Sharpening

N

nutnfancyfan

Joined
Nov 30, 2009
Messages
518
How do you guys sharpen your blades? right now i just have a cheap walmart sharpening stone, which just doesnt really work for me. what do you guys recomend? systems, stones, whatever
 
For ESEEs you cannot beat the spyderco shapmaker for ease of use and screaming sticky sharp edges.
 
I have different grits of japanese water stone, and I finish my edges on a leather strop. I also sharpen my convex edges on sandpaper and mousepad. I have no experience with guided systems or mechanized equipment, but I'd like to try both someday.

Knife sharpening is 95% skill, and 5% the tools you use. Keep practicing and you will get better, sharper edges, no mater what sharpening medium you have. It takes a while to figure out your angles, pressure, and general technique, but keep practicing and you will get there.
 
TrailWolf said:
For ESEEs you cannot beat the spyderco shapmaker for ease of use and screaming sticky sharp edges.
Click to expand...

I have been SERIOUSLY debating getting one of these.
I currently have diamond sharpeners with a guide, but for some reason I can not reason with myself that the Sharpmaker is that much better. Is it?
 
My big hangup for a long time was not having finer stones. A Coarse or Medium stone will only get you so far. In my experience the knife will feel sharp, but won't stay that way for long.
 
landserpunk said:
I have been SERIOUSLY debating getting one of these.
I currently have diamond sharpeners with a guide, but for some reason I can not reason with myself that the Sharpmaker is that much better. Is it?
Click to expand...

It all depends on your skill level...

My freehand skills suck, even using the sharpie trick - for me the sharpmaker is a gift from god. YMMV.
 
I have the sharpmaker and the dmt aligner guide w/ diamond stones. I've gone back to the sharpmaker because it can be used guided and as a benchstone. If you go w/ the sharpmaker the diamond stones and ultrafine stones are definitely worth getting.
 
If you have a steady hand, I would go with a Harbor Freight 1" X 30" belt sander with Lee Valety belts, down to a leather strop. You will get better results than any sharpener on the market! TP cutting sharp!
 
Sharpmaker is the only sharpening device that has impressed me. I think I'll get one for Christmas. About $60 or so but well worth it IMO.

I got on the convex sharpening with sandpaper and stropping kick for a while. My 4 has a great convex on it.
 
I sharpen pocket knives on a belt sander, my kitchen knives i do freehand on water stones. I learned a long time a go its not worth doing pocket knives on stones as it takes too long and the edge gets banged up too much especially with knives like esse that are made for abuse.
 
I own the Spyderco Sharpmaker plus the ultrafine stones and the knivesshipfree strop with grey and green compounds.

I go through my three stages of stones on the sharpmaker followed by using the green strop compound. They get scary sharp after all of that.

for touchups i use the ultra fine sharpmaker stones and strop them on the green compound.
 
Sharpmaker at home and the Spyderco Double stuff in the pack. Love the spydy ceramics
Lately i'v been using the double stuff at home more to, holding both in hand so i can see if the stone is on the edge. And finish with the UF stone ofc :)
 
I use the spyderco sharpmaker and lansky turnbox for field use. they both work fine for me. I can get them sharper than they come from the factory and that is pleanty sharp.
 
Currently i have a couple of DMT stones (coarse and fine), a spyderco medium ceramic stone, a couple of Shapton waterstones (1000 & 2000 grit), and a strop loaded with green chromium oxide powder. All do a very good job, but recently i had my boss sharpen my RC6 on his EdgePro Apex and i am sold, got to have one!
 
TrailWolf said:
For ESEEs you cannot beat the spyderco shapmaker for ease of use and screaming sticky sharp edges.
Click to expand...

+1 on the sharpmaker, just remember, if you get a sharpmaker, be careful! Read the directions, watch the video! Remember not to roll the tips of your knives off the stones. The sharpmaker is notorious for rounding the tips off your knives when used improperly. I learned the hard way on my poor izula and now I'm having to fix it slowly everytime it needs a sharpening. Other than that, you can get your knives scary sharp very easily in about 5 mins on the sharpmaker, once you practice.
 
freedoom said:
I own the Spyderco Sharpmaker plus the ultrafine stones and the knivesshipfree strop with grey and green compounds.

I go through my three stages of stones on the sharpmaker followed by using the green strop compound. They get scary sharp after all of that.

for touchups i use the ultra fine sharpmaker stones and strop them on the green compound.
Click to expand...

yup, same here - sharpmaker with the ultra-fine stones and black & green compound for stropping when i'm at home. i have the dmt diafold coarse/fine in my bug-out bug and fine/extra-fine in my hiking pack for field touch-ups.
 
I have a Sharpmaker and just recently was able to bring a Benchmade to a good edge after hours of work. Why? The 40 and 30 degree settings are standard but not all manufacturers conform to these standards so the first time putting the back bevel on my BM 154cm blade took forever with the medium grit stones. They say the first time is the longest for the time, and for me the patience of buying the tool and feeling it doesn't work good enough. I am going for the diamond stones for Christmas.

Also, with any new tool there is a learning curve and the video is presented by Sal who invented it so he makes it look soooo easy. I practiced and I learned even after I watched the vid.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top