Sharpmaker rods chipping?

[frankiej]

Hello. I recently purchased a Spyderco Sharpmaker. I've used it maybe 20 times. One of the medium rods has developed a small chip along one of the edges. I've not applied excess pressure during the sharpening process, and I've not dropped the rods or hit them together. I've used it like the DVD recommends.

Is this normal to have a chip come out of it so soon? I understand that the medium rods have a limited life, but this seems a bit too limited, don't you think? One of the sharp edges is essentially useless.

Thanks for any shared experience or opinions on the matter

 

[orthogonal1]

No, it isn't normal.

Apparently, at some point, the rod was exposed to some impact. Could have been cracked for some time and just now the crack propogated to a chip.

 

[frankiej]

That thought crossed my mind. I was also thinking it may have been a molding defect. Molding may be the wrong word. I'm unaware of the manufacturing process.

I contacted the manufacturer and was unsatisfied with the response I got. They, however, offered no explanation as to what may have caused it.

 

[orthogonal1]

That could be, but I'd think a molding defect (assuming molded and not extruded) would be more than a chip. Closer to what you see in ceramic coffee cups, if the analogy helps.

I've dropped a few and only one chipped due to hitting another rod. Luck, I guess, and wall to wall carpeting.

Either way, the result is the same and that result sucks.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

I deliberately broke a couple to make travel stones and they're pretty resilient. I was striking it with a cheap camping hatchet and had to hit it over and over again before it finally snapped. Put some nice huge dings in the edge, of course, but I knew it would.

 

[he who say]

same issue, same results talking too spyderco.

 

[Jo Jo]

I was using mine to sharpen some knives for a co-worker and noticed a small chip about 3/16" long, maybe, I noticed it only because the knife blade clicked as it was being sharpened, maybe I need to contact Spyderco. I bought it about 6 - 8 months ago, and have used it with great results, about 30 - 40 blades sharpened.

 

[frankiej]

To all who are contacting Spyderco, The lady that I talked to wanted me to pay to ship the rods to them, plus include another $5 to ship the new ones back. I was pretty dissatisfied with this response needless to say, as I've found new ones for around $8.

Thanks so much to all who replied. Glad to know I'm not alone

 

[SPXTrader]

To all who are contacting Spyderco, The lady that I talked to wanted me to pay to ship the rods to them, plus include another $5 to ship the new ones back. I was pretty dissatisfied with this response needless to say, as I've found new ones for around $8.

Thanks so much to all who replied. Glad to know I'm not alone

Link please? And that's poor CS...

 

[Eager]

I've had that too. I could feel blades nicking at certain points on the triangle corners of the grey rods. I looked at them with my cheap RadioShack magnifier and I saw where they were chipped. Pretty significantly. In more place than one. I hadn't even had it very long. I gave that set away, and got a new one, figuring that it was my fault for hitting the rods together, which I probably did, but not aggressively, nor did I ever drop them.
I got a new Sharpmaker set and have since figured that the rods are delicate and should never be touched together or hit against something hard.

 

[rangerover_95]

I purchased a sharpmaker yesterday, and within one day have already experienced the chipping issue. I thought I was crazy since I had never heard of anyone else having this happen. Now I know I'm not alone. But I will say it does sharpen the hell out of a knife.

 

[myright]

I have one medium rod that has a nick on the edge as well. I have not dropped them and I can't think of a time when I would have done anything to them to chip it. Right now I'm just not using that edge, which is a PITA, but it works still. I'll try to pick up another one on fleabay or something.

 

[frankiej]

Link please? And that's poor CS...

http://yourcornerstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4741_4871_4877&products_id=860

 

[frankiej]

Hmmm....it's worse than I thought. I was figuring that my experience was a semi-isolated incident. It's kind of looking like this may almost be common. Has anyone responding had any better luck with Spyderco's customer service dept?

This kinda sucks. I really like how the sharpmaker sharpens, but I don't want to have to buy new rods 5 times a year either. Maybe I should go back to the benchstones.....