Sal: Why not a full grit progression for the Sharpmaker?

AFAustin

AFAustin

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Sal, when you next stop by, I hope you can answer this. Given the immense popularity of the Sharpmaker (and I love mine), and the oft repeated comment that it is good for touch-ups but not for any major sharpening---why hasn't either Spyderco or some other company made a full set of stones for it?

I'm aware of the diamond and CBN stones, but isn't there a pretty big gap between them and the brown stones, which the Grand Unified Grit Chart specs at about 15 microns? http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/sh...it-Chart/page4

So maybe what I'm asking is, why not at least 2 or 3 additional stones which would bridge the gap?

If Spyderco has determined that it just wouldn't be cost effective since the majority of users are happy with what's available now, are there patent or other legal reasons why another sharpening manufacturer can't tackle this?

Thanks very much for any info.

Andrew
 
I would immediately buy this and a sharpmaker with more angle varieties.
sure, i can buy the diamond and the ultra fine stones, but as mentioned in the op i feel like the spacing is just missing a few stones.
 
I've been saying for years now that the 204 Sharpmaker unit needs some more agressive coarse or extra coarse stones for quicker stock removal for really badly dinged up blades.

The diamond rods were a huge step in the right direction but they need a coarse or extra coarse stone for blades that have been through bad jobs or bad environments. I was thinking of something along the lines of a coarse or extra coarse aluminum oxide stone or even a coarser diamond rod for the 204 Sharpmaker.

I don't know what Spyderco has in mind with this new GAUNTLET sharpening system that they have in the works. But even if it's a great unit I still will never part with my 204 Sharpmaker regardless. But at least consider something like an extra coarse stone for the Sharpmaker because we aren't the only Spyderheads that have requested this.
 
There are after-market stones in a wide variety of grits available. My own sense is that the Sharpmaker, even with coarser grit stones, is not all that wonderful for reprofiling the edge -- certainly not compared to the Edge Pro or Wicked Edge or similar systems. Where the Sharpmaker really shines is for quick touch-ups on a micro-bevel, where the stock stones work incredibly well.
 
Twindog said:
There are after-market stones in a wide variety of grits available. My own sense is that the Sharpmaker, even with coarser grit stones, is not all that wonderful for reprofiling the edge -- certainly not compared to the Edge Pro or Wicked Edge or similar systems. Where the Sharpmaker really shines is for quick touch-ups on a micro-bevel, where the stock stones work incredibly well.
Click to expand...

could you provide some links to these aftermarket stones? that would be great, thanks.
 
There are triangular ruby stones that fit the sharpmaker. You have to research.
 
well i was hoping for some manufacturer as i am not sure that i will be able to get every brand over here in germany... but the ruby hint might be enough to narrow it down, thanks.
 
Congress Tools makes stones in triangular shape and some folks have used them in the Sharpmaker, with mixed results. They are 6" long instead of the 7" size of the Sharpmaker stones. Moreover, from the reports I read some time ago, sometimes they fit well in the SM holes and sometimes they don't.

Andrew
 
I too think there is too big of gap regarding the Diamonds/CBN stones and the medium ceramic. I wish they would make a "coarse" ceramic one that fills the gap. This subject has been discussed a ton of times but havent seen anything come out yet.

Regarding the Gauntlet, only time will tell of when we might see it and what grits might be released with it! I would only guess med., fine and maybe ultra fine! :)
 
Twindog said:
There are after-market stones in a wide variety of grits available. My own sense is that the Sharpmaker, even with coarser grit stones, is not all that wonderful for reprofiling the edge -- certainly not compared to the Edge Pro or Wicked Edge or similar systems. Where the Sharpmaker really shines is for quick touch-ups on a micro-bevel, where the stock stones work incredibly well.
Click to expand...
+1
Agree 100%.
I never tried sharpmaker diamond or CBN rods, but I tried variety of Congress stones and used few of them for reprofiling and repair. I started with triangular ruby and used them for couple years. I also tried triangular :Flex, Res-cut, Regular and Moldmaster. Later I used for a while flat Moldmasters 1"x1/8"x6".
First of all, triangular Congress Tool Stones designed and made without any intend to be used with sharpmaker base, so some of them do not fit into base and some of them are too loose. If you have two stones, which fit into base, they most likely would sit at different angles, creating uneven edges. This was a reason for me to switching to flat stones and clamping them to medium rods, so edges became much more even. I had flat stones in 120, 240 and 400 grits. They work much faster than medium rods, but not even close to WE. About a year and half ago I bit a bullet and bought WE "Field &Sport" and there is no way back. WE is much faster and the angle settings go from 13 degrees up. If 13 degrees is not acute enough for you, WE make low angle adapter.

vilePossum said:
could you provide some links to these aftermarket stones? that would be great, thanks.
Click to expand...

http://www.congresstools.com/catalog/categories/get-category/?id=72

These are good, inexpensive stones, but I would strongly advise against use any of them with Sharpmaker base. Much better to go with diamond or CBN rods or get EP or WE.
 
