Good EDC knife sharpener under 70

I've been using a sharpmaker and getting good results lately. I think it's $80, so a touch over your budget. Save some more pocket change for a couple weeks. A friend uses a Lansky turn box and gets blades almost as sharp as I can with the sharpmaker for $30something.
 
Work Sharp Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener. The basic version is around $60. I got the Elite version which is double that but I barely ever use the extra stones.
 
Take a look at the Work Sharp products. I bought one several years ago and am very pleased with it.
 
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Are you asking for a home sharpener for your EDC knife, or a sharpener to carry every day?
EDIT: NVM, I just looked up the precision adjust :p
 
I am not sure how much it costs but I have had very good success with the Spyderco Sharpmaker. Another option would be to pick up a bench stone. Perhaps one the stones that have 2-difference grits?
 
I have lots of different stuff.

I use a sharpmaker the vast majority of the time. It’s easy enough to stick in a backpack and carry with you, plus it doesn’t require much room to use. Definitely portable. With one of the diamond or cbn rod pairs you can sharpen most anything. Most could get by with only this system. Mine was about $80.

I have a wicked edge for home use, mainly for doing lots of knives in a days time, especially if it requires me to re-profile angles. Takes the guess work and most of the skill out of it and allows you to knock knives out quickly. This is very expensive though at line $500+ and not easily portable.

I have a double sided diamond stone from dmt that I keep in my cargo pocket all the time and another one in my backpack. I use these a lot at work a lot. These are extremely handy and can be found cheap at online or even Home Depot. I think I paid $20 or for mine, which has a course and medium stone. This is a free hand sharpener, so it’s a learned skill. I’m not very good at it, but I’ve learned enough to get one sharp enough to cut printer paper.

I also have used the old sandpaper and cardboard, or mousepad, to make a more convex type edge. Again, this takes practice and I’m not very good at it, but it’s easy enough to get a working edge. Plus it’s cheap.

I even have pull-through sharpeners if all else fails. Not a fan of these but ok for junk knives in a pinch.
 
I dunno about a sharpening system, I've never seen anything like the gizmos I just googled from this thread. I'm sure they're great.. But a good Arkansas stone and a can of 3in1 oil is well under budget and I've never really needed anything else.

After looking at that work sharp thing, though, maybe I'm missing out here.
 
I started sharpening knives on a stone, by hand. Worked pretty well. Then, I bought a KME system, kind of on a whim. I wanted to see how well it worked. It does work, and I like it. But, I have gravitated back to using a stone. More specifically, the Spyderco medium grit ceramic stone. I also use the Spyderco fine grit stone to "refine" the edge a little, but it's really not necessary.

Using a bench stone is just easier to me. I don't have to fiddle around with clamping a knife in a jig, or anything else. Just whip out the Spyderco medium stone, and in just a few minutes, I can touch up an edge very nicely. It does take a few tries to get the hang of a bench stone, but it is a skill that I think is worth learning, and I get a certain sense of pride with the results. It's simple and efficient. So that would be my recommendation.

I do finish it off with a leather strop, and basic green compound. A strop is quite easy to make.
 
You didn't specify a system, so -
2 diamond 6"x2" stones, coarse and extra/super fine and a strop.
India stone and a strop - this will cost less, but can't handle super steels.

Depends on your steels and your taste against sharpening. Not ideal for me, personally, but it handles everything well.
 
If you aren't willing to learn freehand sharpening with bench stones, than the Worksharp Precision Adjust is the best option within your given budget. IMO it's the best "guided" system on the market under $100. The Spyderco Sharpmaker is also an excellent unit, but like many have said before it should be called the "Sharpkeeper" instead. It's best use is for maintaining knives, touching up semi dull knives. It's not a good tool for reprofiling or repairing damaged blades.
 
If your considering the Sharpmaker look at the Idahone. It's less, almost 1/2 the price and the longer rods make it better suited for larger knives like kitchen cutlery. $50 shipped/made in the usa. I used one and thought it was good, might be worth a look.
 
P_A_S_1 said:
If your considering the Sharpmaker look at the Idahone. It's less, almost 1/2 the price and the longer rods make it better suited for larger knives like kitchen cutlery. $50 shipped/made in the usa. I used one and thought it was good, might be worth a look.
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Same here. I tried both and liked Idahone better even though less money.
 
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