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Sharpening & maintenance
- Thread starter big70tom
- Start date
David Martin
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- Apr 7, 2008
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There are lots of good info. on these subjects here . Trying reading thru the topics for a few pages back . DM
what kind of knives do you have to sharpen? you can get sandpaper and lay it on glass to sharpen your knives by hand if you want something cheap. you can get a set of paper wheels to sharpen with also. they can sharpen a knife in minutes and they dont take long to learn how to use. there is a thread on the paper wheels here in maintainance if you havent seen it yet.
Do you have space to set up a workshop with a bench grinder always mounted, or are you looking for something a bit more flexible, something that takes up less room than an ear of corn? Do you want 'perfect edges' or is 'just OK' good enough? Are you on a tight budget or can you spend a couple of hundred on your system?
You can get excellent results with a DMT 'Aligner' set for under $70. It's easy to use and effective. Great if you only have a couple of knives. Even cheaper if you use just the DMT clamp with some sand paper. That works very, very well. (It's what I use for backpack carry as it weight under an ounce.:thumbup: )
You can get excellent results (but with less variation of angles) with a 'Sharpmaker' for under $60 (This might just be the easiest to use for a novice.) It's the perfect device for kitchen knives too, I although I use an EdgePro for my major sharpening, I use the Sharpmaker in the kitchen for once a week touch ups for my cooking tools.
You can get the very best edge with the greatest degree of adjustability of angle with an 'EdgePro' for about $250. There is simply nothing that can beat the resulting edge. It is absolutely perfect. Period.
All three of these pack up small. The DMT will fit in a small backpack pocket. The Sharpmaker will be about the size of a metal pencil case, and the EdgePro packs up into the size of a large aluminum foil package.
You can also go with a set of free hand stones. Japanese water stones, Diamond stones, lapping plates, etc. These, once you learn how to use them, give great results and the prices can vary to suit your budget. It's a good idea to learn 'how' to freehand sharpen, and something that you will eventually want to try, but perhaps NOT something to start with.
If you want something that can't be taken anywhere, and is cheap, a grinder with a set of paper wheels works well once you learn how to use it. Just don't plan to take it backpacking with you. If you only have a couple of knives to sharpen, this might be overkill, but it works very well with large machetes, swords, scythes, guillotine blades, etc., etc. The DMT is just about worthless for these. :thumbdn:
It all boils down to 'what do you want to use,' 'what are you going to sharpen,' 'what results you want,' and 'how much you want to spend.'
Stitchawl
You can get excellent results with a DMT 'Aligner' set for under $70. It's easy to use and effective. Great if you only have a couple of knives. Even cheaper if you use just the DMT clamp with some sand paper. That works very, very well. (It's what I use for backpack carry as it weight under an ounce.:thumbup: )
You can get excellent results (but with less variation of angles) with a 'Sharpmaker' for under $60 (This might just be the easiest to use for a novice.) It's the perfect device for kitchen knives too, I although I use an EdgePro for my major sharpening, I use the Sharpmaker in the kitchen for once a week touch ups for my cooking tools.
You can get the very best edge with the greatest degree of adjustability of angle with an 'EdgePro' for about $250. There is simply nothing that can beat the resulting edge. It is absolutely perfect. Period.
All three of these pack up small. The DMT will fit in a small backpack pocket. The Sharpmaker will be about the size of a metal pencil case, and the EdgePro packs up into the size of a large aluminum foil package.
You can also go with a set of free hand stones. Japanese water stones, Diamond stones, lapping plates, etc. These, once you learn how to use them, give great results and the prices can vary to suit your budget. It's a good idea to learn 'how' to freehand sharpen, and something that you will eventually want to try, but perhaps NOT something to start with.
If you want something that can't be taken anywhere, and is cheap, a grinder with a set of paper wheels works well once you learn how to use it. Just don't plan to take it backpacking with you. If you only have a couple of knives to sharpen, this might be overkill, but it works very well with large machetes, swords, scythes, guillotine blades, etc., etc. The DMT is just about worthless for these. :thumbdn:
It all boils down to 'what do you want to use,' 'what are you going to sharpen,' 'what results you want,' and 'how much you want to spend.'
Stitchawl
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2009
- Messages
- 868
I'll throw in that if you shop around, you should be able to get a decent set of Japanese sharpening stones for a decent price. I was able to get 220, 1000, 6000, 8000, 12000, and 1 micron diamond spray for around $200. That is less than a full Edgepro system and will give you mirror polished edges on your knife with the right technique.
