Sharpeners that Help Set Proper Angle and Reach Entire Bevel?

Since you already sharpen freehand, you could try propping the stone up at a certain angle, then just hold the knife blade parallel. This would help in setting the angle that you want, with minimal cost (protractor or better yet an angle gauge from your local hardware store.)
 
RedLynx said:
Hi guys,

I do all of my own sharpening with a two sided DMT diamond stone. It seems to work well for most of my user knives. However, after sending a couple of knives in to a pro here, that I couldn't get sharp, I worry my freehand may not be up to snuff. I think the knives in question were set with an obtuse microbevel from the factory, as I can usually get knives pretty sharp but these (two of the same knife) not so much.

However, I try to set the angle on my knives by "feel" and keep it steady throughout the process. The trouble is, since I need both hands for this I'm also working at maintaining my balance since I don't have my cane hand free anymore (I sharpen at the kitchen counter). I also tend to set my knives at around 20 degrees but it may go as high as 25, this is tough for me to tell just eyeballing it. I worry about that.

I did get some of the guide rails offered by Global Cutlery a couple of years back, but I can't fit them onto most knives (as they manufacture kitchen knives) so they largely have been unhelpful, although it has prompted me to at least try to get better and feeling and maintaining the angle freehand.

I guess what I'm asking is, if I really can't maintain a good angle (and reach the entire bevel which also seems to be an issue), are there any quality (and hopefully affordable) sharpeners that will set and help me maintain the angle, and reach the whole bevel? Of course most pocket sharpeners have too obtuse an angle, but I was wondering if there was a better version of something like that with a more acute angle.

Global makes some kind of sharpener that sets a proper (I think 15 degree) angle and helps to maintain it as you sharpen, and you add water to some kind of reservoir. But as they make kitchen cutlery I've been reluctant to purchase.

About reaching the entire bevel:

Recently I discovered some rust on one of my carbon knives. Soaked it in vinegar and gave it a nice patina. Proceeded to sharpen it up, but only a portion of the bevel became "shiny" again where the patina has rubbed off. This has me worried that even though I'm setting a pretty acute angle (though perhaps not enough) I'm not maintaining it enough to evenly reach the whole bevel.

Of course I want to improve my freehand sharpening, but I also have a few EDCs that are in need of some good touch ups and if I've now discovered I'm not that great, I don't want to keep going with that.

Any suggestions about freehand or good sharpeners would be appreciated.

**Most of the time my knives get very sharp, enough to easily cut what I want, so they work for me. But if I'm really not maintaining the proper angle or getting to the entire bevel I'm really only hurting myself in the long run, and I want to correct that.

Thanks guys.
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You might want to figure out a more stable base for working freehand off the counter so you can use both hands and concentrate on the work instead of the balance. It is pretty common for the bevels to be inconsistent to some extent. As mentioned, working with a Sharpie and creating a burr along the entire length can go a long way toward alleviating this.

For guided systems, I'd look at ones that work best with any limitations specific to you not being able to bring both hands to bear with equal effectiveness - this would be a larger consideration, I'd imagine, than how well the system might work on paper.

If you can eliminate that factor and are already reasonably proficient at sharpening, I'd just practice more.
 
Have you considered getting a tool that you can use to set a desired angle then use that as a guide to set your wrist to the angle? I think freehand and guided tools each have their limitations.
 
Rey HRH said:
Have you considered getting a tool that you can use to set a desired angle then use that as a guide to set your wrist to the angle? I think freehand and guided tools each have their limitations.
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I sent Justin a set of degree wedges to use on his diamond plate to facilitate setting specific angles, then locking the wrist. He told me they were helpful.
 
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