Possible upgrade to Spyderco Sharpmaker

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flphotog

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Jul 10, 2014
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OK guys I'm thinking about adding a new sharpening system to supplement my Spyderco Sharpmaker. I love the Sharpmaker but the are times when I think I need a little bit more.
Let's be clear, I'm retired and am on a limited income and don't have an exception number of knives but I do have several and I've become hooked on keeping my knives sharp has become more and more important in recent months.

Things like the Edge Pro Apex are out of my price range. I've looked at the reviews of the DMT Aligner but still don't have a true answer to my question.
The question is does the DMT Aligner give me enough additional functionality added to my Sharpmaker to make the purchase worthwhile"

Thanks
 
When you say "I think I need a little bit more", what exactly do you mean. IMO the sharpmaker can give you any edge that you will ever need, paper cutting, tree topping, hair whittling. So what you should maybe consider is a different setup to reprofile any knife so that you can utilize the sharpmaker better!? The Norton Crystolon combi stone comes to mind.
 
After using a Sharpmaker in one incarnation or the other for over 20 years, I started freehand sharpening. The Sharpmaker can do just about all I ever need done but I like the concept of working freehand. I guess you could say I moved backwards from a sharpening system to just working with stones. Basic setup includes a DMT coarse/fine diamond stones for edge thinning and rough sharpening followed by a Spyderco fine ceramic bench stone and then a leather strop. I'll probably include other ceramic stones in time since I like the way the knife feels running over the surface.

Also, the rods from the Sharpmaker can be used freehand. Once you get the process down you'll find it's relaxing therapy to just sit in the recliner or out on the porch with a few knives and the Sharpmaker rods to hone them to a satisfying level of sharpness.
 
I have both the DMT Aligner and Sharpmaker system with all available stones/rods.

I use the SM for 90% of my sharpening. The most I use the DMT Aligner now for is major repair/reprofile work.

Do you have the SM Diamond or CBN rods?
- If so, maybe get 2 of the Eze-Lap Coarse Diamond Files (250 grit) for $10 each.
- If not, maybe get 2 of the Eze-Lap Diamond 11 File sets which come with Coarse (250), Medium (400), and Fine (600) files for $22 each.
- You can rubber band these .25"x.25"x6" files to a pair of the SM rods and will give your SM an improved repair/reprofile capability.

The SM rods will cost you $45. The DMT Deluxe Aligner will be $50 and the Extra-Coarse and Extra-Extra-Coarse stones are $18 each.


For those on a budget, you can make an SM clone cross-stick sharpener and use sandpaper for ~$10. I built a large-scale version for my large field knives like my BK9.

You can also make your own strops for ~$10.
 
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I've got the diamond rods for the SM as well as the extra fine stones. I was thinking of the DMT for reprofiling and major repairs. The SM does this but it is labor intensive.
If the DMT won't to that much better of a job then I'll just stick with the SM. As I said I think it is a great system and does pretty much everything that I need.
I guess I'm always just looking for something better and sometimes that is difficult to do within a budget.
 
So if I understand this right now, you do want a setup for reprofiling but you don't want to do this freehand? Then I think the DMT aligner clamp is a handy tool. You still need a coarser stone, so again, my suggestion would be the Norton Crystolon combi stone, it's about $20 for the 8x2 inch size.
 
I got my DMT Aligner before getting the SM. If I'd gotten the SM first, I doubt I would gave gotten the DMT.

For a major repair/reprofile, you want something (rod/file/stone) super coarse, even as low as 120. That's why I recommended the Eze-Lap 250 file to augment the SM diamonds (which are 400).
 
I was considering the CBN/Diamond stones for my sharpmaker... never could decide between the two...
 
efaden said:
I was considering the CBN/Diamond stones for my sharpmaker... never could decide between the two...
Click to expand...

I got the Diamond before even hearing about the CBN rods. My understanding, it could be wrong, is that the CBN and Diamond are the same grit but the grit on the CBN adheres better and doesn't scrape off as easily. Also I've heard that Spyderco is planning on phasing out the diamond in favor of the CBN, but again that could well be wrong.
Based on what I've heard if I were just now getting them or need to replace the diamond rods I'd go with the CBN.

Well based on what I've seen here so far I'm just going to stick with the SM and let it go at that. It really does pretty much everything I need, actually with a bit of work everything I need, and I do have more time then money to spend.
 
As flphotog said, both are the same grit (400) and an improved manufacturing process enables the CBN to adhere better.

Not saying the diamonds are bad. Both perform the same.

I got CBN cuz I already have a bunch of diamond stones.
 
I have both systems.

The DMT won't really be much better uless you get a set of extra coarse stones.

You could do something like this with a Sharpmaker and extra coarse diamond stones.

 
I agree with others above. You need a coarse stone for setting bevels. A nice coarse diamond stone will serve you well
 
[URL=http://s1157.photobucket.com/user/blanex1/media/BGBB7072.jpg.html][/URL]i started with the sharpmaker,and find that it really handy for tuch-up's with most all my knifes! but found i needed something for changing my or re profiling my edge's a bit faster!and didn't wont to dump 250. so i ended up getting EP/copy with the real EP-stones,this system is working grate for me,its just another way around for you!or you can add other stones to the sharpmaker to make it work better!but going to be slower.
 
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flphotog said:
I got the Diamond before even hearing about the CBN rods. My understanding, it could be wrong, is that the CBN and Diamond are the same grit but the grit on the CBN adheres better and doesn't scrape off as easily. Based on what I've heard if I were just now getting them or need to replace the diamond rods I'd go with the CBN.

Well based on what I've seen here so far I'm just going to stick with the SM and let it go at that. It really does pretty much everything I need, actually with a bit of work everything I need, and I do have more time then money to spend.
Click to expand...

Ditto. My personal experience after buying them....Get the CBN rods and you'll never look back.
 
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