need a sharpener

Lizzard_Breath-K2 · Sep 14, 2005

Help! my minigrip is getting dull from all of my heavy use on canadian cardboard monsters and various other things. I'm looking for a cheap, easy to use sharpener...i've never used a sharpener before so i kinda need to know how to use one. If y'all could help me out on this one i would be overly gracious.

stevekt · Sep 14, 2005

Spyderco Sharpmaker. It comes with a video to teach you how to use it. Do a search on "Sharpmaker" and you'll get a lot of info.

samhain73 · Sep 14, 2005

I have to agree, unless you want to learn free hand with a stone. Then it's real cheap!

Bob W · Sep 14, 2005

After years and years of sharpening with Arkansas novaculite stones, I've recently bought a Sharpmaker. It's a breeze to use and it works very well.

Best Wishes,
Bob

Ryan8 · Sep 14, 2005

Sharpmaker is the standard advice around here. I'd also recommend adding the ultra fine stones (buy two, they're sold individually) and / or a strop for the finest edge. Not entirely necessary for most cutting but having a highly-polished edge can be nice.

bama_lou · Sep 15, 2005

The Sharpmaker is almost stupid proof. Read the pamphlet, watch the video, then sharpen some kitchen knives for practice. Once you get the hang of it, sharpen your Griptillian.

Lizzard_Breath-K2 · Sep 15, 2005

thanks, y'all, i think brett and i will go in together and buy one

HoB · Sep 15, 2005

Sharpmaker + CrO loaded strop and a coarse diamond benchstone is all you need....though it may not be all you want

ERdept · Sep 15, 2005

It's more moola but it seem you get more stones and they're larger too.

Cliff

bama_lou · Sep 15, 2005

For beginners, the Sharpmaker isn't so bad. As you know, when one is new at something, one tends to either break or lose things. For as low as $40, you can't beat the Sharpmaker. If I can get above average results (and I do) with the Sharpmaker, then why should I bring myself to purchase an expensive set like the Edgepro?

tim8557 · Sep 16, 2005

My Mini Grip is in D2 Steel. If you've let yours get really dull, you are going to have a tough time putting a new edge on it with the Sharpmaker. It'll take you forever.

I am a very big fan of the Edge Pro (yes I know its more expensive) but I figure over the lifetime of use it isn't much per year. I just reprofiled my new Calypso Jr in ZDP with the Edge Pro and it went very quickly. I doubt that the medium stones (coarsest that come with the Sharpmaker) would even begin to cut ZDP steel.

Doug C · Sep 16, 2005

Infinitely adjustable,infinitely simple after a little time spent watching the DVD and a little practice.All you'll ever need to keep things sharp. :thumbup:

Rat Finkenstein · Sep 16, 2005

tim8557 said:
I just reprofiled my new Calypso Jr in ZDP with the Edge Pro and it went very quickly. I doubt that the medium stones (coarsest that come with the Sharpmaker) would even begin to cut ZDP steel.

They will cut any steel, as they are ceramic- harder than any steel. They wont take off too much steel, however- as they are only medium grit.

tim8557 · Sep 16, 2005

Rat Finkenstein said:
They will cut any steel, as they are ceramic- harder than any steel. They wont take off too much steel, however- as they are only medium grit.

I asked this question once before but never received an answer. Is it not possible to make these ceramic rods in Coarse?

Stockman · Sep 16, 2005

The above mentioned sharpening systems, Sharpmaker, EdgePro are both easy and relatively efficient sharpeners. However, Like yourself, I cut alot of cardboard, strapping and other packaging materials and find it is better to regularly maintain the edge using a leather strop. You can make your own strop for a fraction of the price of one of the above sharpening devices. A couple of minutes every day or so on the strop, brings back a shaving sharp edge whilst reducing the amount of steal removed and time required.
Keep em sharp.

gajinoz · Sep 16, 2005

tim8557 said:
I just reprofiled my new Calypso Jr in ZDP with the Edge Pro and it went very quickly. I doubt that the medium stones (coarsest that come with the Sharpmaker) would even begin to cut ZDP steel.

A bit of thread drift here but ......

I'm interested in why you reprofiled the Calypso and what angle(s) you put on it. I just got my ZDP and keen to hear what others have done with it.

tim8557 · Sep 17, 2005

gajinoz said:
A bit of thread drift here but ......

I'm interested in why you reprofiled the Calypso and what angle(s) you put on it. I just got my ZDP and keen to hear what others have done with it.

"Threads are meant for driftin'" I reprofiled, to really see if I could after reading how hard ZDP-189 was. I also had seemed to dull the edge a bit using the Sharmaker at 30 Degrees.

I reprofiled, using the Edge Pro Coarse stone to a little under 10 degrees. I never really reached a noticeable (fingernail test) burr but other threads seemed to indicate that ZDP-189 doesn't burr like other steels. I took it till I was satisfied that it was as good as it gets.

I then put on a primary bevel starting with the medium stone at about 11-12 degrees (per side) and continued through Fine, UltraFine, 1000, 3000 tapes. I then lightly hit the edge at around 15 degrees with the 5000 grit tape (primarily to make sure I was polishing the edge).

The results were razor sharp; NIB quality to possibly a little sharper. I'll probably maintain it with my leather strop.

gajinoz · Sep 17, 2005

tim8557 said:
"Threads are meant for driftin'" I reprofiled, to really see if I could after reading how hard ZDP-189 was. I also had seemed to dull the edge a bit using the Sharmaker at 30 Degrees.

I reprofiled, using the Edge Pro Coarse stone to a little under 10 degrees. I never really reached a noticeable (fingernail test) burr but other threads seemed to indicate that ZDP-189 doesn't burr like other steels. I took it till I was satisfied that it was as good as it gets.

I then put on a primary bevel starting with the medium stone at about 11-12 degrees (per side) and continued through Fine, UltraFine, 1000, 3000 tapes. I then lightly hit the edge at around 15 degrees with the 5000 grit tape (primarily to make sure I was polishing the edge).

The results were razor sharp; NIB quality to possibly a little sharper. I'll probably maintain it with my leather strop.

An interesting process and also interesting about the burr, I'll have to remember that. I got my Calypso second hand, although LNIB, and the previous owner had put a 15 per side angle on it as an experiment. I've been thinking of doing my own "experiments" on it too and I like the sound of what you have done. I might just try something similar with my Edgepro. I'm also planning on playing around in a similar manner with my Sebbie too.

BTW, speaking of Edgepros, do you know of a good place to by, online, extra stones and polishing tapes?

tim8557 · Sep 17, 2005

gajinoz said:
BTW, speaking of Edgepros, do you know of a good place to by, online, extra stones and polishing tapes?

I've purchased mine from www.edgeproinc.com. That's Ben Dale's company, the maker of the Edge Pro. I've usually done it over the phone as I don't know how well their on-line ordering works. They are extremely nice people, and if Ben is available, he'll talk to you directly. He has an absolute passion about sharpening.

I also purchased some Mylar tapes in the 5000 from somewhere else, but I don't recall where. I did order extra blanks from Edge Pro.

gajinoz · Sep 18, 2005

tim8557 said:
I've purchased mine from www.edgeproinc.com. That's Ben Dale's company, the maker of the Edge Pro. I've usually done it over the phone as I don't know how well their on-line ordering works. They are extremely nice people, and if Ben is available, he'll talk to you directly. He has an absolute passion about sharpening.

I also purchased some Mylar tapes in the 5000 from somewhere else, but I don't recall where. I did order extra blanks from Edge Pro.

Thanks for that, I'll send him an email and see how we go from there.