Lanksey sharpener questions..

[Nottynuffknives]

So I'm thinking about purchasing the lansky sharpener. As much as I'd like to take the time to learn and master the stones, time is something I just don't have a lot of.

But before I buy it, I wanted to hear your thoughts on it. Is it worth buying? I've read that some people have issues with the clamp getting in the way, with certain knives. Have you experienced this? If so, which knives?

If you have anything else that you could add that would be worth mentioning before I buy it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

-Dan

Edit: sorry for the misspelling in the title, my phone auto corrected it and I didn't notice until after I posted it.

 

[WadeWilson]

You might want to be more specific on which sharpener you're leaning toward. Lansky makes a ton of different sharpeners and sharpening systems. All in all from what I've seen, Lansky makes quality products for the money.

 

[Nottynuffknives]

You might want to be more specific on which sharpener you're leaning toward. Lansky makes a ton of different sharpeners and sharpening systems. All in all from what I've seen, Lansky makes quality products for the money.

Any of the ones where a clamp holds the knife and the stones are at a fixed angle.

 

[erhodes]

I learned on a lansky and it is a great setup for the money. I prefer my kme sharpener now for the unlimited range of angles I can get on it. The lansky has 4 preset angles so each time you sharpen you have to clamp the knife in the same place to be able to use the same angle without doing a slight bit of reprofiling.

The only blades I have found issue with the clamp getting in the way are really slim blades like traditional and those that really wide from bevel to spine

 

[sharp_edge]

Lansky guided system can give you excellent sharpening results and not many skills are required. However, (1) it could be time consuming and (2) it does not work well on long knives (>4").

Free hand sharpening is the fastest but it requires quite a bit skills, which can only acquired through many many hours of practice.

 

[l1ranger]

i have and use a lansky and have no real issues with it.

it can be limiting on very long or very small blades - but my basic EDC and hunting knives I have no issues with.
i do kitchen knives with a little bit of "just makign it work".
i use the stones from, i think, 80 to 2000, and a strop with diamond paste and and very happy with the results

 

[number9]

I've been using a Lansky clamp on system for 20+ years. It works great on mid sized knives. On small ones, the stones can rub the clamp. On longer knives sometimes I have to sharpen the blade in sections, moving the clamp. Results are usually very good. That said, I don't find the process particularly fun or pleasant. Once the blade is sharp from the Lansky, I keep it sharp with a Sharpmaker or Lansky turnbox. Much more enjoyable, IMO.

 

[AMForge]

Im new here to blade forums and i was wondering how to make my own post (question). Could someone respond to this and tell how to?

 

[dsalazar]

The new lansky clamp will allow you to sharpen smaller blades in the half inch wide category. The rods have to be straight with the stones. I set mine up and leave it so im not messing around with them. Sharping with the lansky and touching up on a sharpmaker is ideal.

 

[Mo2]

I'd use the diamond kit for the s30v and other high carbide steels due to carbide tear out and faster sharpening... But here's a video of this guy testing it out.

Some comments in the video link for his improvement.

Certainly other systems give more stones and many other well worth it options but they also cost $200 and up. If the lansky works for you, keep it and save up for something later.

 

[SGJarrod]

I started out with the Lansky clamp system and it was a great learning tool. As Mo2 pointed out the steels you will be sharpening depends on which model to get. I had the deluxe kit and it worked fine on S30V but any steel with higher carbide than that I would definitely recommend the full diamond kit. Even if just buy the deluxe kit, usually $36, I would also get a course or extra course diamond stone for profiling. That diamond stone will cost you another $15.

I'd also recommend ordering a strop from Stropman. If you're sharpening s30v and below his white and green compounds will serve you well. Higher carbide steels will need diamond compounds for stropping and that's a whole other conversation.

 

[barmettlerjosh]

I own one with all diamond stones and I love it the only problem is with narrow blades it doesn’t work to well I usually have to free hand small knives

 

[Herlock]

Hi! I use the Lansky as my primary sharpening tool. For me and my use, it’s a good one and a value for money product . It’s true its set-up takes some times (for me, I’m talking about 10-15 minutes, eh! ) and the sharpening process, when going through all the stones/diamonds hones, it requires also some time (for me, here, I am talking about 30-45 minutes). I like the sharpening as such so it’s not a big issue for me . I take a cold beer or a glass of wine, head to the man’s cave, put up some good music and enjoy my time .

Rarely, though, I go through the whole stones/diamonds sequence (from very coarse to super fine). I rotate my folders weekly so, at most, I run the blade through the medium, fine and leather hones only. Also I can confirm, from my use, that it works well for "small" folders (the ones with blades up to 10 cm); bigger knives can be done but it’s an annoyance (moving the clamp up/down the spine) and result, for me, it’s not very good. My F1, for example, goes directly on the stones (KAI 400/100) . Today I have both the whole set of diamond and stones hones, plus a couple of leather ones (one for the compound and one “natural”. For some steels (in my case e.g. Niolox and S90V) even the Lansky diamonds don’t do so much and I go to power tools with diamond discs, a.k.a. the grinders .