Sharpening

[blade dude]

So I hear all about the sharp maker and how awesome it is but I just can't afford it. Today I put my dollar store stone in the vice on the workbench. Angled it 15 degree for my delica and found out I don't like sharpening that way and like just having it on the bench. I've read Bout sharpening but never really put much effort into it. After the vise thing one good thing is I saw the angle I held it at so now k have a good eyeball estimate of what angle to hold it at and actually got a bur first time I got a knive hair shaving sharp and on a 240 grit stone too. So my delica is 15 degree no clue what it came at, and as for my stockman main blade is 15 the Spey which I carve wood with is 10 per side. Great results plus found out sharp maker style wasn't for me

 

[chopsaki]

Sounds like your getting pretty good results and learning how to freehand. I wouldn't worry about the sharp maker right now. I used one for a while as my only system and it definitely has its limitations. Now I only use it for light touch ups and it fills that role excellently. Sharpening is one of those things that you can get very proficient at with minimal $$ and a lot of patience and practice. Cheaper bench stones, sand paper, homemade strops, rouge is all pretty cheap and will get you SHARP if you know what your doing.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Developing and improving freehand technique will eventually improve your results on the Sharpmaker as well, IF you still choose to use it. It's a handy & quick touchup tool in some situations; I still use mine occasionally. The SM is still actually a freehand device, just configured to make the sharpening process more similar to cutting & slicing, which (theoretically) would be intuitively simpler for most novice sharpeners. After mastering a touch for holding a steady angle and regulating pressure, any tool you pick up for sharpening will magically start to work better.


David