Lansky Sharpening System?

W

Wet Socks

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Oct 24, 2011
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I've recently decided on purchasing a fixed angle sharpener, as I cant keep a consistent angle on the stone to save a life. Lansky looks like the best bet for around $30-60, anyone have any feedback? Also, Diamond or ceramic?
 
I have a lansky kit with coarse thru fine stones -its brilliant.
I just finished sharpening my sisters large chef knife which was DULL as .
Now it slices those little tomatoes into thin slices.
I had it at work yesterday & 3 of the guys asked me to touch up their various leathermans -one of them was a second visit .
so thats good feedback.
cheers.
 
Get the diamond set, and supplement it with the fine (LS-600) and ultra-fine (LS-1000) ceramic hones. The diamond kit is much better for heavy metal removal, but it doesn't include those ceramic finishing hones, which will get the edge closer to a mirror polish. I don't have the Super Sapphire (LS-2000) hone, but many seem to like it.

I have both the diamond and the 'Deluxe' kits. The 'Deluxe' kit, with standard hones, is what I used originally. I wore out a couple of those hones on an S30V blade reprofile (ZT-0350). They're not flat anymore. This is why I highly recommend the diamond kit. ;)
 
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I also have the Lansky system. The Diamond stones are worth the extra money. Use the diamonds to remove material and as suggested above, get the 600 Grit (blue plastic, reddish/orange stone), the 1000 grit (yellow plastic with white stone) and I also have the 2000 Grit (blue plastic, blue sapphire). I'm not sure I need the 2000 grit since I finish by hand on a leather strop...but I have it anyway.

Great value, great results. The Edge Pro and Wicket Edge are very sexy...but I get great results with the Lansky and a leather strop.
 
Diamond or ceramic depends on what type of steel you are sharpening. The diamond can be used on softer steels but you will replace the stones more frequently. I have both kits and have recommended the stone kits to many. I will always carry the Lansky with me on hunting trips. I use my Edge Pro-Pro with an AngleCube to keep the edges of my hunting knives at an angle that matches the Lansky. The Edge Pro and the Wicked Edge are great investments and I tend to use the Edge Pro more, especially for the large knives, than any of my Lansky sets but the Lansky is far easier to travel with.
 
I used a supplemental medium diamond hone with my 'Deluxe' kit, from early on. It did probably 70% of the grunt work, putting new bevels on a bunch of knives ('cheap' kitchen stainless, 1095, 420HC, 425M, 440A/C, VG-10, ATS-34, D2, S30V). It was a workhorse, and is the only one in that set that allowed me to finish the reprofile of the ZT-0350 mentioned earlier. It's worn, but as I mentioned, two of the lesser-used regular stones were ruined in that job, whereas there's still some useful life left in the diamond hone. I see no significant durability issue with the diamond hones, unless you use too much pressure, which scrubs excessive amounts of diamond off the nickel substrate (as with all diamond hones).
 
where do you guys buy the stones at? I just was given one of these by my uncle who had it in storage for years, I don't know if it has the diamond stones (I didn't take a close look at it yet) but it just has coarse medium fine, I'd like to add some other stones since I got it for the best price, free.

Also, what angles are best for pocket knives and which for chef's knives?
 
Dago Red said:
where do you guys buy the stones at? I just was given one of these by my uncle who had it in storage for years, I don't know if it has the diamond stones (I didn't take a close look at it yet) but it just has coarse medium fine, I'd like to add some other stones since I got it for the best price, free.

Also, what angles are best for pocket knives and which for chef's knives?
Click to expand...

Knifecenter stocks most or all of the 'replacement' hones, sold separately. I'm pretty sure Knifeworks does also. I'd bet you can find 'em on Amazon as well.

As for the 'best' angles for pocketknives and kitchen knives, you'll generally be safe anywhere in the 15 to 20 degree (per side) range. With better steels, you can go shallower, but that's up to you. I'd recommend trying out a low (shallow) angle on a knife that you can treat as 'experimental' (one that won't upset you too much, if you don't like the results). Maybe an inexpensive kitchen knife; if the shallow angle doesn't hold up to your liking, then you'll begin to get a feel for what angle will suit you best, for some of your other knives. On the other hand, you might be pleasantly surprised. I have a 'cheap' imported Chicago Cutlery utility knife for kitchen use, bought at Walmart for about $8, which has performed surprisingly well in light-to-medium kitchen duty, with a very shallow edge angle. One thing I've learned, an extremely sharp, fine edge can do the work much more effortlessly. This means there's less need to 'bear down' on the edge when cutting, which translates into less wear & tear on that edge. Makes a big difference when slicing veggies on a cutting board. No need to 'hack' or 'chop' at 'em.
 
I like mine alot. Get the table top mount for even a better experience. I carried one around for over ten years until I finally mounted it on my work bench.
 
get th diamond set if your gonig to buy it as the ceramics (espeically the extra course) will wear quickly when trying to put a new edge on a blade.

That being said, I'd highly suggest a paper wheel system. cost cheaper if you got a grinder adn just about the same if you gotta buy everything new. much finer edge and if you think the lanskey is good, youll sh*t yourself after you use a paper wheel! the finest grit lansky will chew up and dull the hell out of the edges i get from my paper wheels!

also, th lansky system has lenght restrictions. my 22inch machette was done in about 5 mins and it can pass the HHT! I have yet to get any knife to pass any level of the HHT with my lansky system adn ive had it for over 3 years!



anyone saying, what if your stuck in the wilderness. I say fk the wilderness, all of you are on a computer and have easy access to eletricity! being realistic, you can get back to a grinder in a short time to sharpen up your knifes after you have dulled them after a day or two in the so called wilderness. anyone saying they can't is living in a fantasy world!
 
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I have the basic set that includes the extra coarse stones through ultra fine. I really wish I had known about the diamond set. The others are right. The diamond set will make sharpening a lot easier. I do believe the diamond set costs a few dollars more though.
 
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