Recommendation for a good all around sharpener

B

bikerider

Joined
Nov 28, 2006
Messages
144
Guys,

It's time I've learned the art of sharpening and have been looking into different sharpeners. I've been using a sharpmaker, but can't seem to get my Native very sharp. I've heard the S30V is hard to sharpen. Since I have a variety of grinds from Scandi to kitchen knives and variety of steels 1095, O1, etc. I'd like one system that would work for all of them. It seems that bench stones will easily sharpen a scandi, but would be harder to get the right angle on other knives.

Do you guys use different set ups for different knives or will something like an edge pro work for all of them?
 
Yeah, the Edge Pro will handle anything you throw at it. It'll even sharpen recurved blades if you get the skinny stones.

Seriously though, it will eat through pretty much any steel you throw at it. But go easy with that 120 grit stone. A little dab'll do ya. Benchmade's D2 used to give me fits on the Sharpmaker. The Edge Pro got hold of it and basically said, "You're my bitch now." End result: D2 blades are sharper than lasers , and I couldn't be happier. S30V puts up less of a fight than D2, so yeah, the Edge Pro is a no-brainer for me now.

Bit of advice though, if you do get the Edge Pro get a cheap knife to practice on so you don't inadvertently go to town with the 120 grit stone and end up wishing Hell and damnation on the Edge Pro for chewing up your favourite blade. It's a pretty foolproof system, but it does require some fundamental understanding of what is going on as the stone passes over your blade.

-nate
 
I'll agree that there is no finer sharpening device on the planet than an EdgePro, and I'd never part with mine. But it is expensive.

For under $50, I'd go with a DMT aligner and stones. For a few extra bucks get it with the diamond stones. It works very fast, and it's easy to use. To make it even cheaper, just get the DMT clamp and use that with sandpaper. That works really well with larger kitchen knives!!

Stitchawl
 
Third for the edge pro.. My only regret was buying everything else and waiting too long to get one.
 
EdgePro. However :D, I just got my set of paper wheels in and tried it last night. Wow! I gotta admit I got pretty damn good results after a few tries. Close to hair-shaving-sharp. I have the grinder, 2000rpm, set up normally with the wheels coming at me. I set up a clear plexiglass screen to shield me from the splatter and in case the knife ever goes flying. If you have a grinder I suggest you try the paper wheels.
 
bikerider said:
Guys,

It's time I've learned the art of sharpening and have been looking into different sharpeners. I've been using a sharpmaker, but can't seem to get my Native very sharp. I've heard the S30V is hard to sharpen. Since I have a variety of grinds from Scandi to kitchen knives and variety of steels 1095, O1, etc. I'd like one system that would work for all of them. It seems that bench stones will easily sharpen a scandi, but would be harder to get the right angle on other knives.

Do you guys use different set ups for different knives or will something like an edge pro work for all of them?
Click to expand...


If you practice sharpening your scandi knives on bench stones and get a feel for the movements of the blade then you will understand the basics of sharpening. The scandi is just a big bevel and the same movements needed to follow a scandi bevel are the same needed to follow a smaller knife bevel. If you like hand sharpening invest in a good set of bench stones, if you just want sharp buy a system.
 
Thanks all for the replies. Yeah I'm really just looking to keep the ones I have sharp. Between Spydies, Tops,Bucks an NWA, Landi and a few others, I've got some money in knives but no real money in a sharpener. I think I will go with the Edge pro. I did see something called Wicked sharp and it seems to work the same or better, but the price is ridiculous.
 
I would suggest the paper wheels. Ever since I got it, my Edge Pro Apex has only been used maybe once every 3 months.

It's fast, it's relatively easy(my edges still look a bit fugly here and there), and it's cheap. A bench grinder + the wheels will cost around $100, with the edge pro costing twice as much.

Also, I find the wheels are absolutely perfect for those stubborn steels like ZDP-189, S110V, D2, and CPM-M4. As a bonus, I find that it's a quick and easy way to "fix" a broken tip by grinding a new tip onto the knife.

The one thing with the Edge Pro is that progressing from 320 grit to 1000 and up will take quite a while. The reason being that you need to raise and remove a burr between stones. The stones themselves can be different thicknesses, which will mess up your settings. Also, because you typically rest your knife on the largest flat surface, the angle you set it at may not always be the angle you put on the edge. As well, if the primary bevel that you rest the blade on isn't the same on both sides(not that uncommon), you might end up with a different angle on each side of the blade.

