help in purchasing a good sharpener...

C

christopherpap

Joined
Mar 29, 2009
Messages
73
has anyone used the lansky clamp system to sharpen there knives..? i dont want to spend an arm and a leg..
am i better off just getting a crock stick set up?
i have a smiths tri hone set but i havent gotten a perfect razor edge on any of my knives.:confused:
please help me find the best easyiest and cheapest way to get the razors edge...:o
 
Why would you ask this in the Spyderco forum, you know what we're gonna say :D? The Spyderco sharpmaker i think is the most versatile and easy to use sharpener on the market, without spending $200 on an Apex. The sharpmaker can be had for $45 at yourcornerstore.com.
 
I would avoid yourcornerstore. Their communication is horrendous and it took like 3 weeks to get my refund and I only got it because I constantly called them to remind them.
 
Sharpmaker +1

I've tried the lansky, and without the diamond hones I didn't like it. The Sharpmaker delivers the most accurate and consistent results for the widest possible range of knives. That is why in my mind it is the most versatile sharpener I own, and the one I will always reach for when I go over to someones house for Thanksgiving. :)
 
yea . i definatly like the sharpmaker. but dont you think you could get a sharper hair shaving edge on a clamp system? ugh... cant decide....
 
christopherpap said:
yea . i definatly like the sharpmaker. but dont you think you could get a sharper hair shaving edge on a clamp system? ugh... cant decide....
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Again, why are you asking this in the SPYDERCO forum? Don't you think the answers will be a little biased?
 
christopherpap said:
yea . i definatly like the sharpmaker. but dont you think you could get a sharper hair shaving edge on a clamp system? ugh... cant decide....
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No. The Lansky (base set) doesn't come with ceramic stones, which really help achieve that hair shaving sharpness. Second, the whole system is based on if you clamped the knife the exact same way every time.

The clamp is weak, slips all over the place, scratches some knives, and can randomly "spit" the knife out due to clamping on a FFG knife.

Get the sharpmaker and don't look back.
 
mongomondo said:
Again, why are you asking this in the SPYDERCO forum? Don't you think the answers will be a little biased?
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I'd give the exact same answer over in GD.

But you are right, we're biased towards good knives and well designed sharpening items. :D
 
oh and another thing... listen i really love my fg d2 para military and i dont mean any disrespect to spiderco.. i mean ive really been bit by the spyder, just got my para yesterday and i think im ready for the fg d2 military no matter what the cost... but isnt the sharpmaker the same thing as the lansky crock set but double the price?:confused:
 
Hi Christopher,

As you become more interested in the "edge", sharpening will be part of the diet. Ultimately you will want to learn to freehand sharpen on a stone. The learning process can be done fairly easily with a sharpmaker, and good results are attainable quickly.

Even those proficient with freehand sharpening will often grab the sharpmaker because it's quick, easy and results are very effective.

sal
 
christopherpap said:
oh and another thing... listen i really love my fg d2 para military and i dont mean any disrespect to spiderco.. i mean ive really been bit by the spyder, just got my para yesterday and i think im ready for the fg d2 military no matter what the cost... but isnt the sharpmaker the same thing as the lansky crock set but double the price?:confused:
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Nope. The sharpmaker has two sets of stones, with two angles, and four different "grits" (brown corners, flats, white corners, flats). Then it has slots on the bottom for using it as a benchstone, a scissor slot, and you can use the rods individually for sharpening a whole variety of items.

As Sal said, free hand great. If you really want to start off traditionally, I'd recommend a couple benchstones and some junk knives to practice on. :thumbup:
 
Sal Glesser said:
Hi Christopher,

As you become more interested in the "edge", sharpening will be part of the diet. Ultimately you will want to learn to freehand sharpen on a stone. The learning process can be done fairly easily with a sharpmaker, and good results are attainable quickly.

Even those proficient with freehand sharpening will often grab the sharpmaker because it's quick, easy and results are very effective.

sal
Click to expand...

yea sal i definatly will learn to freehand but for now as a quicky I will purchase the sharpmaker:D
thanks guys
 
Josh K said:
Nope. The sharpmaker has two sets of stones, with two angles, and four different "grits" (brown corners, flats, white corners, flats). Then it has slots on the bottom for using it as a benchstone, a scissor slot, and you can use the rods individually for sharpening a whole variety of items.

As Sal said, free hand great. If you really want to start off traditionally, I'd recommend a couple benchstones and some junk knives to practice on. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

ahh.. i didnt realize all that was included with the sharpmaker... wow! what a great deal !
thanks josh
 
christopherpap said:
... but isnt the sharpmaker the same thing as the lansky crock set but double the price?:confused:
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I haven't used Lansky's crock sticks, but I have used Smiths, Bucks, and some other round stick arrangements. My short answer is "No, they are not the same as the Sharpmaker". First, I find the Sharpmaker's triangular rods to be far more versatile and effective than a simple round stick. The corners of the rods are sharper than a round stick and are more effective at quick cutting. They also serve better for sharpening serrations. The flats of the rods do a nice finishing job and allow you to work all the way to the tip of the knife w/o rounding off the point.

Second, the Sharpmaker base gives you two preset angles for sharpening, a scissor slot for working on scissors and hooks, and slots in the bottom of the base that are designed to take the rods if you want to use the Sharpmaker as a sort of benchstone and freehand sharpen.

Add to that the availability of diamond rods for very quick cutting and the ultrafine rods for final polishing and you have a very well thought out system that still sets up very quickly and packs down to a small and light piece of kit for field use.

Josh K has already highlighted one of the big problems with some clamp systems, although I don't know from experience if it's true of a Lansky system or not. They work fine for relatively level blade grinds like a sabre grind where they can get a good purchase on the blade. But a FG blade where the edge bevel is the blade angle causes problems, at least in my past experience. There is very little contact area for the clamp and it is easy for the knife to slip, even when clamped securely.
 
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hows the sharpmaker on kitchen knives? im guessing its probably a good all around sharpener on any types of knives... right?
 
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