Shaping a bevel?

[Mephtyrm]

After the rods on my Smith's 3 in 1 broke, I resorted to free handing the 23 degree angle on my knives and found free handing wasn't that hard for me.
However, while I could get a very consistent 23 degree angle, I could not get a shallower angle by hand.
I used to think that a 23 degree would be a good strong edge, but I found I didn't need that thick an edge.
What I'm looking for is a consistent system that can easily re profile an edge to 20 to 15 degrees, and relatively affordable.
I'm currently looking at those clamp style systems, like a Lansky.
I just want to set my bevel, and then proceed to freehand because I can't set bevels, only keep them.

 

[richard j]

i had a clamp system many years ago and i had trouble getting a knife i had previously sharpened on it matching back up to the same angle. it was a pain to use on knives that were a full flat grind and no flat spot to clamp to. if you are set on a guided system get one that will allow you to match the existing angle.

i use the papere wheels and i can match any existing angle pretty well by eye and be done in minutes no matter what steel the knife is made from.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

After the rods on my Smith's 3 in 1 broke, I resorted to free handing the 23 degree angle on my knives and found free handing wasn't that hard for me.
However, while I could get a very consistent 23 degree angle, I could not get a shallower angle by hand.
I used to think that a 23 degree would be a good strong edge, but I found I didn't need that thick an edge.
What I'm looking for is a consistent system that can easily re profile an edge to 20 to 15 degrees, and relatively affordable.
I'm currently looking at those clamp style systems, like a Lansky.
I just want to set my bevel, and then proceed to freehand because I can't set bevels, only keep them.

That's how I've done it. A guided system is very good at setting a bevel. Beyond that, I've never picked up that type of tool for maintaining them. I use strops, ceramic hones or sandpaper for everything else, freehand. I have two Lansky kits, a Gatco kit, and a DMT Aligner/Magna-Guide setup with Dia-Folds. I think my Lansky clamp will allow going the lowest in angle, and seems to work better with smaller blades as well (other clamps have great difficulty holding small blades, while still keeping the edge accessible to the hone). They will all get the job done, in setting a nice, clean bevel on most other blades up to about 8" length or so.