Sharpmaker 203 advice

[satherton]

I have a question regarding Spyderco's Sharpmaker 203. I recently inherited a set from a buddy of mine who never used it. I thought that was a great gesture, but he had lost the instructions! I've used ceramic rod sharpners in the past, but they were cylindrical, not triangular. From talking to others, I know that the narrow edge is for serrated knives. The problem is that I don't use serrated pocket knives. Which surface of the rod is better for plain edges (in my case Benchmade Knives)--the narrow edge or the flat edge? I suppose I will send a letter to the manufacturer and request a copy of the instructions, but I thought I would post a question and hopefully get some good advice. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

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Steve

 

[clarkjd]

For plain edges, the sequence is brown corners first, then brown flats, white corners, white flats. The corners of the stones cut more aggressively than the flats. If you need more detail, I suggest Joe Talmadge's sharpening FAQ.

 

[Chang]

I've heard that sharpening the plain edge with the corners of the rods will round the tip out, because as you finish pulling your knife through, the tip rubs against the flat sides and it gradually wears it out. I guess you could use the corners if you are careful not to rub the tip against the sides.