general info, there is lots of that as well. My thought would be, diamonds will take lots of steel off, ceramics give a good edge, and are helpful for learning, water stones should be left until your skills are locked down. A jig or other system can help you get the hang of it, but if you just want to play, then I'd get a sharpie for checking your bevel, and a couple of stones.
A little dishwashing liquid and water will make your life better on either diamonds or ceramics. the days of dealing with oil are long gone.
 
Sharpmaker + CBN rods + Strop

For freehand, DMT stones in X-Coarse and Fine + Strop
 
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