Sharpmaker problem solved?

R

rodmeister

Joined
Feb 12, 2000
Messages
134
I've had my Sharpmaker for two years, which works adequately but never close to factory sharpness, especially in terms of consistancy along the blade. I'll get scary sharpness only on several 1/2" sections of the blade. I've read all the Sharpmaker tips but my blades always had rough sections.

I recently got a Scott Cook Owyhee with an excellent factory edge. After it dulled a bit, I examined the blade with a magnifier and saw a slightly dulled edge, even and free of chips. I then used the Sharpmaker according to instructions, with precise, even strokes. I felt the usual bumps while stroking, which I had previously assumed was caused by the blade. When I examined the edge closely, I found one or two tiny edge chips and an uneven wavy texture close to the edge. The knife cut inconsistantly, like all my Sharpmaker sharpened knives.

I ran my finger and finger-nail along the edges of the Sharpmaker stones, and found that one or two corners of each stone had a tiny depression or two, which probably caused the chips on the blade. One Fine white stone had an area of roughness on the flat, near one end. I marked the rough areas of all the stones with a black marker, and found I could get a good, scary sharp edge, close to factory sharpness by using only the unblemished corners and flats.

I tried rubbing the Fine stones together to smooth out the rough patch but ended up with shiney areas which cut the blade inconsistantly.

I don't know why it took me so long to figure this out. I've had a Sharpmaker Fine bench stone for years which has a tiny "pimple" near one end. I marked the defect with a marker and avoid that spot when sharpening.

Is my experience common? Is it reasonable to expect all 12 Sharpmaker edges and all 12 flats to be free of defects? Almost any defect would either chip or roughen the blade. Stone defects may be the cause of some negative user reports, from those who couldn't get a good edge with Sharpmaker: it wasn't a user technique fault, but imperfections on the stones.
 
Very interesting bit of info !

I'm having the same problems. I'm going to have to check mine to see what I can find.

Thanks for sharing ! !
 
My fine stones are alright, but my medium stones, they have *lots* of chips. Using the badly chipped sides will result in a very unsmooth slide.

Both of my medium stones have chips, but I just find the side with the least chips...

If there's enough evidence for a large-scale quality problem, we should take this up to Spyderco.
 
I don't know if Spyderco can make Sharpmaker sets of 4 stones, with 12 edges and 12 flats, all without small defects turning up often. The defects I'm talking about are almost invisible: the rejection rate would be huge, and Spyderco wouldn't be able to charge $40-$50 for a set.

I suggest buying two or three Spyderco sets, picking the best 4 stones and returning the other sets back to the retailer. Of course that would mean the next sucker may end up with a set of dinged up stones, but I don't see any other way.

BTW, GigOne, you're welcome. I'm just a knife newby, and am flattered I was able to help a Goldmember (1876 posts!) with my observation.
 
This might be a dumb question, but aren't the rods run through some kind of planer to smooth the flats and if so couldn't it be redone?
I've had the same problems but thought it was technique. :(


Phillip
 
I've got some pretty big chips in my medium stones, big enough to see with the naked eye. Looks kind of like someone pressed their fingernail in it (if they had really strong nails).
 
AlphalphaPB

I didn't mention I had a 1/2" gouge on the grooved flat of a medium stone because I never use that side. It looks like someone pressed a thumbnail across it while soft, before the stone was fired, just like your stone.
 
I would simply smooth the stones that you have. I would use a file on it, silicon carbide paper, or another hone. I might use a section of a diamond hone near its end that never gets used under normal circumstances.
 
This, and other reasons, lead me to abandon my Sharpmaker and recently move to an Apex sharpener from EdgePro. Absolutely no regrets. What a difference! You remove far less blade material to achieve an incredibly sharp edge. Plus the EdgePro polishing tapes (3000 grit) even make even old tired blades look like a night in Las Vegas. In my hands, the Sharpmaker just couldn't ever perform like this.

TT2Toes
 
For small depressions and very minor chips or rough spots do what Edgepro suggests for their stones; take a piece of glass, put some medium grain sand on it and move the offending side of the rod in a figure eight pattern. If done correctly (this is also done on motorcycle engine heads) this should evenly remove the offending spots.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top