Good sharpening system - advice

mfm22

mfm22

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Nov 9, 2010
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Looking for something good , would like to use on folding knives - Chris reeves , benchmade etc..
Ease of use if a plus - saw some videos on ' wicked edge " - looks like a quality item

any other ideas welcome
 
Most folks feel that a power sharpener like a wicked edge work sharp is not where to start. The basic premise is that it lets an inexperienced sharpener wreck a bunch of knives really fast.

The typical model seems to be to start with a system of guided stones to become proficient and then move onto a power system.
 
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Lansky is pretty good as well as the very popular spyderco sharpmaker. I have and use and like both. The sharp maker is easier and less setup
 
Danke42 said:
Most folks feel that a power sharpener like a wicked edge is not where to start. The basic premise is that it lets an inexperienced sharpener wreck a bunch of knives really fast.
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Ha! True that. Wicked Edge and the like can re-profile an edge way too easily for the inexperienced. If you want to touch up an edge before it's dull, the Sharpmaker's a good bet. A strop with a few compounds is a great way to maintain an edge too.
 
Danke42 said:
Most folks feel that a power sharpener like a wicked edge is not where to start. The basic premise is that it lets an inexperienced sharpener wreck a bunch of knives really fast.

The typical model seems to be to start with a system of guided stones to become proficient and then move onto a power system.
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Wicked Edge isn't powered. You're thinking of Worksharp.

OP, the Wicked Edge will work well for you. Another, less expensive option would be a KME system.
 
Otto Carpenter said:
Ha! True that. Wicked Edge and the like can re-profile an edge way too easily for the inexperienced. If you want to touch up an edge before it's dull, the Sharpmaker's a good bet. A strop with a few compounds is a great way to maintain an edge too.
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Again, not a powered sharpener. Wicked Edge is a manual, guided system. No need to worry about ruining a blade unless you're just not paying attention.
 
TLE Sharp has it right. The Wicked Edge is fast because it used diamond stones and you can sharpen both sides at the same time, not because it's powered.

The Wicked Edge is the best sharpening system out there, but it's expensive. The Edge Pro is good, too, but it needs water.

The key to sharpening is to hold a constant angle, gently raise a burr along both sides of the edge and then gently remove the burr, leaving nothing but a keen, clean apex. Wicked Edge lets you hold a constant angle without any effort. The diamond stones are fast and easy to use. You can get a ton of accessories, with it over time to refine your edges. I especially like the strops because even a beginner can use them correctly, with the proper angle and pressure.
 
I always suggest to folks that they learn to sharpen by hand with some bench stones. Steeper learning curve? Yep. More time consuming? For awhile, yep. But there is a certain satisfaction of doing it "old school" that you don't get (imo) from a sharpening system. I think many knife knuts will appreciate learning a new skill and being a little more "hands on" in the sharpening process. You will need to learn on some beater knives but it is a skill that will last a lifetime.

I have the DMT 6" Dia-Sharp 4 grit kit. About $90. I also have some cheaper Arkansas stones + leather strop + compound.
 
T.L.E. Sharp said:
Again, not a powered sharpener. Wicked Edge is a manual, guided system. No need to worry about ruining a blade unless you're just not paying attention.
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I misunderstood, TLE - no, WE is not a "powered" sharpener. Danke42 wrote "power sharpener," which I took to mean a "powerful" sharpener, which it certainly is. Frankly, I'd rather leave real sharpening to people with skill like you.
 
I say this from my perspective only...For me, getting a Sharpmaker and some strops to get rolling was the way to go. I later added a KME and like it very much. I'm still very much learning although I can get a screaming edge on pretty much anything. I'd also suggest some time spent in the Maintenance/Tinkering section of the forum. An unbelievable amount of knowledge there and people seem willing to help out. Good luck!
 
I'll throw in another vote for the Wicked Edge. It's a simple and very accurate way to sharpen knives. I use is for all of my folders. I also own the Ken Onion Worksharp and it's a very fast sharpener, but it's very easy to round a tip of a blade. I use it for all of my kitchen knives, machetes, etc.
 
More answers to that question then you could imagine ... kind of depends what kind of money you want or don't want to spend.

The Wicked Edge a great system but can get very expensive depending on what options you want ... the KME or Lansky and similiar guided systems like the Wicked Edge but less expensive. But even guided systems have a learning curve ... but admittedly once you learn them ... they can reproduce the angles on each knife easily.

Free hand sharpening such as using water stones might initially take a bit more time and practice to learn ... but for me once learned gives you alot more options ... faster with no setup time ... you can buy stones to sharpen whatever you have steel wise and if the stones are maintained will serve you well for many years. And add a good sttop and compounds in you can get great results ... and for me it's enjoyable sharpening this way.

And some mentioned powered sharpeners or belt grinders ... can work well but can also ruin a blade as quickly.

So if you want the easiest method as far as quickest to learn and ease of repeatability ... it would probably be a guided system such as the Wicked Edge ... KME ... Lansky ... Hapstone ... and a few others ...
 
A Sharpmaker is good if you keep your knives sharp. If you let them get dull, the Sharpmaker isn't the best tool to bring them back. I consider it the Sharp Keeper rather than Maker. It is a good beginner system however.

In the vein of the Wicked Edge, checkout the KME system. It's great for reprofiling and sharpening. Easy to use and is a quailty make.
 
Free hand definitely has a steeper learning curve. To this day, I can free hand sharpen knives to be VERY sharp, but still not to the crisp and even level of using a guided system.
 
gazz98 said:
I always suggest to folks that they learn to sharpen by hand with some bench stones. Steeper learning curve? Yep. More time consuming? For awhile, yep. But there is a certain satisfaction of doing it "old school" that you don't get (imo) from a sharpening system. I think many knife knuts will appreciate learning a new skill and being a little more "hands on" in the sharpening process. You will need to learn on some beater knives but it is a skill that will last a lifetime.

I have the DMT 6" Dia-Sharp 4 grit kit. About $90. I also have some cheaper Arkansas stones + leather strop + compound.
Click to expand...

Solid advice. The DMT 4 grit kit is a bargain. The coarse and extra coarse are very handy plates.
 
Dallas T said:
Lansky is pretty good as well as the very popular spyderco sharpmaker. I have and use and like both. The sharp maker is easier and less setup
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Agreed. I also have both. The Lansky I have used for years but, IMO the Sharpmaker is a better tool. Faster to set up and tear down. True, it is much, much slower if you have to reprofile a blade but, who cares?
 
I've used Japanese stones in the past (long past ) to sharpen chisel & hand plane blades
It was easier due to the nature of those edges = straight & not too wide
Can get into some very fine polishing with them

I really would like to keep cost down , the wicked edge seems to be $ 400 plus.
I'll look at the sharpmaker
I just don't want to make a hollow grind into a V. Lol
 
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