Sharpmaker

RayseM said:
I'm a Sharpmaker raver. Does take a bit of practice if you are going for more than just EDC sharp. Watching the video is time well spent. Here is another video that I found very informative and helped me to up the sharpness on my blades - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywogvxTQGXk

I did buy a pair of diamond rods to compliment the standard set. I don't use them often but they are very useful for reproofing or edge repair. 4 or 5 times a week I pass my EDC 10 or 12 times over the white rods just because it is so easy to keep a sharp edge. For a real sharpening session I have realized that I can't cheat - 20 to 30 passes on each stone and their respective faces seems to be the minimum required. The video above showed me that I could do it differently and better so I share it here. To each his own - what works for you is quite subjective.
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Why does that video say DMT diamond stones for the Sharpmaker?
 
I'm still infatuated with mine. What I noticed with the UF rods is that I can just keep at it and get the edge almost as ridiculous as I want it.

My beater Delica has taken more abuse over the years than a knife should, including my first few botched attempts at sharpening VG10. I had a good edge on it with a coffee cup, but I can only describe the edge it has now as epic. I'm not an "edge afi" but it's nice to at least be in the same ballpark without needing that level of mastery. The way I hold paper to slice it, I did that with a piece of cardboard, and it felt like paper--amazing. I don't know what to call "beyond scary sharp" haha.
 
Fuori said:
Why does that video say DMT diamond stones for the Sharpmaker?
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I hadn't noticed and I don't know the answer. I have a set of Spyderco diamond rods as I wrote in my post. Very worth while addition to the basic Sharpmaker set.
 
I made that video. It is entitled "Reprofiling with DMT Sharpmaker Diamond Rods" because I am using the diamond rods in the video, which are not included with the basic set.
 
I'm just a Sharpmaker noob, but the diamond rods seem mandatory. I've used them way more than the ultra-fine rods since I started using the SM.
 
i really don't no how i lived life without the sharpmaker!simple little tool that works.
 
Any comparaison between the diamond and the boron nitride rods ? Except the price higher for the last one.
 
I have one of the original single-sided Sharpmakers that only has the 40° setting. I bought it off a friend years ago and never really tried to sharpen anything on it. Now that the knife bug has hit me I've started to touch up a few older knives that I've had. A little Buck folder that was is desperate need of sharpening was a chore to get sharp again. Now I'm looking to buy a set of ultra fine rods and eventually a set of diamond rods.

I have several wet stones that I used semi-successfully years ago but I always had difficulty keeping a consistent angle. The Sharpmaker makes it easy for the average person to get a razor sharp edge. Almost makes me want to cut up a bunch of stuff with my new knives so I can bring the edge back with the Sharpmaker. I've also recently bought a KP strop block so I think it's gonna be awhile before the new knives see the Sharpmaker.
 
Nasgul said:
Any comparaison between the diamond and the boron nitride rods ? Except the price higher for the last one.
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My CBN rods are holding up great and see lots of regular use. Couldn't go without them.
But, be warned, same with the Diamond triangles, you must be light and even with the pressure on your strokes as to not strip off the material from the triangle surface.
Just let them do their work with light strokes and they perform great and will last a long timr. It's when many people get ham-fisted and start putting impatient body weight into their method where things start to go wrong.


I just started experimenting with a method lightly discussed on the Spyderco Forum and shown by bearfacedkiller, where you place a triangle under the base to go for an approx. ~20deg inclusive bevel... I won't go into details here, but I just put a crazy thin edge onto one of my Stretches! :thumbup:
 
Magnaminous_G said:
I made that video. It is entitled "Reprofiling with DMT Sharpmaker Diamond Rods" because I am using the diamond rods in the video, which are not included with the basic set.
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DMT is a brand of diamond stones but not all diamond stones are made by DMT.

I can't find any reference that DMT makes Spyderco's diamond rods.


Nasgul said:
Any comparaison between the diamond and the boron nitride rods ? Except the price higher for the last one.
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Diamond cuts a little better than CBN but you can't really tell the difference.

