gatco sharpener.

[blanex1]

hi guys, i am thinking about trying to set and change some of my bevel's on my knifes! would you think the gatco ultemate diamond sharper kit would be a good starting point ! i am using a sharpmaker but it seems its only good for keeping a sharp knife sharp! but not changing angle or setting bevels,i don't want to spend $500. on a edge pro,just something that would get me started on reprofile or repairing my edge's on knifes,any one hear using the gatco 4 diamond rod system! if so,please talk to me,thank you.:drunk:

 

[Bludgeon]

Go with DMT diamond stones and practice with your kitchen knives. You won't need an expensive contraption.

 

[stitchawl]

The GATCO is a wonderful clamp device that will give you speed and accuracy when you wish to re-profile an edge. It's very well made, has a good selection of stones, and is easy to use.

The primary advantages to using a good clamp device is speed and accuracy. While freehand sharpening skills are desirable, when re-profiling the harder steels used today, the rapid strokes available to the user with a clamp, combined with the absolute accuracy without the need for careful control makes a clamped sharpening finish in 1/4 the time with perfect results.

The disadvantages are to be noted as well. You are limited to just a handful of angle choices. Of course, who really needs more than a handful anyway? There are enough choices to be useful in 99% of the situations.
You do miss out on the 'Zen' of sharpening, but then, that's not really important for everyone.

If your goal is very sharp knives with well-set edges, and get them quickly and easily, go with a GATCO, Lansky, or DMT Aligner and a set of diamond stones.
If you want to experience the Zen of sharpening, or just learn how to sharpen an edge, get a set of Japanese water stones or other bench stones and learn to free-hand.


Stitchawl

 

[blanex1]

Go with DMT diamond stones and practice with your kitchen knives. You won't need an expensive contraption.

i have a DMT fine/coarse 2x6 size,but i'll be dam if i can get a good bevel! i keep practicing on it but some how thinking there must be a better/faster way!yes,i no what you mean buy "contraption'' though, i'd rather buy a new knife than that,i was just looking for peoples input if any of the these rod systems work at all!

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

i have a DMT fine/coarse 2x6 size,but i'll be dam if i can get a good bevel! i keep practicing on it but some how thinking there must be a better/faster way!yes,i no what you mean buy "contraption'' though, i'd rather buy a new knife than that,i was just looking for peoples input if any of the these rod systems work at all!

Get a DMT Aligner clamp, which can be purchased for about $15 (maybe less). Use it with the DMT hones you've got; that combo will help you make crisp edges and flat bevels, and your larger bench hones will work faster than the smaller Gatco hones as well. Think of it as a 'stepping stone' to learning freehand, as the motion used with the clamp is very similar to that used freehand on bench hones. This video from DMT illustrates the basics of how the two are used together:

[video=youtube;IUridlcjmZ4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUridlcjmZ4&feature=youtu.be[/video]


David

 

[stitchawl]

Get a DMT Aligner clamp, which can be purchased for about $15 (maybe less). Use it with the DMT hones you've got; that combo will help you make crisp edges and flat bevels, and your larger bench hones will work faster than the smaller Gatco hones as well. Think of it as a 'stepping stone' to learning freehand, as the motion used with the clamp is very similar to that used freehand on bench hones. This video from DMT illustrates the basics of how the two are used together:
David

I'll second that! While the GATCO is a very good clamp system, and I used it for years, I eventually switched to the DMT Aligner clamp because of its versatility. It's a clamp that can be used with its own dedicated stones, or, as the video shows, can be used with bench stones too. I use it with ordinary wet/dry sandpaper in the same fashion when I'm backpacking and need to touch up an edge, as it's almost weighless and takes up little space in my pack.


Stitchawl