- Joined
- Oct 2, 1998
- Messages
- 43,229
I've been really enjoying the various threads about sharpening/sharpening phobia of late, and wanted to post a brief review of my experience with this item so far.
I have a modest collection of nice knives and try to maintain a good sharp edge on them.
For the most part, I have been using the Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker, and have found it very user friendly and effective for most circumstances.
I've been wanting to learn to freehand, something I did as a kid when I didn't worry about the cost of my knives, nor were the gadgets available. So, occasionally I'd work a bit with one or the other of the Spydie rods without the base. Didn't ruin anything.
I just got the Gatco Tri-Seps sharpener, which is essentially a mini version of the Spydie ceramic hone, though I am not sure of the actual grit. (It is the color of the medium grit hone. Has a similar triangular shape, and groove for sharpening hooks and other pointy things.)
I have found that this little hone (three inches of useable surface)is a great boon to my confidence in learning to "freehand" sharpen. I've been using it primarily on knives that are already in decent condition, but could be sharper. I approximate the angle, and try to make sure that I use the same one (more or less) on both sides. Most of the time I use it vertically and slice down the hone a la Spyderco Sharpmaker, but sometimes use it horizontally.
I have found the sharpener to be highly effective, and have found the best results when I use relatively light strokes.
{I've also purchased DMT Diafolds from Tim Flanagan and will report on those later on as I use them more. (Got the four available grits.)I've already used them a bit freehand, and also with the Spyderco Sharpmaker in the manner Joe Talmadge has promoted.}
If things continue in this manner, I'll be at least an adequate "freehander" yet.
I think retail on the Gatco is about ten bucks (though available for substantially less online). At that price, you can keep one at home, one in the car/gun bag, and one in the office.
Highly recommended.
Blues
------------------
Live Free or Die
[This message has been edited by Blues (edited 05 July 1999).]
I have a modest collection of nice knives and try to maintain a good sharp edge on them.
For the most part, I have been using the Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker, and have found it very user friendly and effective for most circumstances.
I've been wanting to learn to freehand, something I did as a kid when I didn't worry about the cost of my knives, nor were the gadgets available. So, occasionally I'd work a bit with one or the other of the Spydie rods without the base. Didn't ruin anything.
I just got the Gatco Tri-Seps sharpener, which is essentially a mini version of the Spydie ceramic hone, though I am not sure of the actual grit. (It is the color of the medium grit hone. Has a similar triangular shape, and groove for sharpening hooks and other pointy things.)
I have found that this little hone (three inches of useable surface)is a great boon to my confidence in learning to "freehand" sharpen. I've been using it primarily on knives that are already in decent condition, but could be sharper. I approximate the angle, and try to make sure that I use the same one (more or less) on both sides. Most of the time I use it vertically and slice down the hone a la Spyderco Sharpmaker, but sometimes use it horizontally.
I have found the sharpener to be highly effective, and have found the best results when I use relatively light strokes.
{I've also purchased DMT Diafolds from Tim Flanagan and will report on those later on as I use them more. (Got the four available grits.)I've already used them a bit freehand, and also with the Spyderco Sharpmaker in the manner Joe Talmadge has promoted.}
If things continue in this manner, I'll be at least an adequate "freehander" yet.
I think retail on the Gatco is about ten bucks (though available for substantially less online). At that price, you can keep one at home, one in the car/gun bag, and one in the office.
Highly recommended.
Blues
------------------
Live Free or Die
[This message has been edited by Blues (edited 05 July 1999).]
