Is the New CRKT Slide Sharp any good? I'm looking to buy an ultra easy to sharpener for a friend who has no interest in learning how to sharpen knives. Has any one tried the CRKT Slide Sharp? Does it do a good job? How does it compare to a Spyderco sharpener?
Pics:
http://www.equipped.org/pp/pic1491.htm
http://www.equipped.org/pp/pic1491.htm#using
Specs:
The simple systems require a fair amount to considerable skill to use and/or too use without ruining the blade and the guided system approach doesnt lend itself to being set up and used easily and quickly. As for powered systems; lets not even go there. CRK&Ts new Slide Sharp ($35) is sort of the Dummies Guide of knife sharpeners, developed by Steve McCowen and Charles Kain.
This is one of those forehead slapping, why-didnt-I-think-of-this concepts. A 9.45 inch (240 mm) long ceramic rod is inserted into a wood base a few inches square. The kit comes with 2 ceramic rods, fine and course. You then drop a spring over the rod and then a plastic guide that has two slots in it, each at a different angle to the rod. Finally, theres a small domed handhold to go on top of the rod. Hold the rod steady with one hand at the top and simply slip the knife into the slot and run the guide down the rod while pulling the knife through. Release and the guide pops up again for another pass. Switch the blade direction in the guide to do the other side of the blade.
The current guide has a "fine" and "utility" setting, 17 and 21 degrees (nobody seems to know how they came to select those odd angles), but others will eventually be available and it wouldnt be all that difficult to make your own. It is all packed in a plastic box. Were hopeful; theyll come up with a field sharpener using the same concept, but which will pack into a much smaller box.
__________________________________________________________________
http://nbox00.tripod.com
Pics:
http://www.equipped.org/pp/pic1491.htm
http://www.equipped.org/pp/pic1491.htm#using
Specs:
The simple systems require a fair amount to considerable skill to use and/or too use without ruining the blade and the guided system approach doesnt lend itself to being set up and used easily and quickly. As for powered systems; lets not even go there. CRK&Ts new Slide Sharp ($35) is sort of the Dummies Guide of knife sharpeners, developed by Steve McCowen and Charles Kain.
This is one of those forehead slapping, why-didnt-I-think-of-this concepts. A 9.45 inch (240 mm) long ceramic rod is inserted into a wood base a few inches square. The kit comes with 2 ceramic rods, fine and course. You then drop a spring over the rod and then a plastic guide that has two slots in it, each at a different angle to the rod. Finally, theres a small domed handhold to go on top of the rod. Hold the rod steady with one hand at the top and simply slip the knife into the slot and run the guide down the rod while pulling the knife through. Release and the guide pops up again for another pass. Switch the blade direction in the guide to do the other side of the blade.
The current guide has a "fine" and "utility" setting, 17 and 21 degrees (nobody seems to know how they came to select those odd angles), but others will eventually be available and it wouldnt be all that difficult to make your own. It is all packed in a plastic box. Were hopeful; theyll come up with a field sharpener using the same concept, but which will pack into a much smaller box.
__________________________________________________________________
http://nbox00.tripod.com