Knife sharpener

T

Thompsob

Joined
Feb 1, 2016
Messages
26
In the market for a good knife sharpener, I've spent a lot of money on very high quality folder and fixed blade knives, straight and combo serrated edges.
Some of my knives approach $1000 in value.
What is a very good system that is fairly simple to use, I am not very mechanically inclined and don't want to harm my knives or buy the system and then not use it because I am intimidated by it.
I've seen a lot of talk about Wicked Edge, but I know there are others as well.
And it goes from 250 to 800. Mehta is a good system good value relatively straight forward to use. I have a large investment in blades so I'm not opposed to spending a reasonable amount of money caring for my investment.
Thank you in advance for your suggestions.
Also, advice on where to get whatever I choose would appreciated.
Although I guess that depends on what I choose.
 
If you are in any way worried about sharpening a knife because of its value then you should not sharpen the knife.


I sharpen by hand with Japanese waterstones and never really liked guided systems, it just felt too disconnected. Most of them will do exactly as others have demonstrated though, so it basically comes down picking the one you like best.
 
Any decent sharpener, will require you learn how to use it, as well as learning a bit about sharpening itself. "Fairly simple" in sharpening, usually equates to something that doesn't do a good job. If you're not "mechanically inclined", I'd look at a decent guided sharpener... (Wicked Edge, Edge Pro, KME), and invest the time to learn it and the principles of sharpening.

None are intimidating to the point you won't use it, but they do take practice, so whatever you get you'll want to practice on some less expensive knives first.
 
I've got the sharpmaker with the added Diamond and ultra fine rods. With a strop you can do without the ultra fine rods. It is a superb system, pretty simple and not too expensive.

Say I was not all sharpmaker equipped, I'd invest in the Edge Pro.
 
I really appreciate the advice and also, Jason B, the links.
With rhea Edge Pro, Wicked Edge etc, are the entry level models generally sufficient, or do you need to go higher. ( I know I know it depends on what I'm using it for what I hope to get out of it and so on, it's just that on some occasions when there are multiple levels of a product the entry level is all but useless and other times to go above the entry level is superfluous. I want to keep s fsctiry edge on many knives with different steels and some straight edges and some combo edges.)
Of course I have cheap blades to practice on and will and have read up on the process, which seems almost like an art form.
 
Thompsob said:
I really appreciate the advice and also, Jason B, the links.
With rhea Edge Pro, Wicked Edge etc, are the entry level models generally sufficient, or do you need to go higher. ( I know I know it depends on what I'm using it for what I hope to get out of it and so on, it's just that on some occasions when there are multiple levels of a product the entry level is all but useless and other times to go above the entry level is superfluous. I want to keep s fsctiry edge on many knives with different steels and some straight edges and some combo edges.)
Of course I have cheap blades to practice on and will and have read up on the process, which seems almost like an art form.
Click to expand...

What is a "rhea Edge Pro"? (If it's one of the chinese knockoffs, I personally don't think they're worth it).

The "model level" will depend mostly on the level of finish you want on the knife. Even the entry level though, in most cases, will give you a "better than factory" edge, however, in most cases, you end up wanting more. I used to sell Edge Pros a few years ago (don't now)... I started by carrying all levels, but ended up carrying the "highest" one, because in almost every sale of the lower levels, the customer would end up wanting the rest of the items that the higher level kit had.

I mentioned "practice first"... you'd be surprised how many start by trying to sharpen their best knife. And you're right, while there is a lot of science, there is a bit of an art to it.
 
Thank you that is actually very helpful.
Rhea edg pro was a typo for the edge pro. I'm glad IQ zigs the part of bladeforums entrance requirement or I would be hi and dry.
Since you used to sell edge pros, do you like them recommend them.
I'm curious, you obviously know what you're doing, what do you use to sharpen and maintain your knives?
 
I have multiple systems on hand, but the one I like best is the KME, and feel it's the best bang for the buck. For me it's the easiest to set up and achieve edges far beyond any factory edge I've ever seen. But as others have said, the basic principals of sharpening are a learning curve you cannot afford to skip over. And each system have their own "quirks" and learning curve to boot.

Take the time to learn on whatever you end up with, by practicing on dozens of cheap knives. Some of my practice knives have been sharpened and even re-profiled multiple times, as I've tried to learn what types of edges and angles work best with different blade geometries and different steels.

I wish I had the eye-hand coordination required to freehand effectively, but I'm convinced that ship has sailed for me.

Next is the Edge Pro (stone guided). Much less eye-hand coordination needed, but still requires full ambidextrous functionality. You flip the blade from side to side and work the guided stone with the other. Hold the blade on the right, work stone with left hand, flip, then hold blade with left, and work stone with right hand.

The Wicked Edge and KME are both blade clamped and stone guided. They are very different engineering wise, but the main functional difference is that the Wicked Edge requires very simple movements with both hands, while the KME can be worked on both sides of blade by only your dominant hand (left or right). On the KME, the blade rotates from side to side on a fixed axis allowing you to work the stone by either hand.

YMMV - Enjoy the ride.
 
Last edited:
Thompsob said:
Thank you that is actually very helpful.
Rhea edg pro was a typo for the edge pro. I'm glad IQ zigs the part of bladeforums entrance requirement or I would be hi and dry.
Since you used to sell edge pros, do you like them recommend them.
I'm curious, you obviously know what you're doing, what do you use to sharpen and maintain your knives?
Click to expand...

I like using different sharpeners, although recently, I've really tried to concentrate on freehand sharpening. I'm definitely not the world's greatest, but I do find it satisfying when I manage to get a great edge on a knife (not in a bragging way, more of o holy %$#@ I can't believe it). :) I do like the Edge Pro (my first love), but think the other sharpeners mentioned (KME, Wicked Edge specifically) do a great job as well.

You might consider getting in touch with Bob at Oldawan Tools. He's a dealer here on the forums, but more importantly, he sells a variety of sharpeners (Wicked Edge, Edge Pro, KME included), and does a good job of listening to what you want, and making a good recommendation. Great guy to deal with.
 
There are lots of comparison videos on YouTube...check them out. You'll learn about there, I believe.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top