Sharpening questions

[MGF]

Hi, I've got a few questions regarding sharpening.

At moment, here's what I've got for sharpening tools:
-- A couple of the little EZ-Lap diamond stones and a couple of their take-along-sized diamond rods (one with the brass handle, the other with aluminum handle).
-- One of those Gerber 3-stones on a handle thingies
-- Also from Gerber, a gzimo in which the 2-sided "stone" (diamond-dust?) stows in the handle
-- An orange-handled Edgemaker Pro
-- A small pair of Lansky ceramic sticks that fit into a yellow base/handle
-- A Henckel's kitchen steel
-- A couple V-type pocket sharpener gizmos, a yellow one by Smith's and black one by Gerber.

My sharpening knowledge is stuff I've just picked up along the way, and I find that if I tinker around long enough and refuse to take no for an answer, I can get a pretty decent edge on most knives. With that said, I'm kind of fascinated reading a lot of the posts here. It sounds like some folks are getting some scary-sharp edges.

So,

-- Would a Spyderco Sharpmaker be a good purchase, and is it pretty simple to use?

-- When you guys talk about reprofiling, is this something done by hand with stones and/or rods ... or is it machine/wheel work? And how do you calibrate/maintain the angles?

-- Is there a book on sharpening you recommend?

Thanks much from a newbie.

 

[samhain73]

Someone will come along and tell you to use the search function, so let me be the first! But to be nice and answer the questions in a quick simple way, yes the sharpmaker is great, you can reprofile without a machine, in fact, you can use the sharpmaker (if you don't mind the hours!) and as far as a book, just use the aformentioned search function and hours of knowledge will be revealed!
P.S. Look up stroppping as well.

 

[Cliff Stamp]

Would a Spyderco Sharpmaker be a good purchase...

If you already have an existing v-rod, then there isn't a strong incentive.

When you guys talk about reprofiling, is this something done by hand with stones and/or rods ... or is it machine/wheel work? And how do you calibrate/maintain the angles?

It can be done by hand or on a belt sander. It is a shaping process, you don't care about the exact angle.

Is there a book on sharpening you recommend?

http://users.ameritech.net/knives/knives.htm

-Cliff

 

[metallicat]

the answer is edge pro, handamerican, tormek, or shapton. do a google search they have a lot of info on sharpening.

 

[tim8557]

Just throw everything away and buy and Edge Pro Apex with 4 stones and polishing tape. You're set for life.

 

[Stormdrane]

I've tried many different types of sharpening stones, rods, systems, belts, steels, and have found that an arkansas stone and a few drops of oil that I learned to sharpen with 25 years ago, is still a simple way with time and patience to achieve a shaving sharp edge on any knife that I've owned. The other systems work just fine and some are much faster, but I enjoy the skill, time, and effort in using an arkansas stone.

 

[MGF]

Thanks, much. I've ordered the sharpening book. Will read it and see where I need to go from there. Also, checked out the Edge Pro site and read some reviews. May have go that route one of these days. Thanks again.

 

[Rat Finkenstein]

If you already have an existing v-rod, then there isn't a strong incentive.


-Cliff

I dont think that you are talking about the same "V's". I think he means one of those little notch-sharpeners that you slide down the blade, not a v-rod setup.

Sharpmaker is pretty nice, I have one. :thumbup:

 

[Cliff Stamp]

I think he means one of those little notch-sharpeners that you slide down the blade, not a v-rod setup.

In that case Sharpmaker is a major improvement.

-Cliff

 

[MGF]

Yep, the pocket ones I referenced are the kind you slide the blade through the notch. Mainly just something I keep in the glove compartment and in the hunting bag. Touch up tools only, really. The crock sticks from Lansky are nice enough, but they seem just for finishing up.

 

[bzzhewt]

I personally prefer hand sharpening to any kind of gizmo. It lets me control the angle exactly how I want it. Plus, I like the satisfaction of knowing that i can put an awesome edge on a knife the traditional way, no matter where I am at, as long as I have some kind of stone. INMO, anything with preset angles gives you less control and gives you a crutch, to handicap your learning. Just my $ .02 worth.

Get the Razor Edge Book of Sharpening, and check out www.razoredgesystems.com and look at sharpening instructions. they teach how to use their angle guide, but even without it, the concept is exactly the same. This is probably the most thorough single source on beginning through advanced sharpening, and covers just about everything you need to know.

 

[Zwaplat]

Throw away those pocket things, they destroy your edge.
The Sharpmaker is good, I've got one. Easy to get knives shaving sharp, but for reprofiling you'll need the diamond rods. Unless you have loooooooooots of patience and time on the medium stones .

 

[HoB]

Or a decent sized diamond stone (for reprofiling). In the reprofiling stage you don't necessarily need to maintain an angle, as long as the angle is smaller than what you are using in you final sharpening steps. But even then you can make yourself some wooden wedges against which you can measure your angle. Putting the back of the knife on a couple of coins will work as well.