sharpening question

ckaufman55

ckaufman55

Joined
Nov 18, 2010
Messages
132
I've been thinking of getting a Sharpmaker. Right now I use cheap crocksticks. It has a block for holding the white and brown sticks with 20 and 25° settings. I use the 20° on my Izula and 3mil. Its fast and easy and I can get them super sharp with it. Hair popping and all that jazz. But it seems that im lacking some edge retention.

My question is would I benefit from a better sharpener? What equipment do I need to achieve an ideal edge on my esee's?
 
ckaufman55 said:
I've been thinking of getting a Sharpmaker. Right now I use cheap crocksticks. It has a block for holding the white and brown sticks with 20 and 25° settings. I use the 20° on my Izula and 3mil. Its fast and easy and I can get them super sharp with it. Hair popping and all that jazz. But it seems that im lacking some edge retention.

My question is would I benefit from a better sharpener? What equipment do I need to achieve an ideal edge on my esee's?
Click to expand...

I think you should invest in a strop and a good charge compound, like Jewler's Rouge, Chromium Oxide, or Crystylon cakes. The crocks are more than likely leaving a "toothy" edge, and they tend to wear faster. You can crock, then strop and probably have a longer edge life.

Do you know what grity the crock sticks are pulling down?

And yes, you would benefit from a better setup, but some folks just use regular old stones to keep their edge up.

Moose
 
if you feel comfortable using the crock sticks, stick with them. You can also purchase a strop, to help achieve the best edge and remove the bur.
 
Thanks for the responses guys.

They are med and fine grits. I am really comfortable with it. I've never really second guessed my sharpening before I got my esees. I used to edc a kershaw skyline. It stayed sharp. But with that said I've never really experienced "scary sharp" till I got my esees. And its easy to get them that way.

So I guess I should learn to strop. Could I make one from a block, noncorrigated cardboard, and mothers polish? Will that work or not a good idea?
 
I have been using the Spyderco 701 Profile Set (SC701) on all my knives (e.g. Sebenza's, Izulas, Sages, and Damascus kitchen knives), and I have been very pleased.

Worth checking out.
 
I say stick with what you have. As long as its working. I just got a Sharpmaker and I am blown away. I thought I was doing pretty good with my Lansky system... the Sharpmaker is (IMO) much better. Or at least my results are much better.

I have put knives that always gave me trouble on the Sharpmaker and can get them razor sharp. My RATs, CRKT folders and KOA bush knife are all hair popping sharp.

I have found (and I guess this is obvious) that the better the steel the quicker and easier the blades sharpen up.

If the sticks work for you and you get them that sharp, I say stick with them.
 
Just my opinion, get a GOOD set of bench stones and use them. They are a lot easier to carry and set up. I have 3 stones, and my rc5 and izula2 stay shaving sharp. In fact I shaved with my izula the other night. One more thing on the stones, its a good feeling to be able to do it freehand.
 
ckaufman55 said:
Thanks for the responses guys.

They are med and fine grits. I am really comfortable with it. I've never really second guessed my sharpening before I got my esees. I used to edc a kershaw skyline. It stayed sharp. But with that said I've never really experienced "scary sharp" till I got my esees. And its easy to get them that way.

So I guess I should learn to strop. Could I make one from a block, noncorrigated cardboard, and mothers polish? Will that work or not a good idea?
Click to expand...

Or you can make one from old jeans pants...if you haven't tried it you can't believe how easily you can turn a sharp edge into an hair popping one.
And, more important, it will last longer! :cool:
 
That's what i'm looking for. Making my scary sharpness last. I gonna work on putting together a strop. Thanks!
 
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