If I want to lower the angle on the knife(15 degrees per side or less) because the factory angle is too high(average of 20 degrees per side), the time to finish a knife on the EdgePro can take 30 minutes or more.

Average time to finish a knife on the paper wheels is about a minute or two, and maybe 3-4 minutes if I lower the angle.

Only thing I'll say about the Edge Pro is that the edge looks very pretty and perfectly flat.

Paper wheels are the practical choice for people who sharpen a lot. If I want to spend a long time sharpening, I'd prefer freehand.
 
bikerider said:
Thanks all for the replies. Yeah I'm really just looking to keep the ones I have sharp. Between Spydies, Tops,Bucks an NWA, Landi and a few others, I've got some money in knives but no real money in a sharpener. I think I will go with the Edge pro. I did see something called Wicked sharp and it seems to work the same or better, but the price is ridiculous.
Click to expand...

Good choice on the Edge Pro. Since you are already spending a decent amount of money on a sharpening system, get the #4 kit and get an extra 120 grit stone.

I did. Never looked back.

Goodluck
 
Noctis3880 said:
I would suggest the paper wheels. Ever since I got it, my Edge Pro Apex has only been used maybe once every 3 months.
Click to expand...

Who, other than a butcher or chef, actually 'needs' to sharpen more than once every three months. (Needs to, not wants to... We knife crazies enjoy sharpening.)


As a bonus, I find that it's a quick and easy way to "fix" a broken tip by grinding a new tip onto the knife.
Click to expand...

It surely will do that! I broke a knife tip once myself. Back in '63... :p
Never again.

The one thing with the Edge Pro is that progressing from 320 grit to 1000 and up will take quite a while.
Click to expand...

It does. It takes me almost a good 20 minutes to go from dull to screaming sharp. 20 minutes of my life burned up, just like that!! It's a good thing knives aren't my daily work and just my hobby. Who could afford to spend that much time sharpening a knife?!? :eek:

Only thing I'll say about the Edge Pro is that the edge looks very pretty and perfectly flat.
Click to expand...

Perfectly. :D
Perfectly flat and perfectly even bevels on both sides of the knife from tip to choil. And as perfectly sharp an edge as is humanly possible to get, in about the same time as it takes to drink a cup of coffee.

Paper wheels are the practical choice for people who sharpen a lot.
Click to expand...

They certainly are! They are very fast, and make a serviceable edge.

And EdgePro is the perfect choice for those who go for quality rather than quantity. Slower than power tools, but the result speaks for itself! :thumbup:


Stitchawl
 
I go through 5 grits of DMT diafolds "freehand" and get my folders 2x's as sharp, in 5 - 10 minutes as I ever got one on a SharpMaker and that included the diamond rods, included coarse/fine and ultra-fine.

I wasted many hours - a couple of days worth of my life probably, on the Sharpie and couldn't make the edge scream.

Nowadays, I spend a lot more time stropping than sharpening. Someday I'll be able to afford the full range of DMT 8" x 3" continuous benchstones. :thumbup:
 
bikerider said:
It's time I've learned the art of sharpening
Click to expand...

Key words there.....
I've decided the same thing lately.

I'll admit....I'm PW'd.......paper wheeled.......I have them and I can get an edge with them....but I just don't feel like I'm learning anything about the "art"....

My belt sander comes in handy too.....doesn't it Knifenut?.....but free hand with the right tools is where I've decided to head .......

My plan is to get handy with the DMT diafolds and strop for now......and the 8 inchers in the future.
 
Once you learn to sharpen, you will be able to use a lot of different tools or systems. The key is to start with one that will help you learn, and over time, you may get better quality, easier, or faster tools/systems.

I like the Magna Guide for smaller knives, and as a bonus the Diafolds work as field sharpeners on their own.

You can also find good deals on the 6x2 DMT benchstones, which cut quickly. I haven't tried the company, but Pinewood Forge? or similiar sells a set of 4 grits for <$100. The 6x2 aren't the best size, but they will let you work with good diamond benchstones for not a lot of money.
 
Edgepro takes a lot longer to master than the paperwheels and the paperwheels will not scratch the sides of the knife.Plus you will not spend all day trying to sharpen a knife,
I have both and the Edgepro and the paperwheels and the Edgepro never gets used and
I use the paper wheels every day:) And I had the Edgepro since about 1992.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top