Is the Spyderco Sharpmaker pretty well idiot proof?

L

LastDefender

Joined
May 30, 2007
Messages
46
As I would define myself as a knife idiot having failed miserably at my attempts to use a traditional steel. Can the average lumox (me) employee this unit with reasonable hope of success? I'm not looking for surgical scaple sharpness, just a good clean sharp blade.

This Lansky unit looks mighty appealing to me....

LSTCS.jpg
 
The Sharpmaker is essentially idiot proof. If you can't keep the knife straight on the stones, then I really don't think you should be handling knives anyway. Just make sure you watch the DVD a few times, follow the instructions, and you should be fine.

The hardest thing with the Sharpmaker IMHO is making sure that the preset angle actually matches up with your knife, something that can be taken care of with some marker or pencil on the edge

I've never tried the Lansky unit though, sorry I can't help you there
 
If you buy it and watch the video twice and read the manual once even you will be able to sharpen knives. I can say this because I started out where you are now and was given the above advice and it worked.
 
The only problem with it is if the bevels don't match. The Sharpmaker is great for touching up edges that match the settings, but really slow for reprofiling.
 
Those pull-through carbide sharpeners should be illegal. I wouldn't use one for anything but an emergency field touch-up, assuming i couldn't find a flat rock to use instead.

The Sharpmaker is not idiot proof (it was once, but then we got even dumber idiots). It IS easy to learn, IF you watch the included DVD a few times before you start, and again after you have used the device for a while (you pick up more from the video as you become familiar with the unit).
 
I would like to add about the Sharpmaker, that's not discussed in the DVD, that it can cause pointy knife tips to become rounded. This tip blunting can happen at the end of every stroke if you are not careful. At the end of every stroke, you need to end the stroke while the knife is still on the rod. Do not let the tip of the knife come sliding off the rod, that's where the blunting action occurs.
 
Thanks guys. This tool will be my next purchace unless you all feel there is something better (easier) to opperate?

Regards,
Gary
 
Nope. The Sharpmaker is an idiot trap.

If the angle doesn't match your edge angle, an idiot will work for days and then complain on the forum about how it doesn't work.

Tilt the Sharpmaker by putting a pencil or one of the stones under one end of the Sharpmaker to get it to match your angle.

.
 
I am now a much better idiot than I was before getting my Sharpmaker. So yes, it is proof of idiots.

(I still like my Sharpmaker)
 
Fool proof was the goal in the development of the TriAx Sharpener. Sharpmaker is quick but the operator has to attempt to "lock" in his wrist assuming if he does he will maintain a constant angle between the edge and the stones. However, if it is only his wrist that is locked the blade changes the horizontal (side to side) angle between stones every time it moves side to side. In addition, if you are using it in the flat stone mode, the knife edge will most likely strike the edge of the stones, not the flat face. Yes, with some pressure the edge may strike a portion of the flat stone but again you will rely on the "lockness" of the wrist (and actually more).

In order to actually lock the angle between the edge and the flat stones you have to lock your wrist, your elbow and one plane of your shoulder. Tough act for most.

The Lansky and GATCO types will usually give you a constant angle. However, they are somewhat cumbersome and the blade edge comes awfully close to your knuckles. One more thing, because of the clamping action takes place at the back or spline of the blade, there is no repeatability between sharpening sessions. You may get 22 degrees on both sides one time but next session you can get a 2 or 3 degree difference (like 25 deg. on one side and 20 deg. on the other.

TriAx offers quick sharpening with precise, repeatable angle on the blade every time it is used. There have been several magazine articles written recently describing the machine and rates it. Our web side has the articles attached.

S. Brock Presgrove, PE
triax-sharpeners.com
 
Using the Sharpmaker, if you hold your knife in a sabre grip -- thumb outstretched over the back of the blade -- and stroke gently down each rod alternately, you won't have any problem with the slight variances in blade-to-stone angle. At worst :p you'll give your blade a slightly convex edge.
 
I've tried my hand at sharpening with a flat Arkansas stone after reading the "how-to's" and still couldn't get a good sharp edge. Bought a Lanksy sharpening system and I got pretty good results but seemed a little too tedius to me. I purchased a Sharpmaker, watched the DVD that came with it and read through the manual. After 50+ knives, each hair shaving sharp. Sharpmaker is the only way for me, very happy with it, easy to use and I get consistent good results with it.
 
Esav Benyamin, another issues of a Sharpmaker (or any of the Crock Stick type sharpeners) is the tip of the knife. As you drag the edge of the knife across the stone and come to the curved end of the blade, the angle between the blade and the stone changes. Not only does it change, you again are at a single point of contact between the stone and the blade.

I designed the stone holders of the TriAx so that as you come to the curved end of the knife, the flat stones swivel to keep the complete flat surface against the blade and the angle between the stones and the blade edge constant.
 
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