Jig/Machine Vs Hand Sharpening

T. Erdelyi

T. Erdelyi

Joined
Feb 3, 2001
Messages
32,359
I've tried just about all the knife sharpeners out there priced at $100 or less.

As always the sharpening system, whatever it is holds my interest for a while, but eventually I fall back on free hand to get the sharpest, fastest edge.

I just ordered an Edge Pro Apex, almost $200 with everything. I have to wonder is this gonna be my end all be all sharpening system? Or am I gonna resort to what's the most convienent, and easiest, freehand,(no set up, and easy to take along.

This is a two part thread, the first question is how many of you have bought sharpening systems, only to fall back to freehand sharpening? And how many have bought sharpening systems, and now use nothing else?

The second part is a poll, about the method you use most often.
 
13yrs of sharpening freehand, last yr or so with the Spyderco 204 and freehand.

I learned how to sharpen almost anything freehand, and self taught too.
the 204 is simply a way to rebevel any knife I can't get shaving sharp with the Spyderco DoubleStuff and a strop.


That said, I always use my doublestuff... the 204 comes out if 15-20minutes of freehand isn't getting me anywhere.
 
After trying gadgets and doodads, I prefer stones.

Not only do I prefer the results, but I enjoy the process more.
 
At the moment all I really use is the 204. I am trying to learn to sharpen freehand.

At times, when I have a lot of material to remove I have used a 1" belt sander.:D


Erik
 
I've been freehand sharpening for probably 27 years, granted the first 17 years really was more like just wearing away the blades, but somewhere in the last 10 from all that repitition I've managed to developed the ability to attain anywhere from a strong, long edge holding, working edge, to a hair poppin' cigarette paper slicin'shavin' machine.

Alas, this didn't come without repercussions, many hours at night sharpening, sharpening eveyone knives,(seems no matter how bad I was at getting an edge, I was better than they were) so I got more practice.

I read a lot on the subject, talked to my friends Fathers, and Grandfathers, and a few of the old world Grandmothers, hell my Grandmother slaughtered all the animals for the family, back when she was alive. She could put a razor sharp edge on anything from a scythe, to my Granddads old folding razor.

In my mid 20's, I had the oppurtunity to work with an old Portugese Butcher, this guy taught me more in 3 years than I'd learned in the first 17 years.

And finally this forum has filled in the gaps left by any questions, I might have had or still have.

My big problem comes when the toys come out, I gotta see if there really is an easier way, but in the end, I inevitably return to free hand is that really wrong?

I just wanted to add that there is something calming about stroking the edge of the blade against the stone.:D
 
I learned freehand on some cheapies what seems like a hundred years ago. Since then I've bought ceramic stick type systems from several different makers including Smith's, Case, Crock Stick and Steamboat.
I've got maybe half a dozen stones of various grits and type from Arkansas to Carborundum. Let's not even talk about the diamond impregnated "stones", have at least six of those methinks.

I got the Sharpmaker 204 and use that most of the time now and second to that I use a Smith's Diamond benchstone. If I need to re-bevel a blade I take the blade out to Mr. Belt Sander and he takes care of that lickity split.:p
I use the Steamboat ceramic sticks for kitchen cutlery mostly and some re-curve blades.
 
Here's what I use, it's a home made jig to hold DMT "stones" at the same angle as my sharpmaker. Finish blade off with a sharpmaker.

I can sharpen shop tools freehand but never been able to master a good blade edge that way.. jigs are for me :)
 
Hello guys!

I've hand sharpening experience for many years, let's say about more than 25 years. First, when I started to "sharpen" (lol) I used a file and a small worn-out sandstone. That was at the age of 10! Later i switched to waterstones and used it in combination with oil, i. e. "Ballistol" and it worked very well, and it didn't took long that all my fathers hunting buddies brought me their knives to have them sharpened and I remember very well how bad they have cutted themselves. That was at het age of approximately 12/13. Later I switched to waterstones which also worked very well but left the edge a bit too rough for general tasks but worked well for skinning. I added finer stones to my collection to get sharper edges, ......but far away from being polished! Over the years I was convinced, that the best workable edges could be applied by waterstones used with Ballistol and having the edge refinde with Arkansas stones. Lots of work! To make it easier I switched to DMT diamond benchstones (blue, red and green) and it made the job much easier and faster and ending with the green stone (1200 grit) I got good working edges, but, in my opopinion, they didnt hold up the edges as long as I wanted and they left too much "teeth" in the edge. Then I discovered the ceramic stones and today I must say, that I prefer them over the diamond stones. First of all I do not let my knives get too dull and bulky edges are horrible. I use Spyderco bench stones black and white and they serve me very very well, although time becomes a factor.

When I started to buy more and more knives, and today I have quite a lot of them, I had to invest really a lot of time to keep all of them in good condition an really sharp and I was looking for a machine that could make the job easier. But I've always wasted money in some machines, either the stones were to use only dry and overheating damadged or ruined the knives or the stones did not work with the necessary efficiency so I stayed with my Spyderco's.

But recently, by chance I discovered a new machine, the "TORMEK 2005" and I must say: "YES, SIR!" That is really the first machine I found, which is able to do the job the way I always wanted to hav it done!! Sharpening a knife the common way to a finish I wanted took me approximately 30 minutes. Now I am able to do the job in 3 minutes! And hell,.....what a finish!!!!

If you are interested, they have a good webpage: http://www.tormek.com
Lots of infos and good downloadable instructions and recommendations about sharpening.

Please excuse my being long, but I think that it is helpful to share my experiences with you to help you saving money and finding the right solution.

greetings
Gerry
 
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