CANNOT get Kiwi 3 sharp--possibly defective?

[hardheart]

The Kiwi blade is short and the edge is straight, the gap between stones shouldn't be a problem. Just lay one stone in if there is a worry. Or hold them in your hand. I will do that or use them like a file while holding the blade steady. They aren't much different from the ProFiles, and I love using those.

 

[Stockhausen]

Thanks for the replies so far guys, and thanks for the warm welcome (I've been lurking Bladeforums for a while now). This thread has had a lot of good info for a beginner like me. Now that I see that others have also noticed the quirks of the Kiwi, I no longer feel like a weirdo for having trouble with it!!

I just spent a long time at the Sharpmaker, deciding to give it another shot. Same deal--it cut and tore through paper leaving a jagged mess, while my SAK cut cleanly. I think I'll either get professional help (thanks Allen R) or try sandpaper/stone from Lowe's.

 

[allyourblood]

Buying flat stones doesn't automatically teach you how to sharpen, but once you learn on them you realize systems like the Sharpmakers are largely useless and systems like Edge Pro or Wicked Edge offer better results to users already proficient in understanding of sharpening an edge.

There are plenty of folks who own an Edge Pro or Wicked Edge and have a very rudimentary understanding of angles and sharpening in general. More money than sense, it would seem in some cases. Most folks that I know who own a Sharpmaker have an excellent understanding of edge geometry and sharpening but they use the Sharpmaker because it's simple and effective at maintaining an edge at its preset angles. I've used mine for 10 years now and it works famously for just about every knife I own.

Can you reprofile with it? Sure. Either with triangle diamond stones or, as I do, with a standard cheap coarse stone. Simply lay the stone (or sandpaper as suggested) against the triangle stone and either rubber band or clip it in place. I can sharpen freehand with a flat stone (and sometimes do), but for a beginner, using the above method can really help them to learn to maintain a consistent angle and is an excellent visual guide. I graduated from a Sharpmaker to freehand use and I suspect a lot of others did too. Doesn't make the Sharpmaker "useless" by any stretch of the imagination.

I understand what you're trying to say about folks who own a Sharpmaker and are just "blindly" following the directions laid forth in the DVD, but many, many users know how to use a Sharpmaker to great effect without rounding tips or mindlessly swiping their blade to no avail.