Lansky Sharpening System?

[combatjiujitsu]

Why all the hate on the Lansky? I have been using mine for a few years now and love it. Also do some freehanding but really enjoy the Lansky.

 

[taeku4]

To be honest, as a relatively new knife person and even newer to sharpening, I have had mixed but mostly positive results with the Lansky system.

Sometimes, I can get knives sharp enough to cut S-shapes in paper and shave arm hair, which is kind of a big deal to me since I can barely sharpen anyway, but sometimes it seems to make some of my knives duller. I'm pretty sure that is because I use cheap and crappy knives to learn how to sharpen though.

Overall, the reason why I personally enjoy this system is, even though my results can vary, it is the best way for me to get consistent results with sharpening, since I can't freehand to save my life at this point.

 

[Czechmate]

I've had good luck using the lansky so far - about 1 month of ownership. (I can get most of my knives shaving sharp in a few minutes) I've got the standard stones (set of 5) and may pick up the diamond ones if their worth the extra $$$.

In general, I find different sharpening stones, ceramic rods etc. work better or worse for me depending on the steel I'm trying to sharpen. Maybe it's just crappy technique.

I got the vertical mount for the lansky and have it screwed to a 2X4 which is then clamped in a 6" vise on my workbench - much easier than holding it freehand. And safer too I think.

 

[taeku4]

Actually, Czechmate brings up some good points.

I've never tried any of the other stones, aside from the coarse, medium, and fine stones included in the basic kit. Using better stones would probably help increase my chances of sucess, along with using a vertical mount, I've almost cut myself on a couple occasions, when the knife would almost spin out of the holder and into my hand.

 

[mdc5162]

I have a Smiths system, pretty much same thing except the knife clamp is hard plastic and only has 2 angles. I love it, get great hair shaving results every time. I bough the package that came with the diamond stones and the fine arkansas. I have often thought about just buying the Lanksy clamp and using the Smiths diamond stones. Might change the angles a touch but it will be consistent.

 

[TyFrameLock]

I used my diamond lansky till i wore them out and had to get replacements. for the money the lansky is a great value. I think it worked well the only thing I didn't like about it was trying to keep the rods all straight, because I found any variance in rod computed to an uneven bevel.

but other than that it worked great. I could achieve hair splitting edges. I even glued some 4000 grit sandpaper on an old non diamond stone and achieved a mirrored edge.

 

[brets-ftw]

i stopped using it as a system after the first month of owning it, going on 6 months now and using them as benchstones works amazingly well for me, just takes a while on some of the harder steels like CPM-D2, s30v, ZDP-189

been using the 120-1000 grit stones, and just waiting for the 2150, and possibly the diamond course for reprofiling