Best Sharpening System for a Noobie??

[DIESEL8807]

Hey all, I recently started to collect knives and I'm in the market for a sharpening system. Being newer to the "knife scene", I've really only heard of two different sharpening systems, the Spyderco Sharpmaker and the Lansky Standard Sharpening System. Which would you recommend for someone who doesn't have much sharpening skills? Are there any other systems that are better than these two? Thanks.

 

[Komitadjie]

There are a LOT of sharpening systems out there, ranging in price and capability greatly. Cheapest starts with about $5 for a multi-pack of wet-or-dry sandpaper, and more expensive systems go up into the ~$500 range and above. Both of the ones you mentioned have a lot of people using them, I'd suggest just doing a forum search on "sharpmaker" for everything you could EVER want to know. There's a number of "best sharpening system" threads on the front page of this particular subforum alone. Spend a few minutes and browse through some of them, there's a LOT of good information to be had.

 

[bdmicarta]

The Sharpmaker is easy to use, very easy to use, which is good for beginners. But OTOH beginners usually have difficult sharpening chores that don't respond well to the Sharpmaker. IOW for difficult sharpening chores such as very dull knives or knives that need reprofiling you need something that removes metal faster. There are lots of ways to supplement the Sharpmaker but I'm thinking that for my personal needs I am going to add a guided system such as the DMT Aligner.

There are other people that will tell you to just buy a set of good stones, a handfull of cheap knives from a second hand store, and use those to practice on until you learn how to sharpen freehand.

 

[aread]

I have both the Lansky and the Sharpmaker. They are both gathering dust on the shelf since I got the Edge Pro.

I don't have the skill and don't have the time or motivation to learn to freehand. If you are willing to spend the $ the two top systems are the Edge Pro and the Wicked Edge. If you take a little time to learn to use them, both will give you screaming sharp knives. Be sure to buy some bandaides that fit on finger tips IMO, both of these are worth the $ difference.

Another system that is fast and is the favorite of some, is the paper wheels. These take more skill than the EP or WE. I've never used them, but understand that very good edges are possible, very quickly. The downside is that if you screw up badly enough, serious injury is possible. Not the best choice system if you are easily distracted.

Hope this helps,
Allen

 

[GrizzlyBear]

I have the Lansky Deluxe Diamond set and I love it. Shaving edges before stropping, hair whittling afterwards.

 

[stitchawl]

I'll second the DMT Aligner, with a set of diamond stones. Cheap, easy to use, and effective. Or, if you really need to save money, just the DMT Aligner clamp alone, used with sandpaper. (See YouTube for using this method.) VERY effective and VERY cheap!

Stitchawl

 

[adubbz]

I am new to this, so take my word with a grain of salt.

I'm pretty broke right now, so picked up the Sharpmaker. I love it! Very good and 'oh so easy' to use!

 

[richard thurman]

I just made my own sharpener and I have been using it for years. It is a pull threw so there is no guessing if you are holding the knife at the right angle.