Sharpening 101..What does a newby

O

onlyaire

Joined
Apr 7, 2007
Messages
99
need to get started sharpening blades? Right now I have a cheapy Smith pull through device that I picked up, to temporarily maintain my blades, but I'm curious as what I would need to start sharpening my knives in a more serious manor. I've seen a couple of kits that offer 3 stones with guides, to maintain an edge, are these any good? Also intererested in any recommended literature on knife sharpening.

TIA
DaveR
 
You know, I bought a Lansky and although it works ok, it is cumbersome and time consuming and can scratch your blade. I have read many, many good things about the Spyderco Sharpmaker and am going to get one soon. It looks like it is very easy to use and get good results.
 
I've got the Lansky and I consider it the absolute minimum - cumbersome and time consuming, indeed. But a useful starting point. And I have produced some sharp blades.

Next I'm going to get a strop, as I'm starting to wonder that with regular stropping, I won't need a Sharpmaker (which isn't quite the same as don't want or won't buy).
 
Get a coarse DMT, a sharpmaker and a strop with some compound. That is really all you need. Anything else is a luxury (one that you very well might want to have :D, but that is a different issue).
 
Another vote for the Spderco Sharpmaker. If you want to get really serious you can pick up an Edgepro sharpener.

Rookie mistakes are not shapening the edge, but grinding away at metal behind the edge. Use a black marker and a magnifier to check that you are removing metal from the edge, or from the area you want to reprofile if you inteed to thin out the edge.
 
onlyaire said:
serrated blades? Do they sharpen the same way one would sharpen a smooth blade?
Click to expand...

On the Sharpmaker they do. Honestly, I had sharpening-phobia before I received my Sharpmaker for my birthday this past year. Now I have no trouble keeping all of my knives shaving sharp. It's an extremely simple, friendly system to use.
 
onlyaire said:
blades? Do they sharpen the same way one would sharpen a smooth blade?

DaveR
Click to expand...


Most people use sharpeners designed for serrations, though I've read that some will sharpen the opposite side like a regular edge and getting good results.
 
nope, you need special equipment in the way of a round file that will fit into each serration or a sharpmaker. the sharpmaker makes quick work of serrated blades.
 
Generally, serrated edges are chisel ground. That is, they are bevelled on one side and flat on the other. You can easily sharpen serrated edges on the corners of the Sharpmaker's triangular stones.

Although I don't own a Sharpmaker, I do recommend it, especially for beginners. (I learned to sharpen freehand on benchstones before Sal invented the Sharpmaker ;) )
 
Welcome to Bladeforums!

moving-van.jpg
 
I too have the Lansky. It came with my Ritter Grip. I used it today just to see how it would do on my Ritter Grip, and it took my 'razors edge' away :( How can I get that hair cutting sharpness back?

Oh and the Lansky is fine, it made a lot of my older crappy blades sharp again :) Just not hair spliting sharp.

I just did the marker trick, it seems that maybe the angel the lasnsky's at is larger than the blade's.
 
I would agree with others that the Lansky is pretty good, not perfect. It can be tiresome to use, esp on large knives. Personally I find it works best on smaller baldes, e.g. my 4" Moras, but less well on larger/thicker knifes- it can handle my Glock field knife, which has a thickness of about 0.2" and 6" long cutting edge, I think, but I am not sure how well it would handle on thicker, longer blades.

Although it is slower than say large benchstones or a belt sander, I did manage to significantly reprofile the edge of my Glock, using the extra coarse stone. However, the EC is now quite curved compared to the other hones- which can present problems in terms of keeping constant angle.

It can be irritating to use at times, but I do manage quite easily to get a shaving edge on my knives, micro-bevelling with the F(600) and UF(1000) hones- however, it has took me some time to learn how to use it proficiently (you could say the same thing about anything really, so that's not really a criticism). When I first recieved it I was very disappointed with it, and found it very hard to use, but over time came to quite enjoy using it.

The point about marking the edge is very important- when I first used the system I was just grinding the edge, which frustrated me, as I didn't understand at all about sharpening angles or anything.

Overall, I would say that the lanksy will get a shaving edge easily, once you have got the knack of it. It's not perfect, but once you've got the knack of it you can get really quite sharp edges. If you do get it, I would recommend the deluxe version- it has both the EC(70 grit) and UF(1000 grit) hones, which are both pretty necessary IMO.

BTW, I am looking to get a new sharpening system, and am wondering what people think of the Razor Edge System angle guides/kits? I knew someone who used them and who said very good things about them, but haven't seen anything at all regarding them on the forums. Would an Edge Pro Apex/Pro be a better bet?
 
I think Im going to order the Spyderco Sharpmaker. I'll also pick up the Lansky locally, they are on sale at my local Gander Mountain.

I used to sharpen with stones but never really new what I was doing, angle wise. I'm not even sure if they were proper stones. My dad was a machinist and he gave me them. Seemed like I could get a knife fairly sharp, but they never really held an edge. I'm not sure if it was steel quality, my technique, or lack of. With the prices of some of these knives I don't want to start off on the wrong foot, so I'll start with Sharpmaker. I'll practice with the Lansky with some cheap knives until i get a feel for what I'm doing.

Thanks Again
DaveR
 
Pablo486 The link you posted concerning sharpening by Chad Ward was great. I learned more practical things about sharpening and keeping edges sharp than any other single source. I have used the Lansky system enough to have worn out both the medium and course stones, but have always found it to be a fair method of sharpening which required very little skill. Now, I have confidence and some small amount of knowledge to suplement it, and hope to have some super sharp edges. Thanks for posting the link.
 
The Sharpmaker by Spyderco is the most popular here, but requires a steady hand to make sure you hold that knife vertical. I'd suggest a Lansky Turn-Box Sharpener. At only $20 at Gander Mountain, I've put some amazing edges (superior to those by Benchmade) on my knives, even on knives with inferior steel, such as some $20 cheap Buck knives. It will allow you to see if you're able to handle this type of sharpener, without having to pay the high price of a Sharpmaker. In addition, it will probably be all you'll need. I'd suggest you get the deluxe one, with the four rods, instead of the standard, with only two rods. This portable sharpener is made out of wood (surprisingly not plastic) and has slots to store the ceramic rods inside of the box. Great for sharpening on the road, or in the field, as well as serious sharpening in the home.

I do have one of the Lansky sharpeners that involve a bracket, and while it also works well, once you get the hang of it, it is definately time-consuming. I have, however, also made amazing edges on it, but it's just not as fast.

So, if you have a steady hand, I'd suggest a crock-stick sharpener of some kind.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top