Choosing a sharpener

C

Chubbleton

Joined
Apr 15, 2004
Messages
29
I have always had bad luck with freehand sharpening, and so now I am looking to purchase a sharpening system. I am looking to spend under $80 or so, but if anything is more expensive and "worth it", please do tell. I will be getting a BM 710HS fairly soon, and I need something that will be able to sharpen the M2 steel.
I have looked at the Lansky sharpening systems and the Spyderco 204 Sharpmaker, but due to no first hand use, I dont want to jump to a decision.

Thanks!
Chubbleton
 
I'd go with the Sharpmaker. I bought a Lansky and hated the darn thing.. pain to set up, not very intuitive to use; I was generally miserable with it. Of course, that could have been me. With the Spyderco, all you really need to know how to do is to hold the blade vertical. It comes with a video on how to use it, and it all stores in a nice compact case.

Great product!
 
If you don't care to spend $125 on an EdgePro, get a pair of Razor Edge clamps for about $15 each. Not real versatile, but they'll give you a great edge every time if you follow the instructions. Get both sizes. See http://www.razoredgesystems.com/

Shalom,
Mark
 
Hi. I' ve used the lanksy, sharpmaker and the edgepro. For my money its the edgepro. It's solidly made and is in my opinion pretty fool proof. I've also heard the warthog sharpener might be real good, but haven't tried it yet.
 
The Edge Pro (either model) is really worth the money, and I recommend saving up for that one (make sure you get the stone upgrade kit if you go with an Apex.)

If you really don't want to spend more that $80, then a Sharpmaker and a large, very coarse stone will be a great set-up. Use the large coarse hone (220 grit SiC waterstone, a SiC oilstone, x-coarse diamond stone, coarse Razor Edge Systems stone, whatever) to fix chipped edges, thign otu bevels, and set edge bevels. You then go to the sharpmaker to set a micro-edge bevel at the finish you want. E.G., use the coarse hone to thin the edge to under 30 degrees inclusive, and then when you use the Sharpmaker at the 30 degree setting, you'll onyl form a micro-bevel, and it will form very quick, and touch-ups will be super fast too.
 
I strongly recommend both the sharpmaker and edge pro. Since the edgepro is beyond your target budget, I would suggest the sharpmaker. The sharpmaker and edgepro both have different strengths and weaknesses and if you have both they will compliment eachother nicely. Perhaps get a sharpmaker now and an edgepro down the line?
 
I got one about a month ago and have gotten very good results, consistently and quickly.

One deciding factor may be the versatility of sharpening things that you require. For instance, will you want to sharpen serrated blades? What about other odd shaped things like scisors, fish hooks, nail clippers, awls, wire cutters, ...?

The sharpmaker does a great job on regular knives but is a real winner to me because of its versatility.

Chris
 
Sharpmaker is good if your knife edge angles happen to match the 15° or 20°
that you are forced to use with the Sharpmaker. However if your angles are different you will have to re profile each blade and that can be slow and frustrating.

If you are going to be sharpening many different blades , save yourself a ton of money and invest right away in an Edge Pro Apex.

It has infinite angle adjustment between 13° and 25° and uses any and all types of sharpening media from ultra coarse to mirror polish fine.

Sharpmaker is great for touch ups , but should IMHO not be thought of as a complete sharpening solution.
 
This is turning out to be a tough one, but I think I will have to go for the Edge Pro...

I will keep you all updated for my purchase! Thanks a ton for the help!

Chubbleton
 
I don't have a lot of experience, but after a lot of reading, I narrowed my choices to Spyderco Sharpmaker and EdgPro Apex. For the money, I ordered the Sharpmaker 204. It is great, and the videotape is very helpful. I may get the Edge Pro someday, but so far, the Sharpmaker has done a great job on my folder knives and on my very old and dull kitchen knives. I did buy the diamond sleeves as well as the ultra-fine ceramic triangles, but the basic set up has been fine, from my experience.

Jay
 
if ya wrap the rods w/very coarse sandpaper, like 60 to 100 grit IIRC, it really works FAST w/really dull stuff imho,

greg
 
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