Gatco, or Lansky, or SC Sharpmaker?

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darklight943

Joined
Aug 1, 2006
Messages
361
I am going to purchase a sharpening system - which one would you recommend? I believe that the Lansky kit has a 'guide' rod for the correct angle, but I hear a lot regarding the Sharpmaker. Apologies if this has been posted before. Please advise.
 
I did a search on "sharpening" in this forum and found a lot of people liking the Sharpmaker. I also noticed a few people mentioning the Edge Pro sharpening system. I ended up purchasing the Edge Pro Professional kit. Awesome setup - it better be for the price. I also ordered the Spydeco Sharpmaker just to see what that was all about (hope to get it in soon). Lansky is all good (used it for almost twenty years) but you are limited to the preset angles you can sharpen at.
 
I know the shaprmaker is a great system, but I love my lansky- unless you for some reason need any angle possiable (other than 17, 20, 25, and 30)the lansky system works great!
 
I have just switched from Gatco to Lansky. The Gatco clamp is made of plastic. The joint where the clamp meets the upright piece, the one with the angle slots in it is poorly designed. When you apply pressure upon your edge with the grinding sticks this joint flexes considerably causing you angles to fluxtuate. Over time this poorly designed joint made of glued plastic simply breaks. I went thru two before I upgraded to the lansky system. The lansky system is made of metal and is designed with two opposing of L shaped brackets that have no joint and do not flex. It keeps your blade secure and your angles constant. Lansky also offers well made mounts and clamps for there system which greatly increases its usability and frees up your other hand. Also the lansky system is the best value for right around 35$$. The lansky company is accessable through the web or phone as well as being very helpfull where as Gatco is impossible to contact being owned thru subsidiaries. As far as being limited to certain angles I consider that a good thing. With a system like the Sharpmaker you are reliant upon you keeping the blade completely constant and perpendicular through out your stroke to mantain a perfect angle. Who can do that without fail? Most of us know that a variation of just a few degrees can effect the development of a burr. The lansky system eliminates this possibility by keeping the angle at which the stone grinds the edge constant, resulting in a perfect edge every time. Good luck, Nacci.
 
Good stuff all - thank you very much - again :) I'll probably purchase the Lansky, for now. I'm mainly concerned with sharpening a few folders and I like the guiding rods to help provide consistancy.
 
I have the Edge Pro, the Lansky, and the Sharpmaker. The EP is by far the most versatile, although the most expensive. The Sharpmaker is a nice setup with a much shorter setup and learning curve than the Lansky.
 
Sharpmaker is the best for keeping your edges maintained, but Lansky or edgepro is what you want when you are reprofiling or sharpening a very dull blade.

I have an Edgepro and a Sharpmaker. I use my sharpmaker almost every day and use the Edgepro only about once a month.
 
Thanks again all - I'll have to research some more, but it's down to Sharpmaker or Lansky - well, I'll probably get both when my wife's not looking ;)
 
DArkLight943 -

I'll vote Spyderco and decent strop/hone. Not too expensive. Hard to accidentally scratch up the knife blade. Easily sharpens serrated knife edges. Compact and easy to store and travel with. Sharpens any length blade. Doesn't have clip issues. Easy to change grits. Has the normal and proper edge angles built in, no guesswork. First knife product made and sold by Spyderco.

If you want to get really serious and spend about four times the money over a Sharpmaker, then look at the EdgePro system.

http://1sharpknife.com/

Practice on the kitchen knives and keep them really well sharped to lessen any knife related tension between you and your significant other. I find this greases the objections to the knife hobby. It is sort of a, "And what do I get out of it?" thing if you know what I mean.
 
Practice on the kitchen knives and keep them really well sharped to lessen any knife related tension between you and your significant other. I find this greases the objections to the knife hobby. It is sort of a, "And what do I get out of it?" thing if you know what I mean.[/QUOTE]


Hehehe, good call. I'll try it.
 
I've used the Lansky for years and it works well for the most part. I do have a couple of knives with a slight recurve that I can't use it on and it works best on smaller blades.
 
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