Good Knife Sharpener?

I was talking about "methods" of sharpening not weak comparisons of competely different objects such as computers and pencils.
The only difference in a diamond stone and a Sharpmaker is that the Sharpmaker is preset to the angle needed and the stone is not.
You will not get as good of an edge with a stone freehand as you cannot keep the angle consisitant.
Nothing wrong with learning other methods of sharpening but I say there is really no reason to as you can take the Sharpmaker with you anywhere you go.
 
I did a search for sharpmaker and looked at several sites. I don't see what guides the knife on the triangular ceramic stones. Could you explain what holds the knife in the proper angle and how that is superior to a skilled hand? Is there some clamping device that is not shown in all the advertisments?
 
You hold the blade vertical and slice downward on the hones.
It is not absolutely 90 degrees but it close enough.
I think you just want something to argue about so I will leave it at that.
 
I never argue. I like to learn and like to teach folks who like to learn.

So, what you are saying is that you have to hold the knife at a 90% angle by hand?

I am just trying to understand how that is better than sharpening by hand?

Since both are guided by hand, right? Did I miss something?

And I apologise if I sounded argumentative at any time.
 
No problem Frugalweaver, my apologies also.

Yes you have to hold the knife at a 90 degree angle.
It is much easier to hold a blade vertical and stroke downward onto a 30 degree stone than it is to lay a stone flat on a table and guess 30 degrees with your hand by tipping the knife blade. That is the consensus of everyone that I have ever heard who uses the Sharpmaker also.
Not saying that you can't get a pretty good edge with a stone freehand but I don't think it would be near as accurate for most people and a blade guide would be a much better way to go on a flat stone IMHO.
If you can sharpen a blade as well on a flat stone with no guides than more power to you, I applaud your skills.
 
Well I'll say it your nuts. The Sharpmaker doesn't put a better edge on than free hand with a stone. In fact your very limited with the sharpmaker vs free hand with stones. Angle control with both are the same 90 vs what ever you want free hand. The only thing about the Sharpmaker is it may be easier to learn to use, and I'm not really sure I'd even give that to the Sharpmaker. In fact unles your knife isn't very dull or the angle on the knife is less than the Sharpmakers angles it's a real b itch to use.
 
I never said it put a "better edge" on a knife, I was referring to maintaining an edge not reprofiling it.
If it is so limited in it's effectiveness why is it recommended so highly on this forum?
If freehanding is so accurate why does John Juranitch advise against it and recommend a guide in his book?
 
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MikeV said…

I never said it put a "better edge" on a knife, I was referring to maintaining an edge not reprofiling it.
In post 23 you say..
The only difference in a diamond stone and a Sharpmaker is that the Sharpmaker is preset to the angle needed and the stone is not. You will not get as good of an edge with a stone freehand as you cannot keep the angle consisitant.

Fair enough you didn’t say better, you said not as good.
I’m going to get myself in trouble but what the heck, I’ll say the Sharpmaker is not a very good sharpener at all, however as a system to touch up edges it’s a really good system. So yeah I’d agree to maintain that edge it’swell worth the price. Free hand works very well for this also as does many things.

You say…
If it is so limited in it's effectiveness why is it recommended so highly on this forum?

Because it is a great system for what it is. I’d say it’s the best V system I know about, comes with a video and is clean, compact, and fairly easy to use. Assumeing your knife isn’t real dull, chipped or have a thick edge.

You said…
If freehanding is so accurate why does John Juranitch advise against it and recommend a guide in his book?
Maybe because he sells guides? LOL I kind of feel like Cliff with all the quotes sorry about that.
A last thought all the system and methods aren't really very good unless you know what and how you are getting that edge. What really matters is you get it sharp not how you do it. I'm willing to bet if most people just put a little time in to learning how to get a good edge they can then do it with just about anything even that guys coffee cup.
 
Thanks db and I agree with what you said.
Since the original post was from someone not knowing what sharpener to get that is why I recommended the Sharpmaker.
I think someone new to sharpening with a diamond hone might just mess the edge up worse.
John Juranitch sells guides because they work. ;)
 
I advocate learning to sharpen. I don't care how you do it. If you learn what is happening to the metal and what it needs to do then you will be able to use anything to sharpen a knife.

I keep thinking about that guy that was hiking and had a boulder fall on his arm. He had to hack his arm off with a dull knife. With tons of rock all around he hacked his arm off with a dull knife. I know this a once in a lifetime extreme example but it makes the point. He should have known how to sharpen a knife.

If you have a Sharpmaker and it is always with you, great! If you learn the skill to use whatever is available to sharpen then you will never be without.

People are always asking "what is the one most important thing to always have with you?"

INOVATION.

Learn to use whatever you have or can find in as many different ways as possible. Don't be stuck in one thought. Don't be tied to one tool. Don't believe you can only do it one way.
 
Somehow, I don't think that using the Sharpmaker will impede one's ability to understand sharpening theory. While I do think that sharpening a knife on the bottom of a coffee cup is a neat trick, I use my knives for cooking and don't mind achieving a really sharp blade with a gadget even if it is "cheating."

Chances are I will not have to hack my arm off with a dull knife, so learning to use a boulder to sharpen a makeshift shiv just isn't high on my list of priorities. I think this makes a lot of sense for an avid outdoorsman, just not for me. I think everyone here has different goals in mind when choosing their tools for sharpening and there is probably one or two best tools for each application out there. If a coffee cup works for you, go for it.
 
frugalweaver said:
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I keep thinking about that guy that was hiking and had a boulder fall on his arm. He had to hack his arm off with a dull knife. With tons of rock all around he hacked his arm off with a dull knife. I know this a once in a lifetime extreme example but it makes the point. He should have known how to sharpen a knife.
Click to expand...

He should have learned how to hike with a partner! :D
 
Lots of should haves there.

Well, at least I will get some of you to think and to try different things.

It's all in fun and I enjoy every minute of it.
 
I totally agree my friend.
I also have a Razor Edge Systems set with the two 8" stones and guides and am interested in learning to use them also.
 
Thanks guys-
My sharpmaker just arrived and I had an edge that could shave hair within minutes on first try. Amazing! Sharpmaker definitely works, and possibly the gateway to more advanced systems, or technique!
 
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