Going to be honest...

S

skylerwebb14

Joined
Oct 9, 2013
Messages
75
Well hello everyone. Im new to the forum and fairly new to the knife scene as well, i mean i have had a pocket knife for as long as i can remember and everything but recently have found myself getting really into it and i have so many questions and there is so much information on here that im kinda lost haha. so i guess ill just go out on a limb and make my first post here since i have been scanning the forum for a week or so and state my problem. i recently bought an aluminum oxide two sided stone because i am tired of having semi sharp knifes and really wanted to keep an edge on all of my tools and blades but it just doesnt seem to be enough. ive been looking at all the dmt stuff on the internet and that all seems like some really good stuff and i notice that alot of you guys on here talk about the spyderco sharp maker but i am at a complete loss. any help or input would be appreciated. on another note i am really interested in learning all i can about many different ways to sharpen a knife right and with what tools i would need to do so. the only thing that i dont like that i have seen on the web is all those electric sharpeners so i am def leaning away from those
 
Skylerwebb14, welcome to bladeforums!

You say you have an aluminum oxide stone but that it doesn't seem to be enough. What do you mean by that? Sharpening is so simple it can be hard sometimes. It has taken me almost a year and a half to get decent at sharpening. And I still have a lllooonnnggg way to go.

Edit: I am starting with the stone and we will tackle your other questions a little later.
 
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Skyler, welcome to the forums. Stick around and you will learn a lot. The Sharp Maker is a good option. Easy to use. Good results and very cost effective. One downside is that if the edge is really bad and you need to remove lots of steel to get a good edge that can take a while. On the plus side the ultra fine stones are great for touch ups. The Wicked Edge and Edge Pro are great options but are a lot more money than a Sharp Maker. I think the Sharp Maker would be a good place to start.
 
I just picked up a Lansky Gourmet Ceramic Sharpener. It is very similar but at half the price. However, the holes in the base are a little loose, especially the 25 degree per side setting. Either it or a sharpmaker would be a good place to start if you can match the angles coming off of the stone.

Skylar, if you have any question, just ask!
 
Some people need guided precision systems like the wicked edge and edge pro, other guys here can sharpen freehand on a brick. I fall into the first category, I can't freehand to save my life. I really wish I could. I use the edge pro. I have a wicked edge, work sharp, sharpmaker etc..... But prefer the edge pro. There are so many systems and stones and wheels the choice can definitely be overwhelming the the neophyte. Learn how to freehand. Don't be like me and drop hundreds of $$ on systems and still be handicap at sharpening. Welcome to the forum.
 
Your stone is enough, although it will take more grinding with wear-resistant steels. It's the techniques that will get your edge sharp.
 
i seem to be able to get most of my knives sharp enough to shave the hair off my arm with what i got but some of the other ones seem to take twice as long for half the results. i hunt and fish and we also raise rabbits for food and all of those tasks that come along with those hobbies seem to be so much more enjoyable with a really sharp knife. and now that i have started to take more time in doing this it seems like everyone wants me to sharpend thier knives for them so i was hoping i could get some input on a more efficent system or stone. i am very interested in the dmt bench stones has anyone on here had any experience with those?
 
Re: aluminum oxide stones (generically-speaking):

These are probably the most common synthetic/man-made stones, by far. Some are great, others aren't. They seem to run the gamut in quality, over a huge performance range. Some cheap ones can be almost worthless in their ability to grind even relatively simple stainless steels. I have one like that, and have yet to find a blade that responds well to it. It sheds a ton of (coarse) grit in use, all while dulling the apex on the edge. Other bad ones may tend to glaze over very rapidly, requiring frequent lapping to restore them (and some don't respond predictably to that, either).

What I'm saying is, if you're finding that your AlOx stone isn't doing well with some of the more modern & moderately wear-resistant steels, that's likely an indicator you have an inferior one. Don't know what brand you have, but you might look into the Norton India. Based on those here who've used it, it has a great reputation, and it's likely the best example of what a good one can be (it's also AlOx).

Might also check out Norton's Crystolon (silicon carbide) stone. And for diamond, a DMT Coarse/Fine Duo-Sharp bench hone is a great jumping-off point, and it can be very, very versatile.

The Norton stones will likely work best for you with some oil applied, so they don't get clogged up with swarf. With diamond hones, DMT suggests water is all that's needed, though they also can be used with oil, or dry.


David
 
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i am almost positive that my stone is of inferior quality i got it out of the bargain bin at my work and it seems to fit all the negative criteria that you have brought up in your post Obsessed with Edges
 
skylerwebb14 said:
i am almost positive that my stone is of inferior quality i got it out of the bargain bin at my work and it seems to fit all the negative criteria that you have brought up in your post Obsessed with Edges
Click to expand...

I seem to think that's likely where mine came from, or perhaps should've. :D

Mine isn't branded or marked at all (this is seldom an encouraging sign of quality; I should've known better). It was part of a tri-hone set, all stones mounted on one triangular block, with a base. Don't even remember what I paid (20+ years ago), but it likely wasn't much.

If you still want an AlOx stone, I'd still look at the Norton India first. I don't have one, but I want one. I don't think I've ever heard any negatives about it, coming from many of the true experts here who've used them and posted their feedback. Same seems to hold true for the Crystolon stone.


David
 
Check out heavyhanded's washboard set - super easy to use, good feedback to help you keep the angle, and extremely cost-effective at under $50 shipped. I just got one and am having a blast putting great edges on my knives freehand - and I own an edgepro with a full set of choseras! I would buy the washboard again in a second!
 
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