Lansky, GATCO, or Sharpmaker

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keygenkid

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Feb 21, 2011
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I am going to buy a sharpening system. I will just be using it on plain edge folding knives, im a little money tight so I don't want anything to expensive. After researching I am trying to decide between Lansky, GATCO, or Sharpmaker. I know the Sharpmaker is completely different but it seems like a good option. I am thinking of getting the standard lansky, and the extra stand. The GATCO was tempting but it's more expensive and I heard the stand sucks. I am hoping for a system around $50, if I can get lower then that's great. What would you guys recommend? I have never sharpened a knife before so I doubt freehanding is an option.

Also where is a good place I can buy from that doesn't have expensive shipping to Canada?
 
If you do not have to do major re-bevelling or repairs, the Sharpmaker is a very good system and would probably be my choice there. If you suspect that you might need to actually remove any amount of metal, the Lansky is probably a better bet. Something else you might look at would be a DMT Aligner.
 
I second the DMT Aligner. I own a Sharpmaker and it works pretty well if your knife already has a 40 degree edge and you have a steady hand. But I've found the DMT Aligner to put a much better edge on a knife than I can do with the Sharpmaker pretty much every time.
 
I've owned all three. The only one of the three I still have is the Sharpmaker (and a KME)
 
I've never owned or used a DMT aligner but I have heard good about them and I've always had respect for DMT's products. But I personally cast my vote for the Spyderco Sharpmaker. I have had excellent luck with all of Spyderco's sharpening gear. The only weakness I've ever found with the Sharpmaker is that I wish they had a really coarse/aggressive stone in the kit for rapid stock removal for a really beat up and burred up blade through hard use. But I simply remedy that by using an extra coarse 3M diamond benchstone. I have never failed to get a premium razor edge with the Spyderco 204 Sharpmaker. If you get one I highly advise you to watch the video/DVD at least 2 to 3 times before you actually use it. Also it would be great to practice with a couple of cheap folders of a dull kitchen knife before you use it on a premium piece of cutlery.

I have heard that DMT's diamond benchstones are nice but I've never owned one. You just can't go wrong with Spyderco IMO
 
out of those 3 id suggest the lanskey as it will give you the most repeatable angle. that being said, I wouldnt suggest it as a sharpening system if you want sharp knifes. Sharpmaker being by far the crappiest out of the 3!
 
I am partial to the GATCO. I have the professional with the ultra fine and ultimate finishing hones. I have also added a stropping step. Good luck.
 
My first really good edges came from a Lansky. A lot of that had to do with finally mustering up the patience to sharpen any knife with any system or tool. That was the biggest lesson learned for me.

Having said that, I've used the Lansky, Gatco, DMT Aligner (Magna-Guide) and the Sharpmaker. They're all very good, even excellent, at their intended jobs. The guided sharpeners are best-suited to re-bevelling. I've generally used them only once or twice for each knife I've done, then all my maintenance is done by other means (stropping on bare & compounded leather, and also 'stropping' with very fine sandpaper). Occasionally, I'll give an edge a few, very light passes on ceramic (Spyderco DoubleStuff or the Sharpmaker). When PROPERLY utilized, the Sharpmaker, in particular, produces an excellent edge on knives needing relatively light touch-ups (anything short of re-bevelling).

Particular advantages of each of the guided sharpeners:

1.) Lansky: the clamp is probably the best of the three, allowing more angle options. This clamp is also better suited for smaller blades, it doesn't get in the way as much. I've even rebevelled the pen blade on a SAK with it; haven't been able to duplicate that with the other clamps. The hones are small, but this can be advantageous on small blades (pocket knives) and also for doing recurved blades (narrow hone fits inside the recurve better). Uses standardized screws for the clamp, which makes it simple to swap out longer screws for thicker blades. The method of attaching the rods to the hones, with the short end of the 'L' extending upward into the hone, makes it possible to adjust the rod flush with the face of the hone, as the hone wears over time. There's no offset between rod & hone to complicate setup.

2.) Gatco: the hones are larger than the Lansky's. Obviously better for larger blades, more metal removed per pass. The larger hones, combined with the relatively long rods, make for a longer 'reach' with each pass, too. The Gatco also uses standardized screws, same size as the Lansky in fact (10-24, if I recall).

3.) DMT Magna-Guide: for me, the easiest to use 'free-hand' i.e., without mounting the jig to a post or in a vise. Makes replicating a free-hand motion easier, when used with the Dia-Folds. The DMT diamond seems to cut much more aggressively (faster) than the diamond of either the Lansky or Gatco. DMT's 'mono-crystalline' diamond really seems to make a difference there.
 
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