Recommendation? Bottom line... is KME worth the extra $$ over WS PA Elite?

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Apr 17, 2012
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I'm about to drive myself crazy over the back and forth... Was about to pull trigger on the $225 KME, but realized I need the kangaroo strop as well. And then I need the emulsion... and at that point I'm only $50-$60 away from the $320 Deluxe kit, well over the $120 WS PA Elite I started from.

For someone only planning to sharpen/strop ~5 pocket knives (mostly S20V & S30V) as needed and maybe a couple 4" fixed, is there much point in stepping up to the KME?

For what it's worth, I don't have much interest in micro-beveling, etc. Just want to keep my pocket knives sharp, and easily enough I don't avoid using my knives for fear of dulling.

Thanks for any help with my analysis paralysis...
 
My vote would be for the work sharp elite. If I wasn't a freehand sharpening kind of chap that is the unit I would be eyeballing.
 
benhar I know you're going to get through the task of finding your sharpening system, with so many options and price ranges, you'll get it done.
I had the KME, hated it for the simple fact that I had to hold it steady with one hand and was always rolling my tip because of this. Some will tell me I'm an idiot and I totally agree with them, it was just something I hated about it. I'd rather have a sharpening system that I could use both hands for whatever I need them to do.
 
Man I got home and re-thought my comment. I don't want to sway anyone to thinking the KME is a bad system, it's not, I used it for a year and sharpened many blades. I just never could get the hang of consistently coming to the tip without that dad-gum stone going a little too far. That slight tilt of the stone going over the tip always made me sick to my stomach after working so hard on perfection. Taking a little more time, being a little more careful, being a little more attentive would have solved that problem but I'd get into a rhythm and BAM !
 
Man I got home and re-thought my comment. I don't want to sway anyone to thinking the KME is a bad system, it's not, I used it for a year and sharpened many blades. I just never could get the hang of consistently coming to the tip without that dad-gum stone going a little too far. That slight tilt of the stone going over the tip always made me sick to my stomach after working so hard on perfection. Taking a little more time, being a little more careful, being a little more attentive would have solved that problem but I'd get into a rhythm and BAM !
No worries, for what it’s worth I’m likely making a hard pivot towards a Sharpmaker anyway, along with a set of their diamond stones. Thanks!
 
No worries, for what it’s worth I’m likely making a hard pivot towards a Sharpmaker anyway, along with a set of their diamond stones. Thanks!

I'm a strong advocate for the Sharpmaker. People don't like it because of the time it takes or the limitations with angles, but it is the only system I've ever owned that I leave setup and ready to go on my desk and make touch up passes on a regular basis. Having a sharp knife all the time is about maintenance, and the Sharpmaker makes that super easy even if you spend a little more time setting the bevel initially. Once you get the knife sharp, make 20-30 passes at the end of any day that you've used it and you're back to as sharp if not sharper than it started.

I also wanted to mention something in your original post...for the use case you describe, I would argue that you absolutely do not need kangaroo strops or emulsions if you go the KME route. The 140/300/600/1500 that come with the base kit would be plenty to sharpen and maintain your knives to an acceptable level. If you're not into polishing edges and stuff like that I wouldn't spend the extra money.
 
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