sharpener help pleeeez

[paulwesley]

I'm just now getting into sharpening. What are the best sharpeners around....I've heard the sharpmaker is about the best. I have no idea where to start and no one to coach me........I can go get a lansky today right down the street at Academy Outdoors. Dont know if thats a decent one though....any of you pros got any advice????.....thx in adv/paul

I'll go get the Lansky if yall think its a good one!

 

[buckg]

Well, I ain't a pro, but if you just pick up three bench stones (coarse, medium, and fine) and practice sharpening with about a 22 degree angle (half of 45 degrees) on some inexpensive Buck knives, you can quickly teach yourself to sharpen pretty good. I started using bench stones about 25 years ago when I was a Boy Scout and, as best as I can recall, it wasn't long before I could get my knives pretty darn sharp. People place too much importance in holding a perfect angle. It's not really as important as learning how to look at the edge you're creating and judging what to do next. And that is important no matter what knife sharpening system you are using. Another important thing is stropping, which you can do with the backside of an old belt. You won't get an amazing edge without a little stropping.