Guided Sharpening System?

tedtf

tedtf

Joined
Feb 6, 2016
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I am looking for a guided sharpening system and do not want to spend a lot of money - sub $100. Most of my knives are 3.5" to 6" fixed blades used for hunting purposes. I am torn between Lansky Professional Kit, DMT Aligner Pro, and the DMT Diafold Magnaguide kit. I have been told the Lansky clamp works best but the DMT stones are much preferred. also that the lansky is best for smaller knives and DMT may work better for larger blades. Any advice or guidance is appreciated.
 
You'd probably be fine with any of those. Although some don't like the DMT Aligner clamp, I like it better than the Lansky clamp. I think it grabs the knife hard and it doesn't tend to slip as much. It will work on fairly small blades, and can be shimmed to hold small ones with a zip tie piece. You can get good results with either. Make sure to use the marker trick to find the correct bevel (instead of the instructions- the angles never match what it says).
 
tedtf said:
I am looking for a guided sharpening system and do not want to spend a lot of money - sub $100. Most of my knives are 3.5" to 6" fixed blades used for hunting purposes. I am torn between Lansky Professional Kit, DMT Aligner Pro, and the DMT Diafold Magnaguide kit. I have been told the Lansky clamp works best but the DMT stones are much preferred. also that the lansky is best for smaller knives and DMT may work better for larger blades. Any advice or guidance is appreciated.
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Between those three choices, and with your mentioned knife types/sizes in mind, I'd go with the DiaFold/Magna-Guide setup. Assuming the blade widths of the hunting knives are ~3/4" or wider, the DMT clamp will work well with those (it doesn't do as well with narrower blades, such as on traditional pocketknives). And the DiaFold hones used with it are the most versatile and user-friendly of the three options, even when used freehand (or especially so), and they're a bit larger than the other hones as well (surface area is king, for grinding speed). The DiaFolds are also available in a wide grit range, from XC all the way thru EEF (60µ - 3µ). I also believe you'll like the finish left by DMT's hones better than with the Lansky hones. DMT's Aligner clamp (standard clamp paired with the Magna-Guide kit) is also very useful when paired with a bench stone; in fact, I think it's actually better when used this way.


David
 
I like the DMT, but it doesn't do well with spear point (no flat edge) or larger knives (5/16 spine).
 
Consider raising your price point and look at the KME. Definitely a step above the systems you're considering, especially on the knives you mentioned.
 
tedtf said:
I am looking for a guided sharpening system and do not want to spend a lot of money - sub $100. Most of my knives are 3.5" to 6" fixed blades used for hunting purposes. I am torn between Lansky Professional Kit, DMT Aligner Pro, and the DMT Diafold Magnaguide kit. I have been told the Lansky clamp works best but the DMT stones are much preferred. also that the lansky is best for smaller knives and DMT may work better for larger blades. Any advice or guidance is appreciated.
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search for RUIXIN PRO on amazon for $25, might need to buy stone(if your stone is beveled need flatten or just buy some shapton for edge pro), its best bang for bucks. I used on my kitchen and other knife, originally I was gonna get kme or wicked edge, but thought its only $25 so I give it a try, its pretty good so far.

note: you need angle cube or other digital angle measurement too.
 
The Dmt Magna guide or the Aligner are great options at 75-80 dollars. I personally like the Magna guide. As mentioned previously, they are easy to use when hand held. I also like the case which is less important but still a factor.
 
Personally, I'd recommend saving up a little more money and buying an Edge Pro. You will get more value for your money and the performance will far outweigh systems like the Lansky or DMT Aligner kit. The edges you will receive from a system like the Edge Pro will be consistent, easy to establish, and they have more flexibility when striving to achieve ultimate sharpness due to the numerous accessories you can purchase.
 
weaponwh said:
search for RUIXIN PRO on amazon for $25, might need to buy stone(if your stone is beveled need flatten or just buy some shapton for edge pro), its best bang for bucks. I used on my kitchen and other knife, originally I was gonna get kme or wicked edge, but thought its only $25 so I give it a try, its pretty good so far.

note: you need angle cube or other digital angle measurement too.
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I agree. And go with some eze-lap 1x6 diamond stones (shop around, amazon doesnt necessarliy have the best price). Less than 70 bucks total and it'll do what you need as long as you have some common sense and don't throw it against a wall or step on it or something.

And most people have a smartphone. Skip the angle cube and use a free angle app on your phone.

I should mention that someone should probably not buy the regular generic edge pro but rather the one with the single suction cup base.

And don't forget the neodymium magnets. Get two or three 1x1 cubes with the highest magnetism you can get to stick under the base to hold the knife in place.
 
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Sharpmaker. I just did a beat up blade and it came out fairly well.
 
I bought a DMT Aligner but didn't care for the clamp or the fixed selection of angles available. I tried it a few times but with the exception of the hones which I do like it went into the trash today. I replaced it with a KME system which is above your price point but well worth it.
 
bodog said:
I agree. And go with some eze-lap 1x6 diamond stones (shop around, amazon doesnt necessarliy have the best price). Less than 70 bucks total and it'll do what you need as long as you have some common sense and don't throw it against a wall or step on it or something.

And most people have a smartphone. Skip the angle cube and use a free angle app on your phone.

I should mention that someone should probably not buy the regular generic edge pro but rather the one with the single suction cup base.

And don't forget the neodymium magnets. Get two or three 1x1 cubes with the highest magnetism you can get to stick under the base to hold the knife in place.
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agree, OP you don't need angle cube, most smartphone has angle app free, though I find tools such as Wixey WR300 is easier.
I don't think you need magnets, since the one recommend 3rd gen is stainless, and has a clamp for knife.
this is one I mentioned. if you don't like it returned it through amazon is piece cake
http://www.amazon.com/Sharpener-Pro...TF8&qid=1455914221&sr=8-1&keywords=RUIXIN+PRO
 
I have the DMT aligner system and find that it mostly works pretty well. I have reprofiled several knives in M4 and S110V and it does it about as well as it would for any other steel and doesn't take a long time doing it. It is relatively foolproof- put ink on the edge, check it with a high power magnifier, work on the edge until the ink is gone all the way to the edge, and you have a sharp knife. I made a strop for it out of a piece of balsa wood the same size as one of the stones and glued a piece of leather on it. A few strokes with that and the edge seems really sharp. The clamp works OK on some blades but is hard to use on others. I'm thinking about making my own clamp.
 
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