Hi, Roman. Good to see you chime in here. Back several years ago in another forum (where my screen name is AJF) it was you who showed me how the flat Congress stones could be clamped to the Sharpmaker for reprofiling.

Not to sidetrack my own thread, but why did you opt for the WE Field & Sport vs. the regular base WE unit?

Regards,

Andrew
 
AFAustin said:
Hi, Roman. Good to see you chime in here. Back several years ago in another forum (where my screen name is AJF) it was you who showed me how the flat Congress stones could be clamped to the Sharpmaker for reprofiling.
Not to sidetrack my own thread, but why did you opt for the WE Field & Sport vs. the regular base WE unit?
Regards,
Andrew
Click to expand...

Andrew,
Primary reason - it is US made. Actually not far away from me. On the north of new England. Always happy to give some work to my countrymen. :)
Also it is very compact. I realized it, when I received the system. For me I consider this a plus.
I remember our chats. Why did you disappear from Spyderco Forum?
Roman
 
View attachment 510472 This is a jig that I made to address the need for coarser stones. The angles are adjustable. Right now they're set at 75 and 80 degrees. I usually start with the larger coarser stones and finish up on the Sharpmaker.
 
Roman,

Thanks for the answer. I still love Spydies but these days spend most of my time (and limited cash) on traditional folders.

tiguy7,

I think your device is great and I would love to see something like it sold commercially for those of us who aren't so handy.

Andrew
 
You can make a stone holder out of wood, mount it in an angle vise, and true it with an angle cube for less than $100.
 
tiguy7 said:
View attachment 510472 This is a jig that I made to address the need for coarser stones. The angles are adjustable. Right now they're set at 75 and 80 degrees. I usually start with the larger coarser stones and finish up on the Sharpmaker.
Click to expand...

That's really great Tiguy7 :) I'm wondering after looking this over for a few moments if a guy couldn't tweak this rig a little? I was thinking maybe on the slanted slabs if a guy couldn't use a stone holder like the ones Garrett Wade sells to secure the benchstones a little more?

Also what type ( if any) clamping system do you have to secure it to the bench, table or whatever work surface?

I love the concept and I'm going to peddle as fast as I can to come up with something similar without copy-cat-ing yours per se. That way I could use some of my really coarse diamond benchstones for faster stock removal>> which I'm sure is a base you intended to cover> great idea!!
 
View attachment 510641 You're welcome to copy my design. The turnbuckles are are fitted with RH and LH threaded tie rod ends connected with a piece of hex bar stock and a jam nut on the RH side. The clevises are made from split box channel stock. I split the channel after the holes were drilled.
I made this in a V configuration to be able to go back and forth from one side to the other on alternate strokes. This wasn't a good idea because you can't see if your burr is developing. So I set each side to a different angle.
In use, I place the jig on double sheets of newspaper to catch the swarf and rotate it 180 degrees to do the alternate side of the edge. The thing is quite stable and does not require clamping. You would only have to build it with one ramp especially if you always use the same angle for sharpening. With an angle cube, I can set the ramp to 1/10 of a degree.
A simpler version would be a ramp with a block attached to the back and stone retaining ledge on the front. The block would be clamped in an angle vise. See pic. Be sure to get a vise that ramps up to 75 or 80 degrees. I posted that my jig was set at 75 & 80. Actually, it's 75 & 70 (like a Sharpmaker). Pedal away pal.
 
There are some really good very coarse stones available at fairly inexpensive prices, so we've not gone coarser than the CBN/diamond.

As to the area between the diamond/CBN and Medium, thisis the first time we've heard of a desire for them. I normally go from CBN to fine grit with few issues.

sal
 
Hi Andrew,

The Diamond and CBN rods seem to be similar in grit, though we've just begun making the CBN rods so we'll need some more "Real- World" testing before making final decisions.

Any grits between the Diamond/CBN and the brown rods would have to be a finer grit of Diamond/CBN. We've not successfully made a ceramic rod with a coarser grit. Currently, the D'mnd/CBN are 400 mesh.

The new "Gauntlet" sharpener is planned for CBN (400 mesh) and Ceramic (fine) rods in a Cats-eye shape.

sal
 
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