I've never sharpened a knife before but want to learn how. Suggestions on what to buy?

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whatshouldiget

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May 17, 2013
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I'd really like to keep it under $100, preferably around $50 if I can. I would like to sharpen my folding knives as well as kitchen knives. Can anyone help me choose a system? It seems that unless I'm willing to spend $250 or so and get an edge pro or apex or whatever that one system can't do it all. Thanks a lot for any info!
 
I'd go with a good diamond hone such as a DMT red (600 grit) bench stone. It will last for decades (I have yet to wear one out in 30+ years) and will work on any steel. Freehand sharpening is not difficult; an angle guide that clamps to the blade helps maintain the proper angle. In time you can decide if you need coarser or finer hones.
 
Spiderco Sharpmaker is about $68.00, add in the optional ultra fine stones should bring it to $100. The Sharpmaker comes with a great instructional DVD but there are a lot of YouTube videos on how to use it too.

I would also suggest a 3" x 10" or 12" leather strop and some green color chrome oxide strop compound, or my favorite, Flitz Liquid Polish, and you'll have everything you need.

If you're bound and determined to go with stones buy some plastic angle wedges so you learn how to move the blade at the correct angle.
 
My lansky deluxe was about 25 bucks. A little fiddly, but once you learn the quirks it's a great system. I pair it with the spyderco sharpmaker and get great results.

Since added some diamond hones and they work great.

If you want freehand, the smith's tri-hone is pretty neat, and about 25 bucks as well.
 
whatshouldiget said:
I'd really like to keep it under $100, preferably around $50 if I can. I would like to sharpen my folding knives as well as kitchen knives. Can anyone help me choose a system? It seems that unless I'm willing to spend $250 or so and get an edge pro or apex or whatever that one system can't do it all. Thanks a lot for any info!
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DMT A-prokit.

Has all the diamond stones you will need, plus a little system that lets you set an edge angle.

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Under 100$.
 
I like the Sharpmaker. Really great for the steels I use.

With stuff like VG-10, 154CM, 1095, D2 and such, it takes very little time and effort to get great results.
 
The Lansky is nice and all but it doesn't really hold up in the long run, in my experience. The soft jaw clamp sucks.

I recommend getting some good bench stones and learning freehand.
 
A WorkSharp belt sharpener is an INCREDIBLY easy way of putting an awesome convex bevel / edge on almost anything, really quickly.

Then a leather strop with some green compound and you're set!!
 
Sharpmaker and a strop, or some nice benchstones and a strop and learn to sharpen freehand. It’s a useful skill - you can easily restore an edge with nothing more than the bottom of a coffee cup if you know how.
 
The new lansky 3 or 4 diamond set is great. The new version clamp is much better and the split clamp is designed to center the blade perfectly so both side angles are the same, some clamps do not have a center split so look for that. I use a vise to hold the clamp and flip it when doing both sides. Best bang for the buck in my opinion.
Make use of the multi stages to reduce the wear of each stone in any system you choose.
 
AntDog said:
Sharpmaker and a strop, or some nice benchstones and a strop and learn to sharpen freehand. It’s a useful skill - you can easily restore an edge with nothing more than the bottom of a coffee cup if you know how.
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Coffee mug is one of my faves.

And strop with the newspaper.
 
Just be aware that if you decide to learn to sharpen freehand you likely won’t be getting your knife sharp very soon.

Unless you’re a natural sharpening prodigy freehand sharpening is a skill that can take quite a while to learn and a lifetime to master. Don’t let that discourage you because freehand sharpening is many people’s preferred method.

For someone who has never sharpened before that wants to get their knife sharp some time this year I highly recommend a fixed angle system.

That’s why I suggested the DMT Aligner kit.
 
If you decide to go with lansky guided sharpner, buy the diamond set. The bade set will wear out soon.

I agree freehand is the way to go if you will sharpen for a lifetime.
 
I use the AGPtec jig. About $30 on the big river site. The stones that come with it aren't all that great, but they will probably get one started. Any stone that works on the Edge Pro will work with it, so it is easy to upgrade. I like the diamond stones that chef knives to go sells.

O.B.
 
AntDog said:
Sharpmaker and a strop, or some nice benchstones and a strop and learn to sharpen freehand. It’s a useful skill - you can easily restore an edge with nothing more than the bottom of a coffee cup if you know how.
Click to expand...
I went this route after posing a similar question a few months ago. I added diamond rods and Spydie ultrafine to the basic kit as well as a green strop and it just plain werks. I’ve done everything in the collection with it. I love m390 and taking that steel through the progressions gets a wonderful result. I mean, you name the steel and there’s a 90% chance I’ve sharpened it on the ‘maker. The only one I feel that I have not done justice to is S110V. It’s plenty sharp but I feel it could go more with either better skill or additional??? Bonus fact: Led Zep’s D’yer Maker is their approximation of the Patois pronunciation of “Jamaica”.
 
Hunt on Craigslist for a used angle grinder and TIG welder.

I’ll be back later to post my tips and sharpening “hacks”. Right now I have a spoon stuck in the sink disposal and I’m gonna see if I can’t get my wife to jiggle it loose (she has small hands) while I work the switch. I don’t forsee any problems.

This should only take a minute. We’ve haven’t had much to drink tonight so I’m good. We’re good.

BRB
 
"Chef Knives To Go .com" is where I have bought most of my Japanese kitchen knives and they also sell just about any type of sharpening equipment and bench stones you would need. They also have videos on how to sharpen.I have many stones and even a KME sharpener but if I had it to do all over again,I would keep the water stones that I use the most now,Shapton Pros,they are splash and go and handle any steel you may want to sharpen.I would get the 320 grit,1000 grit and even the 2000 grit and call it a day.Well,not actually,you will need a diamond plate for lapping the stones from time to time to keep them flat.Sharpening equipment can get pretty involved.If you own knives,you need to lean how to sharpen and maintain them. Like I said,I have many stones and of different grits but now I find I usually don't go beyond 2000 grit and the Shapton Pro is as good as they come.The 320 grit will allow you to fix your edge providing you don't have some really big chips in the edge.I actually find a sort of Zen in sharpening,so much so,I don't even use my guided systems anymore.Also,Jon,from "Japanese Knife Imports",also has some great instruction videos on how the sharpen along with there stones and knives to sell.
 
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