Getting into knives, need sharpener

T

thomasward00

Joined
Jun 30, 2011
Messages
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Hello guys, I've purchased knives in the past but have recently started buying some knives, Kershaw Blur's, Rat 1's etc.... I also have some kitchen knives that need sharpening.

I would like to get a Sharpening system that will keep my knives a FACTORY sharpness, maybe a slight bit better.

I've been looking into the Lansky and Sharpmaker but can't decide, I want ease of use but also want something that is effective, I would like to keep the total cost to under $75.00


Thanks in advance

BTW, I will be sharpening Tanto, Serrated and Plain edge blades.
 
In that price range, I think the Sharpmaker is the better sharpener.

I'm a fan of the Wicked Edge though, but it's much more expensive.
 
I've used the Lansky system for the last 17 years without a drama, it's a fairly failsafe system.
 
If you want to replicate a factory edge then I would get a worksharp. Just know you will need to practice on some junk kitchen knives first as there is a learning curve to applying an edge with such a device. For simply maintaining an existing edge you are happy with I would get a strop with black and green compound and touch up your knives daily. I find a couple swipes on a strop maintains the edge much longer than just leting it get dull and then trying to bring it back. Just a couple light swipes on a strop at the end of each day with no more pressure than the weight of the knife I believe eliminates the need for constant sharpening and makes sharpening much easier when you do actually need to. They will increase the life of your knife and deliver amazing results. I scoffed at strops. Then I learned to use one and I find that I really wish I hadnt resisted the idea for so long. And they are much easier to use than a regular sharpener and take less of a toll on your knife. Things like the edgepro and wicked edge are great for the guys who want mirror polished edges or are angle chasers trying new degrees often and reprofiling a lot of knives. I went from those stupid carbide knife edge destroyers to a smiths crockstick type to a sharpmaker then to a edgepro apex. I used the apex for a long time until I realized that its was really overkill for what I needed to do and It was rather tedious to set up for maintenance. So what i use now are three things. A rough diamond rod, a fine ceramic rod and a four side strop I made with 4 degrees of compound. I am happy enough with those three things that I cant remember the last time I actually pulled out the edgepro except for one knife I wanted a mirror edge on.
 
It comes down to personal preference and price. I have a gatco, which is a less expensive lansky, and it only goes up to 320 grit it's great for reprofiling a blade and getting a basic sharpness, but then I move on to the Spyderco Sharpmaker for the finer blade and for general sharpening on a blade that just needs to be sharpened. The one advantage to lansky type systems is they do the angle for you and you "can" learn from them, the spyderco is the next step up in skill level needed and is is very simple as well and stones are all on you understanding the angle. I'm all for sharpmaker for beginners who don't need to redo their knives, just need to touch them up and general sharpening instead of completly re doing the blade angle/bevel.
 
The DMT Aligner gives a factory edge
Start from E Course all the way to E Fine
I have consistently gotten excellent result when rebeveling the Queen slipjoints in D2
Highly recommend it
 
I own a Lansky and didn't like it very much.

I found it difficult to reclamp the knife in the exact same position as the previous location.

More so on thicker spine blades. Thin blades were ok.

On the thicker blades I would have to clamp the knife, find where my stone was contacting the blade, then adjust accordingly.

Sometimes this took 3-4 times of adjusting before I found the correct angle.
 
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