The CBN rods are reportedly made with an improved process that enables the CBN material to adhere better to the metal substrate. But care should be used with both types of rods.

Both types of rods have the same grit (400).

Most vendors sell both types of rods at the same price.
 
Do you guys sharpen tip to base, or base to tip? I started base to tip, but for fear of rounded tips I've started starting at the tip. I suppose I was curious what y'all's experience was!
 
Both.

I use the jdavis882 method of SM sharpening including the use of the flats of the rods to avoid rounding off the tip.

[video=youtube;-MHe_8wTHmg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MHe_8wTHmg[/video]
 
TravisH said:
Both.

I use the jdavis882 method of SM sharpening including the use of the flats of the rods to avoid rounding off the tip.

[video=youtube;-MHe_8wTHmg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MHe_8wTHmg[/video]
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So many strategies to employ the sharpmaker! Can't wait for mine to arrive :cool:
 
SpeedHoles said:
My CBN rods are holding up great and see lots of regular use. Couldn't go without them.
But, be warned, same with the Diamond triangles, you must be light and even with the pressure on your strokes as to not strip off the material from the triangle surface.
Just let them do their work with light strokes and they perform great and will last a long timr. It's when many people get ham-fisted and start putting impatient body weight into their method where things start to go wrong.


I just started experimenting with a method lightly discussed on the Spyderco Forum and shown by bearfacedkiller, where you place a triangle under the base to go for an approx. ~20deg inclusive bevel... I won't go into details here, but I just put a crazy thin edge onto one of my Stretches! :thumbup:
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Thanks for the reply SpeedHoles ! Yes I have already heard about going light on the Diamond/CBN rods, but thanks again for the reminder !
If CBN are harder and the same grit, it's may be better to go with that one?

I'll have a look to the Bearfacedkiller method !


TravisH said:
Diamond cuts a little better than CBN but you can't really tell the difference.

The CBN rods are reportedly made with an improved process that enables the CBN material to adhere better to the metal substrate. But care should be used with both types of rods.

Both types of rods have the same grit (400).

Most vendors sell both types of rods at the same price.
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Thanks for the reply TravisH !

So CBN rods are harder than Diamond rods, but Diamond cuts a little better ? ! And are 10 € cheaper (here ;) )
 
Thanks..
I do ALOT of my sharpening, with just the diamond rods, quick tilt (for a micro bevel), and strop.
This
I've done a couple, from diamond, med, fine, UF.. That was more for fun tho.. :)

I like the toothy, tree topping hair, razor edge, straight from the diamond and strop..
Like the factory edge, but just a touch more bite.
 
yep, it is most excellent. I got the diamonds and ultra fine to compliment, and with a strop you can't ask for more :)
 
uofaengr said:
The Sharpmaker (and the ultra fine rods) are worth every penny.
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I totally agree with you "uofaengr">>because for the price you just can't beat the performance you get from it if you learn the video it comes with and read the manual it comes with. Because there are some important sharpening tips in both of those pieces of valuable information that come with the unit. Yes the ULTRA-Fine stones are a "must" to get optimal results in my opinion based on my personal use over the past 14 years of owning and using two of them. I also recommend obtaining and using the 204 Diamond rods you can buy extra for the 204 unit.

Now the 204 Sharpmaker has a few areas in which they could improve it>> one problem with the 204 Sharpmaker is that you really need to invest in a coarse diamond benchstone for reprofiling the really beat up blade>> because other than the diamond rods you can buy extra ( which aren't very coarse) you really don't have a really coarse stone for rapid stock removal which is needed for really beatup blades. The Sharpmaker in it's present state with the equipment it comes with really should be called the Sharp-maintainer. Because it is excellent for blades that are in relatively good condition .
 
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I got a SM as a Valentine's Day gift from my wife. I'd been wanting one for a long time.
Before I got it though I'd been using my Work sharp, which did well, but to be honest, I never put my spydies on it. Too scared to.

Anyway, I got the SM and sharpened every knife in my kitchen, save one, a stupidly insane POS china made chefs knife that even the work sharp couldn't get an edge one.

I think it's safe to say that the SM is super easy, effective and fun to use.
 
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