looking for the best sharpening system............>>

V

Vet95LT1

BANNED
Joined
Jan 31, 2001
Messages
351
what do you guys think is the best sharpening system - like 2 stones, 1 med grit 1 fine?- what would be the best? do pretty good on a cheap arkansas stone from walmart but figure it must get better than this - i can keep the angle right so dont think i need the lansky or similar but what do you guys think?? DMT? justa good arkansas stone? this is for use on standard and chisel edge mostly, serrated would be nice too........anyway thanks for info and have a good 1

Vet
 
Spyderco Sharpmaker 204 is awesome... except for reprofiling. Easy to use, easy to get a hair popping edge.
smile.gif


-IPR
 
Kudos Vet!!! I must admit that I absolutely suck at sharpening. Please, someone who is a true master at getting a hair splitting edge on a knife respond to Vet's post with bunches of details. Brands, grits, oil, water, special mantras
smile.gif
... the works. Thanks!

------------------
Stay back! or I'll...OUCH...cut myself.
 
If you already have stones, you might want to look at the clamp devices offered by Razor Edge Systems.

There is a very nice FAQ on sharpening in the FAQ/KnowledgeBase section here at bladeforums.com.

I won't claim that it's the best since that turns into a religious argument for some people, but I will say that I, myself, have a Gatco Edgemate system (very similar to Lansky) and I think I get very good results with it, certainly good enough for my needs. Unfortunately, Gatco doesn't yet have a website, so I can't point you to 'em.

I hear good things about the Sharpmaker 204 as well (Gatco and several others offer similar products). A lot of folks seem to talk about it more for touching up an edge that's basically ok. I have the optional "Ultra Fine" hone for my Gatco system and I find that very often all I need to do is make a dozen or so passes on each side of the blade with that ultra fine hone and my edge is back to spec. I've got to admit that it's a bit of a bear to haul out that whole Edgemate thing, set it all up, clamp the blade, oil the stone, and then take everything down, clean everything up, and put everything away just to make two dozen strokes. So, in that respect, something like the 204 which can be set up in less than a minute, done in less than a minute, taken down and put away in less than a minute, and doesn't require messy oil etc. may be very useful.

Regardless of what tool you use, the keys to sharpening are not magic mantras but 1) understanding what's physically happening. The aforementioned FAQ is a great resource for this. And 2) practice with whatever tool /system you choose. I have not seen any system that removes the elements of "touch" and "feel" from the process. Those are gained by practice and experience.

There are lots of systems on the market, Most any of teh recognized "good" ones, the 204, Lansky, Gatco, Razor Edge Systems, as well as the "traditional" time-tested methods of free hand on Arkansas stones, will give you a razor-sharp knife if you understand what you're doing and practice a bit.


------------------
Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.balisongcollector.com
 
If you can keep a good, consistent angle freehand, you can get a sharp edge with pretty much any abrasive surface. It might not be as pretty as that done by an Edge-Pro (my personal favorite) but it will be sharp. All an Edge Pro does is use very fine grit abrasives and an incredibly consistent angle to put an edge on a knife. I sharpen freehand with a silicon carbide stone I bought at Ace hardware. It can give a very sharp edge using the right technique.

My personal favorite sharpening system for most knives is the Edge-Pro. Anyone willing to take the time can get an uncannilly sharp edge with this system. You pay for it, but it's more than worth it.

 
What about the "Chefs Choice" model 120, as seen in the Cabelas catalog?

I've been pretty impressed with it, but I don't have a lot to compare it to.

Mike
 
I'm never real picky, just a fine grain stone will give me the razor egde I can shave with.

------------------
:pI have a sword in my pocket!:p
 
Norton India Oil Stone.

I've tried a bunch of different brands, but the Norton seems to be the best for general use. Nuthin fancy, but it works. I think the most common mistake people make is buying too small a stone.

[This message has been edited by Hal (edited 02-24-2001).]
 
I used a medium AK benchstone before we got a 204. I can hold my on with the benchstone, but the 204 beats it, especailly on ease of sharpening. RKBA!
 
For the price, the Sharpmaker rules- period. what are they going for now, 45-60 bucks?

It will usually not be able to bring a completely destroyed knife back from the dead, but it is king when it comes to keeping your knives sharp on a day to day basis. Let's not forget that the 204 is capable of doing serrated blades proficiently, back beveling, as well as having the capacity to re-sharpen pretty much anything else you have around the house- knives or otherwise. It's definitely greater than the sum of it's four stones.

Plus you get the cool video of Sal Glesser cutting up a bunch of stuff.
biggrin.gif


Firebat

------------------
Name's Ash......Housewares.
 
For the price, a Sharpmaker 204 and a rough bench stone can't be beat. The stone is for reprofiling edges. As you sharpen the edge gets thicker (the area right behind the edge actually) and you have to grind this down. The angle behind the edge is called relief. Better relief means better cutting. So, go to Wal-Mart or some othe rplace and get a rough stone for this job and the Sharpmaker and go to Joe's Sharpening tutorial and you're all set. If you have more $$, you'll want to check out the Edge Pro sharpener. If you wand the best edge, get a grinder and a buffer!!
smile.gif


------------------
"Come What May..."
 
I am not yet proficent with just stones, but I've obtained incredible results with a Skarb, 4 3M diamond hones (220-1800 grit) a 6000 grit japanese water stone and a Hand American stop w/ 10k polish
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top