I have the paper wheels, and I achieved some great sharpening with it at first, and now I cannot seem to get it right. So, I bought a belt sander used on Craigs List. It is a 1x42. I bought many grit belts for different reasons, but so far, I use the 600 then the 800 and then a leather belt loaded with 1 micron diamond paste. The 600 is aggressive enough for my modern folders of 154 CM Benchmade Griptilian and even my Spyderco Paramilitary D2. I can work up a burr within 4 passes with the belt slacked. I do not bear down on it, there is no need. I work a burr on each side, then change from 600 to 800, then work up a burr, then get rid of the burr with the leather strop belt also a 1x42 belt. I am more happy with this method than any before. I started with the Lansky, then the paper wheels, then hand sharpening on a homeade ramp, and then to the belts. I like em really sharp, but no time to do it by hand, so I do it this way now. I am very pleased with the results. The only downside is the changing of the belts, but I just prep 3 to 5 knives to sharpen and go from there. On my slipjoints, I go from 800 to leather belt. I see no need to use anything more aggressive, I would chew up my blades.
Note: I would recommend you continue your quest, trying many methods as opportunity provides itself to purchase equipment, so you can find the best way to satisfy your edginess. Good luck and remember to have fun doing it. I remember how excited I was when I could finally whittle hair with one of my knives with the paper wheels. It is where I reached new levels of sharpness. Then, I had to fill a hole in my edgy heart taht wanted me to learn free hand. It was a Buck 110. I sharpened that one by hand to hair whittling. My wife thought she was going to have to make me appt. with the Psych Dr. I used DMT, Spyderco ceramics, and then a leather strop that I made. It made me content that if need be, I could hand sharpen really well. Once I was able to do it, (I dare not say I mastered it), I was somehow on a new quest to do it faster with the same results. Hence the 1x42. I did not want a cheapy 1x30 from Harbor Freight, but I knew even that would be ok. I found an old clunker with a Dayton motor and it needed re wiring, relubing, and a switch installed. Otherwise, it had to be plugged in or out in order to turn it on or off. I now am really satisfied with this device, and going to start grinding small beat up hatchets that I find into hawks with the more aggressive belts.. Fun stuff! Enjoy.
