How quickly did you buy a sharpening system?

Sorry I havn't posted in awhile. I plan to collect many more knives. I am just getting started into this collection though. I am only 18 trying to finish school work a part time job so my budget is in no condition for me to drop 250 on just a sharpening system. Thats why I was curious if the SM will suffice for awhile. Also yes I am new to this so thank you to all who have posted to help me out :)
Steele
 
You guys do realize that people sharpened knives for hundreds of years before those systems were invented, right? It can be done on a $10 carborundum stone from the hardware store with some practice. I sharpened knives for over forty years before I bought a "system", and the only thing I use my SharpMaker for is serrations and hawkbills.
 
I bought a sharpening system after about five years. I tended to buy a new knife to 'try out' by the time one got dull. The dull one just went into some box while the new one was used.

I saw the cost of shipping to the company as a waste after I had a few dozen knives and eventually got a system to sharpen them.

To the OP, get a Sharpmaker if you plan to collect more blades; or learn free hand for a cheaper but beneficial method.
 
I have a chopper and as soon as I started using it and wanted to continue using it without fear of dulling the blade, I purchased a system. the more you use the knife, the more in demand you will be of one. If you just have your knives to stare at and fondle, not much need for an expensive system.

__________________

Beckerhead #32
 
True, if you don't want to drop $200 on a system, you do have other options.

You can send your knife to Richardj here on the forums. For a few dollars he'll give it the paper wheel treatment and it will return sharper than hell. :thumbup:
 
SteeleySawyer said:
I only have like two knives at the moment which is pathetic haha. I guess I kinda want to build my collection before buying a sharpening system ( sharpmaker ). Is this a wrong way to go about things?
Click to expand...

It depends on if you want to do your cutting with a sharp knife.
In my wiew you need sharpening equipment as soon as you got a knife. Mabye you can avoid it if you by new knifes when the old ones get dull byt another problem is to be satisfied with the factory edge!!!
You at least need a flat diamond stone. If you ask me Handheld stones is best anyway as soon as you have learned to use them.

Bosse
 
5.56 said:
True, if you don't want to drop $200 on a system, you do have other options.

You can send your knife to Richardj here on the forums. For a few dollars he'll give it the paper wheel treatment and it will return sharper than hell. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

+2
Richard_J is the Jedi Master of paperwheels.
 
Last edited:
I've been sharpening knives for a while just using a diamond stone, wetstones, and a steel honing rod. I found an Gatco sharpening system from my local knife dealer and bought it a couple of weeks ago. The ease of reprofiling and putting a equal bevel on both sides of the knife is what appeals to my OCD. I could get a knife sharp, but the edges weren't equal until I got the Gatco setup. With the Gatco system I was able to reprofile my CRKT Cruiser from a chisel edge to a standard V edge (it did take awhile) and it is very sharp.

Lucky for me, a friend of mine should be getting an Edgepro delivered today. I'll get to play with that soon enough.

I was able to get a tip from a youtube video (BLUNTRUTH4U) on how to get a consistent edge using a simple clamp system. Take a picture and annotate the settings of the clamp. You could go farther and measure clamp to handle distance and clamp to edge distance an annotate that as well.

m-
 
After about a year and a half, I finally bought a Sharpmaker this week. I kept holding out thing that I needed to buy the EdgePro or Wicked Edge system.

I just sharpened four knives and the Sharpmaker and it works well. One knife was really dull but now you could shave with it. The Sharpmaker is easy to use and not too expensive. I don't know why I waited so long.
 
I just use various grits of sandpaper:D
My knives can shave hair but I just can't seem to get it sharp enough to whittle hair:mad:
 
SharpCutlery said:
I just use various grits of sandpaper:D
My knives can shave hair but I just can't seem to get it sharp enough to whittle hair:mad:
Click to expand...

Hair whittling usually requires a lot of (correct) stropping with a fine compound. Then again, hair whittling isn't always the best edge for the EDC job right?
 
Hmmm It was probably about a year after I bought my first good knife. Long story short I now use Arkansas stones.
 
I have the Lansky system among others. But, I generally used DMT diamond stones now for the most part. I am quite fond of them. However, as with any bench stone, you need to pay attention to the amount of pressure and the angle you hold the blade on the stone.

I like to touch up an edge with ceramic rods as it is easy and almost foolproof.

My brother in law keeps nudging me to strop my knives. He often sharpens my knives when I visit. Stropping is something I am moving toward to put the final hair popping edge on a blade. He even gave me all the stuff I need to do it. However, I don't always feel like taking the time for stromping.
 
Last edited:
22-rimfire said:
I have the Lansky system among others. But, I generally used DMT diamond stones now for the most part. I am quite fond of them. However, as with any bench stone, you need to pay attention to the amount of pressure and the angle you hold the blade on the stone.

I like to touch up an edge with ceramic rods as it is easy and almost foolproof.

My brother in law keeps nudging me to stromp my knives. He often sharpens my knives when I visit. Stromping is something I am moving toward to put the final hair popping edge on a blade. He even gave me all the stuff I need to do it. However, I don't always feel like taking the time for stromping.
Click to expand...

What is stromping? and how do you stromp a knife?
 
It is essentially polishing the blade edge with a very fine grit abrasive. It is usually done on a leather surface mounted on a piece of board for rigidity. You add the "rouge" and bring your blade generally toward you along the edge at a very low angle. This is for the finishing touch on a blade where you want it nearly "razor" sharp. They get so sharp that you can't even feel it when you cut yourself, then you see the blood.

On a budget, I would get the ceramic rods. It is very very easy to use these and works great. You just can't re-profile and edge with these. You can get one for under $50. There are several around. You will get two sets of rods; one coarse and one very fine. They are usually mouted in a "V" in a wood holder and often called Croc Sticks.

Do a google search on stropping. You will find instructions at some of the knife sites. The old timey barbors would strop their razors on leather. You may recall seeing pictures of a piece of leather hanging by the chair.
 
Last edited:
My apoligies... stropping. (Corrections made above) Now, I understand, you were just poking fun at me. :D Got me. Oh, well, I'm no expert and that is the way it was pronounced to me in the past.
 
Last edited:
Don't wait. I just bought an Apex Edge Pro after owning knives for YEARS and regret every year I went without.
 
+1 on the Edge Pro. I started with the Sharpmaker and couldn't get it to work for me. I've had an Edge Pro for about 2 years now and it rocks. Perfect bevels and mirror edges.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top