Knife sharpening?

Joined
Feb 20, 2003
Messages
7
What is the best product for sharpening knifes for someone who does not have a clue as to what they are doing. :D
 
I'm sure that most (maybe) will agree that the Lansky is a fairly bulletproof system. It lays out all the angles for you.

I've tried really hard :p , but even I can't mess it up.

Good luck
 
Do a search on the Spyderco Sharpmaker. I think that will give you the answer :D
 
I've messed up with the Lansky, but it and the Sharpmaker are most everyone's first choices. Then, if you're spending all of your hard-earned money on just knives, some folks recommend the EdgePro Apex or EdgePro Professional. Some folks have had good to superb luck with the Razors Edge sharpening guides and a good honing stone or two. I'm going to try that next.

Based on my experience, I'd recommend the Sharpmaker and saving up for its optional diamond hones and ultra-fine hones.

Based on hearsay, I'd recommend either the EdgePro Apex and its extra stones package or a Razors Edge guide and some coarse and fine hones.
 
Wellcome to the forums.

I suggest that before anything else you read the sharpening FAQs (follow the TUTORIALS/FAQs link on top of the page).

Then do a search on sharpening, you´ll find plenty of good advice and comments.
 
I'm an Edgepro guy. I started with crock sticks.

No mater what system you find comfortable and workable, go to garage sales and buy up cheap kitchen knives. Damage the crappy knives first.

My Dad could put an edge on a pocket knife freehand that looked like it came off an Edgepro. I can't, and I've put my time in trying. Find a system that fits your needs.
 
I'd put in another vote for the EdgePro. Not only is it a great tool, but Ben Dale is a great guy who will go out of his way to help you with it or customize it to your requirements.

I was curious about how well I was sharpening my knives, so I bought a microscope to examine the edges. It was remarkable how much cleaner an edge I was able to get with an EdgePro than with anything else.

The other comments people have made about reading the FAQ, getting some blades you don't mind trashing, making sure you are getting a system that meets your particular requirements are all spot on.
 
There seems to be alot of questions about sharpening, the FAQ has a lot of basic info, do a search on sharpening,(here, or on a search engine like Lycos), or read my 2 cents worth below.

Having been sharpening my own blades for the last 30+ years I've come to notice a few things in regards to what you use to sharpen a knife. Diamond hones remove massive amounts of steel and sharpen a blade fast but even with the finest hone you will still need to finish your blade on a strop or ceramic hone to smooth out the edge. Always sharpen at the desired angle,(between 17-24 degrees, depending on the thickness of the blade) till you get a wire edge on one side, (the best way to feel for this is to slide your thumbnail from the spine side, or back of the blade towards the edge) when you encounter a wire edge it will feel like a little lip has formed where the wire edge has rolled over. Next sharpen the opposite side till you achieve the same result. Done on a Fine Diamond Hone, finish off by repeating the process using lighter pressure on each subsequent stroke and the wire edge will become smaller. When the wire edge is barely noticeable with your fingernail. Finish with a leather strop and stropping compound by applying a reasonable amount of force and dragging the blade backwards on the leather at a slightly less angle than you sharpened,(the leather will actually curl around the edge of the blade and wear off the wire edge) after a few strokes on the leather on both side you should have a finished edge. When the edge of the sharpened blade is rested on the smooth part of your thumbnail it will dig in, (bite into the nail with no additional pressure), Your knife should now be shaving sharp.

Diamonds are more aggressive and faster than wet stones or oilstones but will accomplish the same results with a smoother more polished edge, and depending on the grit of the stone may take a lot longer. The key either way is repetition, the more you perform the same task your brain starts memorizing the pathways through your body needed to accomplish this task. Eventually holding an angle, smoothness of stroke, all become second nature, and the task becomes easier. That’s why it always looks easier when someone else whose good at it does it.

My way is not the only way but it works for me, if you feel confident enough to attempt your own blades, start on a cheaper knife that your not afraid of ruining, and remember it’s easier to sharpen a knife that’s not dull, than to sharpen one that is. So don’t wait till your knife won’t even cut butter before you dress up that edge. LOL

PS as for my preference I prefer a diamond hone just because I think it's quicker, and more versatile I can accomplish the same thing with one hone by just varying pressure to the blade as I sharpen.


To cut to the chase, all sharpening systems are nothing more than guides, or aids, the EdgePro being top of the line, and the Harbor Freight crocksticks being the bottom.

Nothing beats understanding why a knife is sharp or how it got that way, but this comes with practice, and knowledge, learn to freehand sharpen and everything will fall into place.

Also don't get caught up in scary sharp work on working sharp than refine your skills till scary sharp is as easy as painfully dull.
 
Hi dude-

The Spyderco Sharpmaker is the easiest, quickest, and cleanest system I've seen, and I've used several. You can do a search on my name and find the postings- I've only done a few...

One warning- the sharpmaker is best used for knives you haven't let go totally dull. If you touch up your knives regularly, you'll be fine, but if you wear them till they're flat out dull, it will take some time for this system to rework the edge.
 
I like Arkansa stones fine and med. This website is an excellent source for all your knife needs.:)
ps I also recommend using some type of light oil. Such as All in one oil. or 3 in 1 oil. something like that.:)
 
The best way to sharpen your blades is to do it free hand and probably earlier or later you will land with that.

However I follow Folks who have advised you SPYDERCO Sharpmaker and Sharpening FAQ here as good starting point.
I echo Thom as to additional diamond rods for Sharpmaker, however I would advise you to do not hurry with ultra-fine rod buying. In my honest opinion they add few (if add something at all) for blade performance, you will manage to buy them when (or if) you will feel any real need for them. I would rather direct the money they cost to another buy – SPYDERCO ProFiles what are definitely not-the-worst starting point for free hand skill mastering.

Welcome to the Forums, btw! :)
 
Thanks for the help everyone I have done a lot of reading and am going to try doing it free hand with stones.:D
 
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