Gimmick sharpener?

donkey12

donkey12

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So what's going on here? I keep seeing videos for sharpensbest. In short the guy is handed dull knives and in 60 seconds or less he is cutting paper. Somebody here has bought one I'm sure. So what were YOUR results. I'm sure they are inexpensive but it just seems like a gimmick to me.
 
Take a carbide tipped router bit. Rub it against a dull knife. Play like it's a carbide hone.

Do that light and gentle rub as seen in the videos. Then cut a tomato.

(It's an awesome gift idea for someone you don't like. When they come back and say it's a POS. Sternly tell them. They don't know what they're doing. And don't give them the receipt. So they can't exchange it.)
 
A real gimmick of a knife sharpener is called a block. It ain't worth two cents. I've seen videos of Mr block sharpening knives at gun shows. A couple of swipes and he's cutting paper. But realistically it don't work. We threw it away because it was garbage. You know what PT Barnum said" there's a sucker born every minute"
 
Vlade said:
A real gimmick of a knife sharpener is called a block. It ain't worth two cents. I've seen videos of Mr block sharpening knives at gun shows. A couple of swipes and he's cutting paper. But realistically it don't work. We threw it away because it was garbage. You know what PT Barnum said" there's a sucker born every minute"
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but says it's made in florida and has a pic of it with a spring in the background for some reason......

sure looks made in china, but who knows.......yeah that type sharpener I've never found useful.
 
Many people will apparently buy, or do , almost anything , to avoid the horror and drudgery of actually learning to sharpen ! :eek:

This includes paying ridiculous premiums for certain super ultra steel / HT . ;)
 
99% of sharpeners on the market are gimmicks. Only a handful are worth the money. I love the "pull thru" sharpeners that completely ruin your blade.
 
DocJD said:
Many people will apparently buy, or do , almost anything , to avoid the horror and drudgery of actually learning to sharpen ! :eek:

This includes paying ridiculous premiums for certain super ultra steel / HT . ;)
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You're actually correct on this one. I've bought quite a few really nice knives in the exchange here that came to me very dull. Lots of folks will buy an expensive knife and use it till it's dull then I pick it up at a good discount. All because they don't know how to sharpen a knife. Works out well for me though!
 
I've been using water stones for decades. But have been seeing people getting extremely finely polished edges. So watched for a bit, and saw a few devices. Went with KME as it was in the middle of price and quality.
I think it's very well. Much more accurate than sharpening by hand, for pocket knives. Still prefer water stones for my chef knives for work.
 
Hvactech said:
You're actually correct on this one. I've bought quite a few really nice knives in the exchange here that came to me very dull. Lots of folks will buy an expensive knife and use it till it's dull then I pick it up at a good discount. All because they don't know how to sharpen a knife. Works out well for me though!
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I think you’re on to something there. I was taught very young how to use oil stones and consider myself reasonably capable at the sharpening. That being said for hard use on abrasive materials I usually spare my “super steel” knives in favor something I can easily sharpen.

Part of that is I only have very basic sharpening equipment, just a few oil stones I bought from the hardware store over the years. S35vn and M390 take forever to sharpen with those, especially if I let them get dull. With 420HC or 1095 or whatever victorinox uses I’m done in 15 minutes tops.
 
Hvactech said:
You're actually correct on this one. I've bought quite a few really nice knives in the exchange here that came to me very dull. Lots of folks will buy an expensive knife and use it till it's dull then I pick it up at a good discount. All because they don't know how to sharpen a knife. Works out well for me though!
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If you don't know how to sharpen at all , or just aren't too good at it , it sure doesn't help matters to buy some of the really hard steel / HT , that takes some

extra skill and equipment . And patience / experience .

I can get a working edge on most steel, using diamond , but just don't feel the need for those super high edge retention , that are more difficult to sharpen properly . Don't need the extra cost either .
 
Daedric Panther said:
That being said for hard use on abrasive materials I usually spare my “super steel” knives in favor something I can easily sharpen.
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I've been thinking I need an S90V fixed blade with orange scales specifically for stabbing abrasive alfalfa hay so I don't have to sharpen so often. :)

S90V seems fairly easy to sharpen with diamond stones. Benchmade makes orange S90V blades, but I figure that coating will come off awfully quick.
 
Whenever I sharpen one of my knives I try it on news paper. Then I always cut some soft wood and if my knife stil cuts news paper after that I know I have a clean and burr free edge.

I have just watched 4 videos about those sharpeners …. the knife cuts paper after sharpening.
But I noticed something interesting. Not even one of those guys didn't cut something with the knife and then tried, if the knife stil cuts paper after that. What does this tell you?

Below is interesting video you should watch (Youtube - OUTDOORS55). The guy also used one of those pull-through sharpeners which works similar as this ''Sharpens best'' sharpeners you are asking about.
You will se how the edge looks like and what happens after some soft wood cutting.

 
I've been seeing those things all over. I watched a video if a guy with the red plastic stick version with the pull-through sharpener on the back. He was literally peeling curls of steel off every time he drug the knife through. The thought of someone handing him an expensive knife because he tells them he "sharpens knives" makes my skin crawl.

I might have left a slightly critical comment, and he might not have taken it well based on his reply . . .
 
So; we established here; stay away from those sharpeners.

donkey12 said:
That outdoors55 video was interesting. Wild results.
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Indeed. I know this is not what this thread is talking about but those results are going somehow against ''common wisdom'' about simple steels and edge retention.
If I remember correctly this 'one dollar knife' in the video measured 51HRc and I doubt it's full of vanadium or other carbides but the knife stil managed to cut paper after ½ an hour of cutting spruce or pine (or whatever) wood. Amazing.
I believe Outdoors55 didn't faked the video so what's the catch? How come such simple and soft steel can have so good edge retention?
 
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