Knife Sharpeners?? Recommendations....

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Sp!durrr

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Dec 31, 2011
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Hey guys so I was thinking about investing in a knife sharpener for my knives. Don't know too much about them or know what's good or not. So I come to you guys.... What sharpeners do you guys own or use on a daily basis? How effective are they? What would you recommend??? Let me know thanks! Since I have primarily all Spyderco's in my collection and a few none spydies.... The blade steel on them are pretty much around the S30V-S35vN and a few m4's so if there are sharpeners that work better with these steels let me know! Thanks! Pictures would be much appreciated
 
Well, you have stones, paper wheels, Edge Pro, Wicked Edge, Sharpmaker, Lansky systems, and belts. The type of steel doesn't matter as much as having the patience to sit there and get to where you need to be. Many people expect to turn a butter knife into a razor blade in a couple swipes their first time.
 
I'm personally new to knives, so for now I just have a Lansky system that's similar to the Sharpmaker (less options), which allows me to consistently obtain a fairly usable edge. With enough time, I can get most knives just under shaving sharp.
 
Generally, start with a system that sets various angles. Then move up to stones for freehand sharpening.

I strongly recommend the Sharpmaker, but there are many good makes out there.
 
I am ordering an Edge Pro setup with Chosera's(1k-10k) in about an hour. Makes my gentlemen's parts tingle. Uh, I should go...
 
It depends on your budget and skill level. Lansky for low budget and low skill(less experience). Paper wheels for low-medium budget and medium to high skill. If you must buy a bench grinder, the paper wheel setup can be expensive, but the wheels themselves are not bad. There is a TON of info on BF on paper wheels. Medium budget and medium skill(learning curve) would be Sharpmaker. High budget and low skill would be Wicked Edge. You can make a butter knife into a razor, your first time with the WE. They are pricy, but the best you can get without spend a lot of time learning the paper wheels. High budget, high skill and a lot of patience would be a good set of waterstones.
 
What about the Spyderco Sharpmaker's? Are those good? Cause I was thinking about starting with someone cheap like those and then move on up as I go along. But don't know how well it works.
 
I saw the wicked edge in action today at a gun knife show and wow. that thing is super cool and works great. I have the lansky and I dont like it that much. the guy selling the wicked edge said the Gatco ultimate was a good beginner system because it has more angle options compared to the lansky. And the spyderco sharpmaker he said was more to just keep a nice edge but not good if you plan on re-profiling.
 
belts and paper wheel will actually work to get a blade to go from a butter knife to a sharp edge in a few swipes. a few more strokes / stropping on some CrO and then some diamond paste and you got yourself a blade you can shave with.


Just today I took a brand new CS magnum kukri with its crappy edge which was pretty much a butter knife and put an edge on the entire lenght of its 17-18 inch blade which can litterally split free hanging hair along the entire lenght of the blade pretty quickly using the above method! I even grinded in a small edge in to the top of the blade to make it peirce things better ( its doubled edge machette now) and flatten the rest of the top of the blade so I can use it to strike fire starter/flints. Now if I only had some flint/fire starter to use haha. Just something I read some place just in case.

total time was litterally under 15 mins. It would have been much less time if i didn't regrind the second edge on the back and grind the rest of the back edge flat (well 90 degrees to the blade). I keep having to spray water on it cuz I was afraid I would have jacked the heat treat if I got it too hot.




BTW: Anyone suggesting a sharp maker, I'd love to watch you try doing the above with the same knife or any blade anywhere near that lenght! Then again, I do believe Youtube has a limit to how long a video can be...
 
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I have a sharpmaker with all of the available rods. I have had great success with the system and I am a relatively new sharpener. I do not let my knives get dull and I keep my super steel knives pretty sharp and touch them up regularly. I feel the Sharpmaker is a great beginner system. My new hobby is reloading ammo which has cut my free time significantly. My friends who do not have the time or patience to sharpen are now giving me their knives to sharpen also. I am looking into paper wheel sharpening now. It seems to be more efficient and get better results with practice. I figure less time means more reloading which means I can shoot more!
 
I'm wondering why there are not more recommendations for the KME sharpener...

Other than the limit of a 17 degree angle I can't see where it shouldn't function just about as well as the Wicked Edge. I've corresponded with Ron at KME and he's been very helpful so I don't think customer service is lacking.

Am I missing something?
 
I started with a Spyderco Sharpmaker, which is an excellent system. I highly recommend getting the diamond (course) and ultrafine ceramic rods, which are not included with the kit. The diamond rod is really a must-have for reprofiling and setting a bevel on a very dull or damaged edge.

But I've since moved on to freehand sharpening. I find it much more rewarding. And the best way to do it is to just get a stone and start practicing. I use DMT duosharp bench stones, and I strop with a KnivesPlus strop-blok.
 
Magnaminous_G said:
I started with a Spyderco Sharpmaker, which is an excellent system. I highly recommend getting the diamond (course) and ultrafine ceramic rods, which are not included with the kit. The diamond rod is really a must-have for reprofiling and setting a bevel on a very dull or damaged edge.

But I've since moved on to freehand sharpening. I find it much more rewarding. And the best way to do it is to just get a stone and start practicing. I use DMT duosharp bench stones, and I strop with a KnivesPlus strop-blok.
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Are those bench stones expensive?
 
don't have much money? go to Homeless Despot and get 120/320/600/1200 wet-or-dry 4" wide sheets and go convex... those and some scrap leather/cardboard, and you'll have a sharpening system for peanuts (use this system on my 'ultra-expensive' Condor bush knives... and can shave hair and baton kindling at the same time!

:-)
 
Thanks for all the feedback! And I might try to start off with a Spyderco sharpmaker and see how I like it since they are pretty cheap and honestly I'm just trying to find some to touch up the egdes, I dont need to reprofile anything and if its really needs sharpening I just send them back to Spyderco
 
Sp!durrr said:
Thanks for all the feedback! And I might try to start off with a Spyderco sharpmaker and see how I like it since they are pretty cheap and honestly I'm just trying to find some to touch up the egdes, I dont need to reprofile anything and if its really needs sharpening I just send them back to Spyderco
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The Sharpmaker works well. I use mine all the time for touchups when I don't want to set up the Wicked Edge.
 
Sp!durrr said:
Are those bench stones expensive?
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Unfortunately, yes. They are pretty expensive. I have the combination stones (course/extra-course, fine/extra-fine), and they are about $150 each. But they are worth it. They are precision flat, which means you can use them to flatten other stones or surfaces.
 
Please get the diamond rods and the ultrafine rods when you order that sharpmaker, too. You will not regret it.
 
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