Knife sharpener? -recommendation

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Aug 1, 2009
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Hi all!

I am looking for a good knife sharperner.

I have found that the electric sharpeners are not good at all.

I prefer not to use a stone because I am inexperienced and a stone requires an exact angle.

anyone have there favorite?
 
I prefer Arkansas stones with oil, but DMT and Lansky and a couple other reputable brands make sharpeners with set angles. It takes time but if you are serious about a hobby in bushcraft and cutlery I'd highly recommend getting a 6 dollar fine grit Smith's Arkansas stone to practice on cheap knives. Sharpeners with set angles only really work on flat grinds, scandinavian and convex edges can be really messed up by a fixed angle sharpener. The longer you practice the better you get, buy a 5 dollar 440 A knife, sand down the edge, or just use it til it's dull, then when watching a movie just practice sharpening at a set angle and take a look at what the outcome is.
 
I'm happy with my Lansky Turnbox set with the medium and fine rods. I think it might be good for you because its a system that is sorta freehand sharpening with training wheels. It takes care of the angles, you just hold the knife straight. :)

Also one of the two angle settings is 20 degrees, which is what RATs are sharpened at from the factory.
 
I usually get them proffesionally done and they turn out great, but I am looking to cut my costs on that.

Also I want something for in the field.
 
A arkansas stone is by far going to be the easiest to carry and maintain in the field, and very easy to replace. The 2 dollar kabar pocket sharpener I've had success with, it's cheating and tends to put more of a false edge, or edge built up of filings, on the knife but it is very quick and easy to do, something you can carry on a weekend backpacking trip and at least get a cutting edge with.
 
Spyderco sharpmaker is an excellent and versatile sharpener.

Hey Joben - I used to have the Lansky rods and when I went to the sharpmaker it was night and day. Even though the sharpmaker seems like a large amount of money for essentially the same thing, you will have absolutely no regrets after you make the upgrade!
 
Get either a DMT Aligner or DMT Magna Guide. They're fast, simple, and easy enough to carry in the field if you want. I usually use the Magna Guide (Fine, Extra Fine), followed by a stropping. Shaving sharp edge that anyone can do.

Oh, and by the way, those diamond stones should last you the rest of your life.
 
The Sharpmaker from Spyderco is an excellent tool. I've gone to stones and strops now, but before you've got lots of experience the Sharpmaker works great. It's money well spent.
 
kgd said:
Spyderco sharpmaker is an excellent and versatile sharpener.
Click to expand...

Big +1

Out of the 20+ knives I own, my sharpmaker seems to work best & leave the nicest razor edge on my Izula, RC3 and RC4.

I can literally split a hair with my RC3 after the fine stone on my sharpmaker - before any green compound - SCARY SHARP!

New Graham Knives has great prices and service!
 
To sharpen regular, I would recommend the Sharpmaker. However, all of my RATS I use sandpaper method, as they will eventually become convexed that way.
 
It is explained in the post, and the videos that are on the website better than I could explain it.
 
I have use many different systems ie sharpmaker edgepro ect... I like how the lansky system is set up and its quite idiot proof...Thats just my 2 cents
 
I have a spyderco sharpmaker and its a simple good tool to get sharp knives.

I also use the sandpaper convex sharpening type.
This is one of the cheapest but works very good.
I use it with my sebenza.

I have not sharpened my rats but i think they will be convexed with the sandpaper sharpening.

I would like to buy me some of the paperwheels but that stays on my wishlist .You can get a very nice convex edge with them in a short time.
 
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Spyderco sharpmaker is great for home touch ups
DMT alligner, easy, small great for in field, it is less versatile than the sharpmaker but cheaper
 
If you would have asked me a month ago, I would have said spyderco sharpmaker. I recently took the plunge and invested $63 dollars into the system RichardJ recommends (and will help you with if you have any questions) and wont go back to anything else. The system is cheaper than higher end sets and stones, is so much faster, and gets every knife I have thrown at it (as of yet) to get screaming sharp. The learning curve isnt much. I got really good results after just a 1/2 hour of practice.
 
Another vote for the spyderco sharmaker here. Very versatile easy to store away some place when you're not using it.
 
I jsut got a Lansky system. It works pretty well for me.

The only downside is if you break the whole system down after a sharpening system it take a while to reattach rods etc...

But if you want "precise" angles than a system like the Lansky is pretty good.

For the field I have a EZLAP diamond stone for quick touch ups.
 
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