I may be mistaken, but I think the OP is pretty new to sharpening. Trying to get a good edge using freehand techniques takes some degree of experience and developed skills that a newbie isn't quite ready for. Granted, freehand sharpening IS something that should be learned by all knife nuts, but I believe it should take a back seat to maintaining a collection of knives. Using some sort of guided system is fast, easy, and and most importantly, effective for a new user, and gives a person a very good idea of just what is needed when making the switch to free hand sharpening.
Stitchawl
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2009
- Messages
- 11,409
I've got an EdgePro Apex, Double-Sided DMT Benchstones, various leather strops and diamond pastes, and a set of paper wheels.
For the most part, freehand sharpening is a relaxing practice, but not my first choice for practical use. It takes more than a bit of practice to use properly, as you need to be sure that every stroke is at the same or similar angle. The EdgePro also takes a little while if your knives have "super" steels like S30V or ZDP-189. Getting from the 320 grit to 1000 takes a bit of time.
The EdgePro also has problems maintaining precise angles because of the choice not to use a clamp system. Since the blade needs to be rested on a large flat area of the blade, the angles typically turn out to be lower than what the setting is for. Also, if the secondary bevel that the blade is resting on isn't ground at the same angle on both sides, one side of the edge will have a different angle than the other.
The Paper Wheels are similar to freehand and takes some practice, but it's definitely the fastest way to sharpen a knife. I personally find it easier than freehanding. The edges probably won't look as pretty as what you can get with the EdgePro or freehand, but it gets the job done. This is the system I would recommend for people who regularly sharpen or touch up their knives.
For the most part, freehand sharpening is a relaxing practice, but not my first choice for practical use. It takes more than a bit of practice to use properly, as you need to be sure that every stroke is at the same or similar angle. The EdgePro also takes a little while if your knives have "super" steels like S30V or ZDP-189. Getting from the 320 grit to 1000 takes a bit of time.
The EdgePro also has problems maintaining precise angles because of the choice not to use a clamp system. Since the blade needs to be rested on a large flat area of the blade, the angles typically turn out to be lower than what the setting is for. Also, if the secondary bevel that the blade is resting on isn't ground at the same angle on both sides, one side of the edge will have a different angle than the other.
The Paper Wheels are similar to freehand and takes some practice, but it's definitely the fastest way to sharpen a knife. I personally find it easier than freehanding. The edges probably won't look as pretty as what you can get with the EdgePro or freehand, but it gets the job done. This is the system I would recommend for people who regularly sharpen or touch up their knives.
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2009
- Messages
- 868
I agree with you on that point. A guided system would be a good starting point. I was just trying to point out that it is possible to get a full set of stones for a decent price, the same price as an Edgepro.
As for how to learn to freehand, I say pick up some wet/dry sandpaper in 600, 1000, and 2000 grit and a piece of glass and learn with that. That's how I did it. Cheap and easy to acquire.
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2009
- Messages
- 13,540
+1 :thumbup:
Agreed. I've been using a Lansky and/or GATCO for a while now, and have just started to get back into some relatively 'light' freehand sharpening with a DMT Dia-Fold and Spyderco ceramic stone. I can see now, after all I've previously done with the guided sharpeners, I'm much more comfortable with the freehand process. I have a much better feel for what to look for on my edge, and make appropriate adjustments in my technique. The results bear that out. A guided system of one kind or another will teach you a lot, if you pay close attention to what's going on at the edge, as you work.
I'm right there with you on the idea of sandpaper. I love it. (And it doesn't even have to be used with glass. MDF, a kitchen table top, a 2x4, etc, al work if they are flat and smooth.)
While I do have some really nice Japanese water stones that cost a small fortune, sandpaper seems to work just as well and only costs pennies! It's lighter, you can buy it everywhere, and it works. Who could ask for more? Certainly the cost replacing sandpaper over a lifetime of sharpening might be more than the cost of a stone, at 15 cents a sheet, who cares?!!? And when combined with a guide system like the DMT, it turns out just about perfect edges.
Stitchawl
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2010
- Messages
- 195
I have to go with the spyderco sharpmaker. I have s30v, 1095, 154cm/Ats34, 440c and Aus8 and it does a great job. I bought the extra fine rods and do a great job. Simple to use, compact and easy to use on a camping trip. Highly recommend it..
Have you tried putting a piece of 10,000 grit polishing film over the rods? I do that when I really want a nice finish, wrapped around the rod and clipped in back with a 'bulldog' paper clamp. Works great!
Conversely, using some 120 grit sandpaper on the rods really speeds up reprofiling...
Stitchawl
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- Joined
- Jul 25, 2010
- Messages
- 195
I am heading to Home Depot now!!!
