Portable Sharpener

A

alwaysone

Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
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I'm looking for something to maintain the edges on my knives while camping and hiking. I have a range of steels from carbon to the harder stuff so it should be able to handle them all.

I'd like it to be portable and fairly small. I've seen some blocks where the two sticks fit inside (this appeals to me the most), I've seen single stones, etc.

This isn't for reprofiling. I just want to be able to bring a blade back from dulled by several hard camp chores to sharp.

What do you guys use or recommend?

I figure I can do a final strop by removing my belt.

thanks.
 
DMT dia-folds http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/s...eqCATE CODEdatarq=dmt&eqKEYWORDdatarq=diafold

Diamonds will sharpen any steel with very little effort. Depending on what point you decide to sharpen you knives I would suggest two different hones, first would be the coarse/fine dia-fold. If you use your knife to the point that it has small nicks or flat spots and the edge actually feels dull then this would be a good hone for your needs. The coarse side would quickly remove minor damage and the fine side would bring you up to a clean shaving sharp level. If you do not let your knives get very dull and you normally finish in the range of 8000+ grit then the X-fine/XX-fine would be the better choice. The X-fine would still be able to remove very small nicks and edge roll and the XX-fine would bring you to a hair popping/splitting level.

Or in standard bladeforum fashion you could just get both :D
 
I would suggest the Spyderco 303MF. This is the best for me, sometimes i also combine it with a diafold Xcoarse DMT. with this 2 tools u can maintain almost every edged tools which dont have a recurve or serration.

I used em on the field, and performed really well, great stuff.:thumbup:
 
I like Lansky's brass diamond rod sharpener. Folds into nice size and is very useful. Marttiini in Finland has similar than Lansky's but its shapen as pen with pocket clip.
 
I bring wet/dry sandpaper (400/600 grit); weigh next to nothing and makes quick work of an edge that lost its bite. I wouldn't carry stones in the field!
 
best thing I carry in the woods is a 3in x 6in piece of shoulder leather with a lump of green strop compound from lee valley and a few strips of 600 and 1000 grit cut twice as wide so you can wrap it around the leather without slipping. Strop at the end and your good, your belt without compound is iffy for a wicked edge.
 
I carry a pair of DMT Diafolds all the time in my back pocket next to my Spyderco Military. The DMTs are X-Coarse/Coarse and Fine/X-fine. They can handle anything from cutting a whole new edge bevel on that S90V Millie to a quick touch up on the pen blade of my whittler.
 
In picking up a chainsaw after getting a repair done and noticed these on the peg board.
www.speedysharp.net/

Well that was 12 years ago, and now other outdoorsman of my family and friends use them for axes,machettes right down to to kitchen cutlery.
 
I've always been partial to the Lansky Turnbox. The sticks are a bit small, but since they fit right into the wooden box it doesn't bother me much. Nice and compact with Med. and Fine rods.
 
I once made little wee double-sided sharpening sticks out of popsicle sticks and two different grits of wet/dry sandpaper cut to size and glued to each side.
 
I carry these EZ laps for field sharpening; they have never let me down!
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Pretty much any sharpening system would easily fit into your backpack. A better question is, which sharpener isn't portable?
 
Belt grinder. Richardj's paper wheels. Unless you also plan to carry a generator. ;)
 
I'm fairly certain new ones can be found SOMEWHERE....

But I'm using an older Sheffield Pocket Steel on loan from my buddy. Bear down and it removes nicks etc. Stroke lightly for sharp.

Whatever you do be sure you get rid of the micro burr that you can't even see.
 
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