Sharpmaker vs. the Lansky

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kgriggs8

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Okay guys I need your help. I have a Lansky and that is all I have ever really used. It works great on most blades. The only problem is, it is kind of a pain to set up and use if all you want to do is bring back an edge that has lost it bite.

How does the Sharpmaker compare to the Lansky in terms of the quality of edge you can get? I am good with the Lansky having used it for twenty years now. I can put a professional edge on any knife but it is a lot of hassle as well. What does the Sharpmaker do so well? It seems like it would be great for when you just want to get your edge back.

Can you get as good of an edge with the Sharpmaker? What is the learning curve like on it?

The thing that keep me from getting one is that it seems like there is no guide for the blade so the edge wouldn't be perfect. I remember the crock sticks selling for a few dollars as well. Why is the Sharpmaker so expensive if it is just a set of crock sticks?
 
I don't know, 50 bucks isn't too expensive, and the leaning curve isn't bad. Just watch the tip, on don't press real hard. But, it should be called the "sharpkeeper" in my opinion, since I would never try to reprofile on it. Its great to touch up an edge though.
 
I have both, I thought the Lansky was good until I got the Sharpmaker. The Sharpmaker is alot easier to use for just about every blade size and shape and it gets the knife sharper alot quicker and easier.
 
Sorry, I can't help. I don't own a Sharpmaker, and I threw away my Lansky twenty years ago. Glad you like yours, I never cared for the results I got, especially on long blades.
 
They're different, and good for different things.

I think the comments above sum it up pretty well.
The Lansky can reprofile a blade, and can also get it plenty sharp.
The Sharpmaker is a terrific "touch up" device and can get the
blade hair-popping shop if you practice with it for a while.

Another good thing about the Sharpmaker it that it's a good intro
to freehand sharpening on stones, which is really the best.
 
Funny how you mention "I remember the crock sticks selling for a few dollars as well. Why is the Sharpmaker so expensive if it is just a set of crock sticks?"
Quality products come with a price tag. Just for fun, why do Striders cost so much compared to gerber, they are both just steel aren't they?

I've used a similar system as the lanksy that you have been using for the past 20 years. I used the smith set, and eventually bought the lanksy. I personally love my sharpmaker. I can it my knives sharper than I ever could with the Lansky or smith. It takes a little bit to get use to it and you do have to take it upon yourself to make sure you hold the knife vertical to get the best results. Do keep in mind though that there is a reason why this system is one of the most mentioned system throughout the whole forums and others.

If you can afford to dish out say $100 for a knife, it would be a wise investment to dish out about $45 for a sharpmaker! I will bet you will not be dissapointed.

~Brian
 
I have a Spyderco Sharpmaker. AT one time I had a GATCO sharpening system that was very similar to Lansky's but I certainly didn't like it much. One other sharpening system I do have that I like is the SKARB system. It is not very well known. They used to be at a lot of the big knife shows but that last year or so I haven't seen much of them. They had a website as recently as 3 months ago but I haven't looked at it lately.

I like the SKARB system because you can use any stone of your choice. The system comes equiped with a multi-grit aluminum oxide stone which is not a bad stone at all. But you can use about any benchstone on the system you desire. The video that comes with the unit is great. The results particularly on fixed blade knives is fabulous. It is a sterling invention but it has not ever become a marketing success for some reason. They got rave reviews a couple of times in TACTICAL KNIVES magazine but for whatever reason they are not a household name yet.

I have been hearing nothing but good reports on the EDGE PRO system. I love my Sharpmaker but I agree with "kgriggs" that it is more of an edge maintainer than it is a unit you can do an extensive sharpening job with. I have never understood why Spyderco hasn't made a coarse, aggressive stone for knives that have really been beat up. But I love my Sharpmaker because what it does do it does it well. But I do wish that they would get a really aggressive, coarse stone.
 
JD Spydo said:
I have a Spyderco Sharpmaker. AT one time I had a GATCO sharpening system that was very similar to Lansky's but I certainly didn't like it much. One other sharpening system I do have that I like is the SKARB system. It is not very well known. They used to be at a lot of the big knife shows but that last year or so I haven't seen much of them. They had a website as recently as 3 months ago but I haven't looked at it lately.

I like the SKARB system because you can use any stone of your choice. The system comes equiped with a multi-grit aluminum oxide stone which is not a bad stone at all. But you can use about any benchstone on the system you desire. The video that comes with the unit is great. The results particularly on fixed blade knives is fabulous. It is a sterling invention but it has not ever become a marketing success for some reason. They got rave reviews a couple of times in TACTICAL KNIVES magazine but for whatever reason they are not a household name yet.

I have been hearing nothing but good reports on the EDGE PRO system. I love my Sharpmaker but I agree with "kgriggs" that it is more of an edge maintainer than it is a unit you can do an extensive sharpening job with. I have never understood why Spyderco hasn't made a coarse, aggressive stone for knives that have really been beat up. But I love my Sharpmaker because what it does do it does it well. But I do wish that they would get a really aggressive, coarse stone.
Click to expand...

They actually have a Diamond rod for the sharpmaker. I have the Diamond rods as well as the Ultra fine. The only draw back is they cost more than the system itself for the Diamond Rods.
 
Chinese man said:
They actually have a Diamond rod for the sharpmaker. I have the Diamond rods as well as the Ultra fine. The only draw back is they cost more than the system itself for the Diamond Rods.
Click to expand...

I have 2 sets of the diamond rods for the Sharpmaker. However the diamonds are too small of grit to aggressively remove stock on a major sharpening job in my opinion. They are a good tool though so please don't take what I say as a put down because they do a good job on certain sharpening chores.

I just wish that they would make some Sharpmaker rods with a very coarse grit of either Aluminum Oxide or even an extra coarse diamond stone like maybe a 220 grit or larger.
 
JD Spydo said:
I just wish that they would make some Sharpmaker rods with a very coarse grit of either Aluminum Oxide or even an extra coarse diamond stone like maybe a 220 grit or larger.
Click to expand...

You can try to do what many people have done before/suggested. Go to the store and buy some 220 Grit (whatever grit you need) wet/dry into strips and place them onto the sharpamker stones. Than sharpen like you would with a sharpmaker.
 
JD the diamond duck food byrd sharpener is coming out. That looks plenty aggressive.
 
rcbalt2 said:
JD the diamond duck food byrd sharpener is coming out. That looks plenty aggressive.
Click to expand...

I'll be taking a look at it. I had heard about a year ago a rumor that Spyderco was coming out with a small sharpening device that you could carry in a back pack. Now the 204 Sharpmaker could be carried that way too but this unit that I heard about was going to be significantly smaller. I haven't heard anything about it since.
 
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