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The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is$300$250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Sharpening System Comparisons Needed!
- Thread starter D. Epstein
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2000
- Messages
- 6,017
I'll chime in for Razor Edge. I received the 8'' stones and guides about a week ago. Coming off the Lansky, it is amazing how fast the coarse stone cuts. The fine stone doesn't seem to be all that fine but I expect it to improve with use, as Juranitch claims. I like the fact that I will be able to learn freehand. The guides are wearing out already but I doubt it will pose a problem for some time. The Apex may be the ticket but I give the man who wrote the book on sharpening the nod.
- Joined
- Jan 14, 2000
- Messages
- 6,017
I'll chime in for Razor Edge. I received the 8'' stones and guides about a week ago. Coming off the Lansky, it is amazing how fast the coarse stone cuts. The fine stone doesn't seem to be all that fine but I expect it to improve with use, as Juranitch claims. I like the fact that I will be able to learn freehand. The guides are wearing out already but I doubt it will pose a problem for some time. The Apex may be the ticket but I give the man who wrote the book on sharpening the nod.
- Joined
- Oct 9, 1998
- Messages
- 1,767
I ordered the Razor Edge system. Though actually, I'd be interested in hearing about the Skarb set up, because I might buy that too after my Razor Edge guides wear out. Then I can use the Skarb and use my Razor Edge stones with it.
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Chang and the Rebels of the East!
Southern Taiwan Will Rise Again!
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Chang and the Rebels of the East!
Southern Taiwan Will Rise Again!
- Joined
- Oct 11, 1998
- Messages
- 707
Ok Mr. Skarb I will chime in.
I have owned all the above systems at one point or another. Gatco, Lansky, Razor Edge, Spyderco, Skarb, and Edge Pro. Of these I sold off the Gatco and Lansky. They are OK but the Skarb and Edge Pro are in a higher class. If I had to pick between Skarb and Edge Pro it would be a hard choice.
I use both to initially set the bevels or thin out the edge. Do to ease of operation, I use Spyderco for edge maintenance. The spyderco system is the most versatile but it sucks for fast removal. Both Skarb and Edge Pro will quickly thin out blades. Both require some skill. Both can adjust to any common angle say from 15 to 30. Neither will do serations. Edge Pro requires a little more set up time. It works with the stone above the knife which is something I don't like as well. For some blades particularly folders its harder to hold them on the platen while sharpening due the geometry and lack of wide enough flat area along the blade. You have to change hands to do the opposite side of the blade and that is s awkward too. All that said, with practise you can overcome these problems.
Now for the Skarb. It uses a clamp and that can be an advantage. It cuts along the edge of the blade, more parallel to the edge. Imagine you had a very long knife and you held the stone and ran it along the edge to sharpen with the blade with the blade stationary. That will give you an idea of how the Skarb cuts, even though the stone is sationary and the blade is moved. Since it is used along the edge more of the blade at the front and middle spend more time on the stone than at the inside edge. This not really a problem because you just spend a little more tine and short strokes in this area. I like that I can use any stone with the Skarb, even the triangular Spderco stones. Maybe you can do serations, not sure cause I don't own any knives with serations.
Both Skarb and Edge Pro work well. All of these systems have been reviewed many times in the knfe review forum.
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Roger Blake
I have owned all the above systems at one point or another. Gatco, Lansky, Razor Edge, Spyderco, Skarb, and Edge Pro. Of these I sold off the Gatco and Lansky. They are OK but the Skarb and Edge Pro are in a higher class. If I had to pick between Skarb and Edge Pro it would be a hard choice.
I use both to initially set the bevels or thin out the edge. Do to ease of operation, I use Spyderco for edge maintenance. The spyderco system is the most versatile but it sucks for fast removal. Both Skarb and Edge Pro will quickly thin out blades. Both require some skill. Both can adjust to any common angle say from 15 to 30. Neither will do serations. Edge Pro requires a little more set up time. It works with the stone above the knife which is something I don't like as well. For some blades particularly folders its harder to hold them on the platen while sharpening due the geometry and lack of wide enough flat area along the blade. You have to change hands to do the opposite side of the blade and that is s awkward too. All that said, with practise you can overcome these problems.
Now for the Skarb. It uses a clamp and that can be an advantage. It cuts along the edge of the blade, more parallel to the edge. Imagine you had a very long knife and you held the stone and ran it along the edge to sharpen with the blade with the blade stationary. That will give you an idea of how the Skarb cuts, even though the stone is sationary and the blade is moved. Since it is used along the edge more of the blade at the front and middle spend more time on the stone than at the inside edge. This not really a problem because you just spend a little more tine and short strokes in this area. I like that I can use any stone with the Skarb, even the triangular Spderco stones. Maybe you can do serations, not sure cause I don't own any knives with serations.
Both Skarb and Edge Pro work well. All of these systems have been reviewed many times in the knfe review forum.
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Roger Blake