So here about 3 weeks ago I got a KME and have been using it a fair amount. I got the diamond vversion with an extra coarse stone as well. Also got the base, as many said it was significantly better to have the base. I am sold on the base as far as being almost mandatory, but it is pricey for what you get. Anyhoo on to the clamp system. I graduated from a Lansky, and the KME system is so much better, infinitely variable angles, and the clamp it self is real good with the rubber stuff on the inside. It holds FFG's real good, and with some care, holds heavy swedge grinds (BM 940 & 943) just fine.
The stones are significantly better than the Lansky, mostly because they are bigger. The grit stays on better as well, partly because I think is actually is on better, and some because I go a lot easier on diamonds these days than I did on the Lansky when I first got it. I usually don't judge diamond stones the first few passes, because no feel like there are always some high spots that grab a bit. I did a bunch of kitchen knives (45 or 50 inches worth) and decided they were all pretty good, except for the 600. It had a little clump of something that hit the edge every time. Contacted KME, and they send another one in a few days, and it seems fine. It did have a bump, but after today's sharpening party it has smoothed out nicely.
The kitchen knives were not hard so much, but they had been abused with a pull through and had chunks torn out, some of them .050 deep and lots of them. Only real problem with the sharpener is that you have to honk on the knob that controls the 180 degree flip over action pretty good to keep the weight of the handle from turning the clamp. Bit of support with forearm helps, but you gotta pay attention.
Today I did 13 of my knives, with generally decent steel (I have been putting it off til I got then new sharpener)
Big Manix S30V
Manix2 XL S90V
Military D2
Pac Salt H1
Endura ZDP 189
PM2 S30V
BM 940 S30V
BM 943 S30V
BM 9100
Emerson Super CQC 7 S30V?
Boker Epicenter VG 10
BM 531, 154 CM
Military CTS XHP
Went pretty good, the worst thing is resetting bevels, due to changing systems, and a couple of fairly dull edges. Had to go to the 140 grit a couple of times, mostly was able to start with the 300. Got lucky on the PM2 and started at 600. I ran them all to the 1500 and then a bit of stropping with red rouge looking stuff and every last one of them shaves good. The whole ordeal took about 4.5 hrs, only about 10 more to go.
The stones are significantly better than the Lansky, mostly because they are bigger. The grit stays on better as well, partly because I think is actually is on better, and some because I go a lot easier on diamonds these days than I did on the Lansky when I first got it. I usually don't judge diamond stones the first few passes, because no feel like there are always some high spots that grab a bit. I did a bunch of kitchen knives (45 or 50 inches worth) and decided they were all pretty good, except for the 600. It had a little clump of something that hit the edge every time. Contacted KME, and they send another one in a few days, and it seems fine. It did have a bump, but after today's sharpening party it has smoothed out nicely.
The kitchen knives were not hard so much, but they had been abused with a pull through and had chunks torn out, some of them .050 deep and lots of them. Only real problem with the sharpener is that you have to honk on the knob that controls the 180 degree flip over action pretty good to keep the weight of the handle from turning the clamp. Bit of support with forearm helps, but you gotta pay attention.
Today I did 13 of my knives, with generally decent steel (I have been putting it off til I got then new sharpener)
Big Manix S30V
Manix2 XL S90V
Military D2
Pac Salt H1
Endura ZDP 189
PM2 S30V
BM 940 S30V
BM 943 S30V
BM 9100
Emerson Super CQC 7 S30V?
Boker Epicenter VG 10
BM 531, 154 CM
Military CTS XHP
Went pretty good, the worst thing is resetting bevels, due to changing systems, and a couple of fairly dull edges. Had to go to the 140 grit a couple of times, mostly was able to start with the 300. Got lucky on the PM2 and started at 600. I ran them all to the 1500 and then a bit of stropping with red rouge looking stuff and every last one of them shaves good. The whole ordeal took about 4.5 hrs, only about 10 more to go.
