Sharpener question

[HKG36]

Is there such thing as a GOOD sharpener that you just run the knife through and it sharpens it by itself? Or are all the good sharpening kits the do it by hand kind of sharpening kits?

What are some good sharpening kits?

 

[OilMan]

A Spyderco Sharpmaker or some Croc Sticks are only a tad harder than what you are describing. All you really have to be able to do is keep the knife vertical. The Sharpmaker comes with a pretty good video too. I don't know of any machines that are any good though. There may be one, I just don't know about it.

oil

Oh ya, between the two systems I mentioned I would go with the Spyderco one because with only the round sticks, that come with the Croc Sticks, I have a tendancy to round tips. With the Spyderco setup I only run my tips on the flats which helps with keeping a point.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Sharpeners with a slot that you run the knife through have two problems. One is that they are preset to only one edge angle, which may be glaringly inappropriate for your knife -- especially since many of them are preset for the very thin kitchen knives. Two is that if you put too much pressure on them, you can damage your knife edge.

 

[underaged!]

And many remove much more steel than nessesary. Also, on many of them, you can't clean the abrasive stuff.

I'd go for the Sharpmaker-its easy enough to get good at, maybe 20 minutes and you'll be a pro.

The CRKT one looks like it may do well, if you get it, please make a review.

 

[STR]

For just a using knife that is what I call my beater knife and knives like my Swiss army knife and my Swiss tool that has two blades on it I like to use the EZ Lap fine and x fine diamond pads. They seem to get it to an acceptable edge for most things and can even bring the knife up to where it will slice news paper to ribbon and take off the top part of my fingernails. They can take hair off the arm but they take a lot of skin also on most.

If you want to step it up a notch from there I'd go to a strop after you profile the edge the way you like it using the diamond sharpener and polish it up to a nice uniform edge. Then you can pick the hair on your arm and watch it come right off above the arm with no skin.

In my opinion there are no better two combos for my own up keep then those two methods but there are about as many methods to sharpen a knife as there are stars.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Sharpeners with a slot that you run the knife through have two problems. One is that they are preset to only one edge angle, which may be glaringly inappropriate for your knife -- especially since many of them are preset for the very thin kitchen knives. Two is that if you put too much pressure on them, you can damage your knife edge.

This only applies to the low end ones, there are models which have angle adjustements, are water cooled, etc., very high end, CATRA and similar machines. They cost a *lot* of money though.

-Cliff

 

[voppa]

I'd also go with the sharpmaker. I can't sharpen freehand for beans so I got one and it works great!

 

[KimberComp]

Did not want to start another thread but if there is anything I am, I'm knife sharpening challenged! I've tried several different systems and about the only thing that has worked for me is the Lansky system or Redi-Edge. The Lansky is a bear because the angle of adjustment are so limited so I'm either putting a much higher angle than I want or taking a long time to change the profile of the edge. It also seems like from one time to the next that the same angle has changed somewhat! The Redi-Edge works okay on a few of my knives after stropping the edge. Its been a while since I've actually looked into anything new so I'm looking for suggestions as well.

I would certainly like to find a system similar to the Lansky but with more adjustment to the angle. Also, I would like to see a sturdy unit that makes repeating angle pretty much fool proof. Also, do you guy have a source for old Barber style leather strops?

So, not trying to take over a thread I did not want to repeat the same.
Thanks,
Tim

 

[gajinoz]

Did not want to start another thread but if there is anything I am, I'm knife sharpening challenged! I've tried several different systems and about the only thing that has worked for me is the Lansky system or Redi-Edge. The Lansky is a bear because the angle of adjustment are so limited so I'm either putting a much higher angle than I want or taking a long time to change the profile of the edge. It also seems like from one time to the next that the same angle has changed somewhat! The Redi-Edge works okay on a few of my knives after stropping the edge. Its been a while since I've actually looked into anything new so I'm looking for suggestions as well.

I would certainly like to find a system similar to the Lansky but with more adjustment to the angle. Also, I would like to see a sturdy unit that makes repeating angle pretty much fool proof. Also, do you guy have a source for old Barber style leather strops?

So, not trying to take over a thread I did not want to repeat the same.
Thanks,
Tim

Probably what you need is an Edgepro. Somewhat expensive to buy, (when compared to a Sharpmaker or Lansky), but if you get the "deluxe" model with the full range of stones it is an excellent system. It has a number of set angles marked on it but it almost infinitely adjustable between those. It's VERY accurate, pretty easy to use and reprofiling is almost a pleasure.

I managed to put a scary edge on my SnG with little effort.

Have a look at one if you can.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

The Lansky is a bear because the angle of adjustment are so limited ...

You can just tape a piece of wood on the clamp which the bar will then rest ton and be raised in hight to change te angle incrementally inbetween the set notches.

-Cliff

 

[nozh2002]

I found that at least for me it is very easy to keep blade strictly horizontal. First of all you may see reflection on the blade or just blinks of light - one way or anothe, but it is very simple to keep blade horizontal and very hard to keep it under 15 degree or some other degree. Probably everybody who was "trained" to eat with a spoon are pretty good in keeping things horisontal, check light reflections and other parameters and react accordingly.

I think it is much easyer then keep blade vertical for Sharpmaker.

So I make simple triangular out of piece of wood with 15 degree angle and use it as a base for Eazy Lap diamond stones, Spiderco stones, brick of wood with leather glued to it for honing etc... The blade is 30 degree. Using different bases you may manage angles. Use rubber bands-rings or something to make stone not to slip and it is done!

I found it extremely easy to use for shrpening. Even for me. I hope it will help you also.

Thanks, Vassili.

 

[Planterz]

Is there such thing as a GOOD sharpener that you just run the knife through and it sharpens it by itself?

I don't know if you're refering to electrical ones or hand-drawn ones, but I can tell you about the latter.

These things suck. With the ones with 2 ceramic rods in an X, basically you're making a wire edge, and then pusing it back and forth with each draw on the sharpener. It might work for making a seriously dull knife less dull, but you'll never be able to get an edge you can shave armhairs with. I had one of these and eventually broke the ceramic bits out of the cheesy plastic holder and freehanded with the ceramics. Worked pretty well. The sharpeners that you hold like a gun and draw down the blade aren't any better.

Long story short, get a Spyderco Sharpmaker. I realize that $50 might seem expensive compared to one of those cheap ones, but it's worth the money. Especially if you'd otherwise be paying a shop to sharpen them. I've got like $300 worth of sharpening stuff myself, which sounds like a lot, until you consider the $8-9000 worth of knives I have. Think of it as putting premium gas and fuel additives in your car, or double-pane windows in your house. It might seem like a lot of money alone, but considering the overall investment, it's worth it.

 

[Doug C]

I just love my EdgePro Apex.Comes with excellent video.Easy to use.