Kme?

totkst1

totkst1

Joined
Oct 14, 2016
Messages
436
I am toying with the idea of buying a kme sharpening system to widen my range beyond what I can seem to do on my lansky setup. A complete kit with 4 standard stones, 6 diamond stones, a roo strop, 1 tube of cbn, a case, the base, and clamp, plus adding 8 chosera stones and 4 more strops with cbn tubes of different micron and the pen knife jaws would be a tiny dab less than 800$ us.

The question is are the chosera stones and additional strops worth 500$. Or will I not notice much difference using only the diamond stones?


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I'm also interested in this and have spent the last 2 days looking at and reading about the KME. No way I could grab it with all of the upgrades at once, but I'd like to see what everyone says about the basic kit and the 4 diamond hones. It seems like a nice system and a great alternative for someone like me that doesn't see myself investing the upfront costs of the edge pro with the equivalent stones.


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IMO, the KME Deluxe kit would be worth it but not all those $500 extra add-ons you listed.

If you're willing to spend $800, maybe consider a Wicked Edge.
 
Depends what result you're looking for.

If all you want is a sharp knife, then you'll be very happy with the KME + diamond set. Ditch everything else and save many $$

If you want mirror polish, you'll need some of the extras you've listed.

I would buy the basic diamond set first and see how you get on.
 
I would also recommend getting the basic kit + base and go from there. I added the Shapton glass 1k-4k-8k to follow the 1500 diamond and been having good results. The lapping films is also another option after the diamonds. From my understanding, the film/glass are the same thickness as the diamonds which makes it a lot easier. I use the thickness compensator for the diamonds to the shaptons.
 
I was never happy with the clamping system on the KME, I have just 4 diamond stones on the profile system and strop with the 1 micron diamond spray and get a polished edge.
 
I agree that if you are willing to spend 800.00 on a sharpening system upgrade, look at the Wicked Edge.
 
Bladegunner said:
I was never happy with the clamping system on the KME, I have just 4 diamond stones on the profile system and strop with the 1 micron diamond spray and get a polished edge.
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Out of curiosity, what did you not like about the clamp?
 
whp said:
I agree that if you are willing to spend 800.00 on a sharpening system upgrade, look at the Wicked Edge.
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Would the learning curve be vastly different from the kme to the wicked edge and will the wicked edge accommodate smaller blades like on a case xx muskrat or small trapper?


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I wouldn't get the chosera. I just got the beast & 140grit stones from kme and the venev diamond stones from gritomatic. and three lapping films and a strop or two with compound.

im looking at getting a hapstone (or edge pro) in the future. im not to particularly pleased with the KME. its a good system, but not great.
 
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I'm happy with my KME setup. I got the basic kit which includes 4 diamond stones. Then added the base, 50 & 100 grit diamonds, storage box for stones, and convexing rod.

That will take care of 99% of your needs for user knives. If you want a mirror edge for show, then add strops and/or films.

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I just bought the KME last weekend. I got the basic kit with the 4 diamond hones. My suggestion would be to get the basic kit, and add on the 100 Grit and 50 Grit diamonds. If you are into the polished/mirror edge thing, you can add the lapping films. I have not used any of the CBN or strops, so cannot speak to that.
 
Well I decided on ordering the kme deluxe kit that comes with all 6 gold diamond stones, 3 ceramic stones, a medium-fine Arkansas and a roo strop with 4 micron cbn emulsion. I added the hard translucent Arkansas, the 4 extra roo strops and 4mic, 1.5mic, .5mic, and .1 mic cbn emulsions, and the pen knife clamp for smaller blades


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totkst1 said:
Well I decided on ordering the kme deluxe kit that comes with all 6 gold diamond stones, 3 ceramic stones, a medium-fine Arkansas and a roo strop with 4 micron cbn emulsion. I added the hard translucent Arkansas, the 4 extra roo strops and 4mic, 1.5mic, .5mic, and .1 mic cbn emulsions, and the pen knife clamp for smaller blades


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I've had the deluxe for a few months. I'd recommend doing several (cheap/kitchen) knives before trying to go full bore with the emulsions. It's not hard, but you want to get a feel for the ceramics vs. diamonds and work out your process. I bought a couple of $3.50 walmart knives and then worked through all the kitchen knives. You can also give KME a call with any questions. They are quite helpful. Also, Deano and KnifeKrazy's youtube KME videos are great. I will say that the first knife I did gave me a new appreciation for how sharp a knife can get. Have fun!!
 
BilboBaggins said:
I've had the deluxe for a few months. I'd recommend doing several (cheap/kitchen) knives before trying to go full bore with the emulsions. It's not hard, but you want to get a feel for the ceramics vs. diamonds and work out your process. I bought a couple of $3.50 walmart knives and then worked through all the kitchen knives. You can also give KME a call with any questions. They are quite helpful. Also, Deano and KnifeKrazy's youtube KME videos are great. I will say that the first knife I did gave me a new appreciation for how sharp a knife can get. Have fun!!
Click to expand...

I may just use a few of my beaters I have at home and a few other inexpensive knives before I go full bore on any one of my higher end edc knives. Also it's great to know they are so helpful with customer service even after the purchase, not many companies out there will do that but every review or thread I read about them talks about how super helpful they are! Looking forward to trying it out


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Since you're good with the Lansky, the KME is similar and more advanced. As far as use, they're close to each other. You may want to look at the stone compensator if the stones you got are different in thickness. You may also want to get a angle cube to check edge angles.
 
I was getting ready to say what Ajack just said - I've got a lansky, a friend recently upgraded to a KME and I've used it. very nice, you will be pleased, and the learning curve won't be bad.

I'm looking at the basic kit diamond stones, with add ons - i dont see the need for diamond stones, and synthetic, that overlap the same grits, but thats just me.

i think you'll like the strops and compounds too
 
The deluxe kit I bought comes with the compensator and I am looking at buying an angle cube or something like it from amazon or somewhere


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Ive been using my kme for a while and I'd recommend just getting the basic diamond kit with strops of your choice (just depends on how far you want to take it). Get the stone thickness compensator and the start with the 1000 grit water stone then 3000, 5000, and 10000. I personally stop at 3000 then strop to 1.5 micron. Beyond this you don't get much reward for your work.

If you think you need more I'd just go ahead and get a wicked edge. The kme is great but I don't believe it was ever meant be an $800 system
 
totkst1 said:
The deluxe kit I bought comes with the compensator and I am looking at buying an angle cube or something like it from amazon or somewhere


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Digital angle cube is INVALUABLE for sharpening!!
 
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