mongomondo
SUPPRESSING FIRE
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- Sep 17, 2006
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Works for me. Maybe it doesn't work if you're outside of the US.
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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Do I really need a sharpener?
- Thread starter mongomondo
- Start date
Works for me. Maybe it doesn't work if you're outside of the US.
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2005
- Messages
- 317
Knives are an excuse to buy whetstones.
Not the ONLY excuse; there are axes, hatchets, machetes, swords, guloks, yataghans, kukhris, razors.. and no doubt others I'm overlooking.
But they're the BEST excuse, you can find them anyplace.
If you don't collect whetstones, good. I recommend you get an assisted (guided) sharpening system if and when you decide you can't live without it.
Lansky isn't bad, there are various doodlebugs with assorted bells and whistles from 2$ to 700$.. but if you've no interest in the work you can defer it indefinitely. Lots of folks will sharpen things for money, and right now, too.
I don't do my own plumbing or electrical work, and many do.
But far as is there a REASON to own sharpening equipment, yes there is.
It's fun.
The precise alignment of edge to grind, building a convex arc to the strength of that particular steel & heat treat by intuition and experience, flattening an overly obvious 'shoulder' on the main bevel, reworking a point to slice or puncture either one, and NOT break under the use you'll give it..
it's the next step up from owning a knife. you REALLY own it when you built the edge to your intentions. It also makes you mighty choosey about addressing your intentions precisely, and knowing what they are in the first place.
If what you're doing is building a collection of safe queen customs, no, the sharpener is irrelevant, ignore it.
If you want to own the edge, ... .get a good combo stone, and a handful of cheap kitchen knives, Old Hickory are good.
They have decent steel, but are machine made and SUCK for precise. it's more like a knife shaped blank, that with a few hours honing begins to resemble a knife, and with a few more hours it starts to act like one.
Time you've ground past all the imperfections and reshaped the point and gotten the edge one molecule wide at the heel.. you'll know what you're trying to do. A decent stone for a beginner is a Norton 1000-4000, and if you've got a few bucks a 1500 Shapton and a 5000 Shapton will get your feet wet.
It's all a matter of taste. I couldn't be persuaded to go hang gliding, and think 6 hours polishing a hatchet edge is entirely normal.
Not the ONLY excuse; there are axes, hatchets, machetes, swords, guloks, yataghans, kukhris, razors.. and no doubt others I'm overlooking.
But they're the BEST excuse, you can find them anyplace.
If you don't collect whetstones, good. I recommend you get an assisted (guided) sharpening system if and when you decide you can't live without it.
Lansky isn't bad, there are various doodlebugs with assorted bells and whistles from 2$ to 700$.. but if you've no interest in the work you can defer it indefinitely. Lots of folks will sharpen things for money, and right now, too.
I don't do my own plumbing or electrical work, and many do.
But far as is there a REASON to own sharpening equipment, yes there is.
It's fun.
The precise alignment of edge to grind, building a convex arc to the strength of that particular steel & heat treat by intuition and experience, flattening an overly obvious 'shoulder' on the main bevel, reworking a point to slice or puncture either one, and NOT break under the use you'll give it..
it's the next step up from owning a knife. you REALLY own it when you built the edge to your intentions. It also makes you mighty choosey about addressing your intentions precisely, and knowing what they are in the first place.
If what you're doing is building a collection of safe queen customs, no, the sharpener is irrelevant, ignore it.
If you want to own the edge, ... .get a good combo stone, and a handful of cheap kitchen knives, Old Hickory are good.
They have decent steel, but are machine made and SUCK for precise. it's more like a knife shaped blank, that with a few hours honing begins to resemble a knife, and with a few more hours it starts to act like one.
Time you've ground past all the imperfections and reshaped the point and gotten the edge one molecule wide at the heel.. you'll know what you're trying to do. A decent stone for a beginner is a Norton 1000-4000, and if you've got a few bucks a 1500 Shapton and a 5000 Shapton will get your feet wet.
It's all a matter of taste. I couldn't be persuaded to go hang gliding, and think 6 hours polishing a hatchet edge is entirely normal.
stabman
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2007
- Messages
- 21,322
Get it and the Croc-Stix(sticks, whatever spelling
).Between those two you'll be able to sharpen pretty much ANY knife very well.
Maybe a flat ceramic or diamond stone for the oddly-tipped knives, and you'd be fully ready for any sharpening needs.:thumbup:
stabman
Gold Member
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2007
- Messages
- 21,322
- Joined
- Sep 2, 2004
- Messages
- 2,512
I think asking if you need a sharpener for knives is equivalent to asking if a car needs an oil change. Unless it is for display only, the answer is yes.
A Spyderco Sharpmaker does a fantastic job for keeping knives sharp, and is well worth the money. There are other sharpening systems, such as Edgepro, that also do an excellent job. Check out the Maintenance subforum and you'll quickly be brought up to speed.
A Spyderco Sharpmaker does a fantastic job for keeping knives sharp, and is well worth the money. There are other sharpening systems, such as Edgepro, that also do an excellent job. Check out the Maintenance subforum and you'll quickly be brought up to speed.
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2005
- Messages
- 19,385
I have been using the DMT stones for the last couple of years and I'm quite happy with them. I have several with different grits.
I was sharpening knives as soon as I had my own knife as a kid. The sharpness of the blade was always a point of pride and everyone always checked the relative sharpness every time they picked up your knife to look at it.
I'ver tried almost ever whetstone. I really liked the moonstone that Case sold. I used that for years. I have stones that have not been used yet that I bought to try out. Yes I have some of the sharpening systems as well. But have gravitated to the DMT stones and love them. I would use nothing else these days.
Learning how to sharpen a knife is important if you use knives. Develop the skill.
I was sharpening knives as soon as I had my own knife as a kid. The sharpness of the blade was always a point of pride and everyone always checked the relative sharpness every time they picked up your knife to look at it.
I'ver tried almost ever whetstone. I really liked the moonstone that Case sold. I used that for years. I have stones that have not been used yet that I bought to try out. Yes I have some of the sharpening systems as well. But have gravitated to the DMT stones and love them. I would use nothing else these days.
Learning how to sharpen a knife is important if you use knives. Develop the skill.
mongomondo
SUPPRESSING FIRE
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2006
- Messages
- 3,290
Just a small update from a month ago. I've since purchased the sharpmaker and have sharpened every single knife in my house and have called several friends and offered to sharpen all their knives. The DVD is cheesy but very helpful. Spyderco is awesome!