Help me pick a sharpener

C

Christian.t

Joined
Nov 30, 2017
Messages
5
Hey everyone!
First post here! I have a small collection of Japanese knifes that I want to get supersharp. Already have the worksharp (kenoion?).
I think it's fine but it's hard to get perfect. It's also the first ever sharpener I ever bought and now I want to upgrade.

So! After watching a lot of YouTube and read a lot of reviews I have landed on three choices. The edgesharp pro kit, tsprof techstudio profile 02 kit or go pure water stones wich I never tried before.

My knifes are for everyday use in the kitchen and they need to be sharpen quit often since my wife isn't any good to keep them sharp.
I'm the only one using the honing made from ceramic but she or everyone else dosent care. I have friends and family coming with there knifes often I want me to sharpen them.

My needs are:
- the system should be simple to assemble and store away.
- kinda idiot proof
- effective, so I don't need to spend hours for a couple of knifes.
- perfect results effortlessly

Help and suggestions would be very appreciated.

PS. My native language isn't English, sorry for the misspelles.
 
Water stones would be my vote. They're simple, effective, and relatively cheap. One thing they are not is "idiot-proof". They require a degree of skill to use, but once you get the basics down it's a great way to maintain your edges. If you want perfection each time you sharpen your knives I'd say go with a guided system.
 
The best kit type sharpener I could recommend is the Spyderco 204 Sharpmaker. Albeit there are some conditions with that kit >> and if you do elect to get a 204 Sharpmaker you "MUST" also get all of the extra stones that are available for it like the CBN stones, The diamond stones and the Ultra-fine stones to make the kit complete and to give you some versatility.

I don't know how dull your knives are that you are about to sharpen but if they are really beat up you might also want to consider a coarse or extra-coarse diamond benchstone like a DMT, Norton or 3M diamond stone to remove any nicks, chips or dings from the blade before doing a final finishing job.

Because the 204 Sharpmaker is basically a finishing tool for all intent and purposes. So you might need to do some serious re-profiling before embarking on getting them razor sharp. My second pick would be DMT's kit type sharpener.
 
I don't think there's any "idiot proof" sharpening system other than pull-thru sharpeners, and they usually wreck your knives. :-)

Freehand sharpening with waterstones would be the route I'd choose if I were you, but heads up, freehand sharpening is definitely not idiot proof. It's not overwhelming either, but it'll take an investment of a few weeks of your time, watching some training videos, asking questions here, and working with a couple practice knives, to get proficient.

If you want a guided system, +1 to JD Spydo, just get a Sharpmaker. Less cost and hassle than the expensive guided systems (those expensive guided systems are not exactly idiot proof either). It gives you the most universal common angles you'd probably want, though a lot of folks here want even smaller edge angles than the 15 degrees per side you can get with Sharpmaker. Some people find it's a good transitional strategy to learn sharpening by starting with Sharpmaker, so you can get stuff sharp and have the guided aspect to help, AND get a bench stone or two and starting learning to do freehand sharpening at the same time.
 
Of your options I choose TS k02 because of clamp.
Or you can build your own (if you have time o know someone that can build for you) with joint ball m8, stainless steel rod 5/16, metal base, magnetics, spring, stop ring + some holes, glue...
 
Thanks for the answers.
Forgot to add that wicked edge is an option as well.

Why I have set my mind on those locked models is because my wife wants to learn this as well but she demands a locked system. I know her patients is like zero when it comes to stuff like this. But if she start to sharpens them here and there, she would appreciate the knifes more and take a bit better care of them so I don't need to sharpen them all the time.
 
Sharpmaker in addition to whatever else you buy. Wicked Edge if you need clamped... 2017 Gen 3 clamp is a must IMO.
 
I would imagine that any system you buy would have some sort of learning curve to get perfection. You stated that the worksharp that you have is fine but hard to get perfect. It seems to me that your best bet would be to stick with the workshop, invest in some cheap knives for practice, and use them to develop your skills to achieve the results you want with the worksharp. I think the workshap already meets most of the needs you listed: simple to assemble and store, relatively idiot proof, effective and fast. The last requirement, perfect results effortlessly, I don't think you'll get with any system out there.
 
KME seems to be a pretty good guided system.

Ken Onion is a powered sharpener so it is easy for someone who is inexperienced to take way more steel off the blade than necessary.

Also as a power sharpener any mistakes could remove alot of material and be worse than making mistakes on bench stones.
 
Wicked edge field and sport pro (with the 2017 gen 3 clamp) with 4/2 micron and 1/0.5 micron leather strops, a set of 50/80 and a set of 1500 stones. Throw in the quarter inch clamp and it'll run you about ~$850-900. Easy to set up, repeatable results, portable, and in my experience it's worth every penny.
 
Do you even want to learn to freehand sharpen? If not and doing kitchen knives I would suggest checking out a tormek. I don't have any personal experience with one but for your budget it would work very well.
 
My vote is for the K-02. I have one and it is excellent. There are many accessories available for it, and stones can be purchased from many sources in nearly any grit and material you like. You can even make your own stones. It is made of steel mostly, with some aluminum. Very sturdy. Should last a couple lifetimes at least. It is easy to learn and use, and dare I say even fun to use "to me anyway". I got the Pro kit, and added a few accessories along with many stones of different type sizes and shapes. It stores nicely in the kit box and assembles quickly and easily.
There are a few other very good guided sharpeners, but the K-02 is what I decided was best for me.
 
Maybe you should just buy your wife like an 80 dollar Misono, hide your good stuff from her and everyone else, then let her go to town on the worksharp.

If I have nice stuff and people keep messing it up I take it away from them.
 
Christian.t said:
Thanks for the answers.
Forgot to add that wicked edge is an option as well.

Why I have set my mind on those locked models is because my wife wants to learn this as well but she demands a locked system. I know her patients is like zero when it comes to stuff like this. But if she start to sharpens them here and there, she would appreciate the knifes more and take a bit better care of them so I don't need to sharpen them all the time.
Click to expand...

If your wife’s patience is at zero than that may be a problem.. Sharpening takes patients and discipline to learn and achieve good results, no matter what system you have.
 
If you have a $1000 to sink into a sharpener go wicked edge. If on a budget get a kme. I could never re profile a knife by hand but on my kme I can get it scary sharp.
 
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