Help!! New to Sharpening

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lee12

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Apr 8, 2014
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I am pretty new to learning how to sharpen my knives. I use to have Bass Pro sharpen my knife for $1 but they did some things to my case peanut that I did not like so I decided it was time to start doing it myself. I bought the Lanskey system....hated it. I now have a Smith's CCD4 3 IN 1 Field Sharpening System, this has a fine diamond sharpener with ceramic rods. The problem is, I cannot get my knives to shaving sharp. I did get my Spyderco Delica 4 to pop a few hairs but very little. Anyway, I am looking into getting a translucent or arkansas hard black stone. I am tired of spending money on items to sharpen with and really dont want to go out and by 3 different expensive stones....I do not mind buying one or two decent priced stones. My question is, what would you recommend to get a very fine edge on my blades, adding to what I already have (smiths 3 in 1 field)? Or should I just get rid of the 3 in 1 and start over? Thanks for the help. I hope I was detailed enough.

Current knives I use: Spyderco Delica (vg10), Case Peanut (tru steel), Kershaw Skyline (14c28n)
 
I had the 3-in-1 from Smith's. Still have it actually. Never was particularly fond of it. I also own a Lansky with natural stones -- it works alright sometimes. I also own the Sharpmaker which I think is overrated, for me at least it hasn't worked as well as popular reviews would have us believe. I don't think anything's getting "sharp as a razor" with the standard Sharpmaker -- maybe it'd be better if I was to get the extra fine stones.

For me, the best bet has been using all three systems together. I mostly use the Lansky, I've bought a couple extra stones for it. Sure isn't anything special still, but it works well enough that I can pop hairs. Also not the fastest system.

Anyone else have experience with the Sharpmaker and getting a GOOD edge?
 
knifedude802 said:
Anyone else have experience with the Sharpmaker and getting a GOOD edge?
Click to expand...

Google YouTube videos by jdavis882 and Cr0cket20

If you're not getting a hair popping edge with a SharpMaker using the two standard rods - it's probably your technique.

The thing that helped me the most was the two SharpMaker Improvment videos by Cr0cket20.

Mounting the SharpMaker down and using two hands helped me immensely.

Another tip - attach some cardboard ( the back of a notebook is perfect ) to the SharpMaker rods and lightly strop the blade a few strokes.

Are you using a Sharpie to make sure you're hitting the edge and not the shoulder?
 
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Get a strong magnifier and sharpie pen and make sure your sharpening is reaching the apex of the edge.
For the sharpest edge you might need to use a strop. You can make a simple one, even wrap a smooth piece of leather around your stone and put some polishing compound on it.

I use a DMT aligner which is a relatively crude guided system but it is inexpensive and comes with good diamond stones. I made a simple strop that is shaped like one of the stones and finishing using a few strokes with it makes my knives scary sharp.
 
There's a few reasons why you're not getting shaving sharp edges with your stones. You're either A. Not completing the apex with the coarse stone, possibly because it isn't coarse enough, or B. You are rushing through the progression of coarse medium fine too fast, or C. You're not holding a consistent angle.

There's no reason you can't get a knife to shave roughly with even a simply coarse/fine India stone. I would work on improving your technique before blaming the tools.

One tip is you can feel when you're actually hitting the edge at the preexisting angle if it glides smoothly with little drag, even on the roughest stones. If it feels like you're really grinding it in there, you're too steep or too shallow. On the coarse side aim for 30 strokes per side then on the opposite side your sharpening run your fingernails down the side of the edge, if they catch, it apexed. Don't move onto the finer grits until you raise a bur.
 
aquaman67 said:
Google YouTube videos by jdavis882 and Cr0cket20

If you're not getting a hair popping edge with a SharpMaker using the two standard rods - it's probably your technique.

The thing that helped me the most was the two SharpMaker Improvment videos by Cr0cket20.

Mounting the SharpMaker down and using two hands helped me immensely.

Another tip - attach some cardboard ( the back of a notebook is perfect ) to the SharpMaker rods and lightly strop the blade a few strokes.

Are you using a Sharpie to make sure you're hitting the edge and not the shoulder?
Click to expand...

I use a Sharpie, haven't tried the cardboard thing, I use a leather strop. I can get the hair off my arm, but it's not what I consider "scary sharp".
 
knifedude802 said:
I use a Sharpie, haven't tried the cardboard thing, I use a leather strop. I can get the hair off my arm, but it's not what I consider "scary sharp".
Click to expand...

Then you're probably not apexing the edge fully on the coarse stone. I made this mistake for years thinking i just needed better stones, or finer stones and i eventually learned once i got the better, finer stones it made no difference until i went back and really ground it out on the coarser stones to bring out the apex.
 
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