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<center><font size=4>Some experience with SPYDERCO sharpeners.</font></center>
<a href="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050007&Sequence=0" target="_blank"><IMG align=right SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050008&Sequence=0" border="2"></a>Continuing the topic I have started here this time I would like to present some SPYDERCO sharpeners I have had experience with. Well-known and highly respected knife manufacturer SPYDERCO have started in 1978 with sharpener production.
Basics. All SPYDERCO sharpeners are made of High Alumina Ceramics. This material contains abrasive particles of synthetic sapphires embedded into ceramic matrix. After shaping this mixture is kiln-fired at very high temperatures, 3000° F (about 1650° C) for up to three days. As result is obtained extremely hard material with hardness 9.22 in Mohs Hardness Scale which is able to cut any steel or alternative blade material.
Grits. SPYDERCO does not specify their sharpener stone grit in numbers remaining with descriptive specification. They are making their stones in three grits:
Tri-Angle Sharpmaker 204MF is the improved version of previous model 203 with some useful sharpening options added. The package includes very nicely executed manual in printed form and on videotape, so I'll omit the description how to work with this device. I would like to share here my impressions and evaluations only.
First and foremost, the Sharpmaker is very versatile. Following the manual you can sharpen any edged tool starting from knives and chisels, through scissors up to wire cutters or advanced tools like router bits, wood gouges etc. No problems sharpening recurved edges! You can sharpen also pointed tools like darts, fishhooks or even dental or surgical tools. Here we are speaking mostly about the knives. Well, it is really very easy to sharpen a knife with the Tri-Angle Sharpmaker because it is...
<a href="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050009&Sequence=0" target="_blank"><IMG align=right SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050011&Sequence=0" border="2"></a>Second, very easy to use. "If someone can't to sharpen his knife with Sharpmaker he probably should not have any knife at all" - I do not remember who of Forumites said this but this is truth! You can make your knife shaving sharp and create decent back bevel practically with minimum skills and effort. Have patience and follow the manual carefully - this is all you need.
Serration sharpening is closely as easy as working with plain edges.
Next, no limits in blade length. You can sharpen even swords if you need and have enough patience.
Quite important: the Sharpmaker is very safe to work with. This is no way to make any harm yourself if you will follow the manual.
<a href="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050013&Sequence=0" target="_blank"><IMG align=right SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050015&Sequence=0" border="2"></a>One advantage more. If you need to sharpen your knife to the angle another than pre-set or if you simply want to sharpen your knife free hand - you can use the Sharpmaker in bench stone mode.
It is very easy to set up and also ease to take apart after you will finish your work. The only maintenance needed is to wash the rods from steel fouling. The simple abrasive kitchen cleaner can be used for this purpose. All parts can be packed into one compact plastic housing very easy to storage and requiring minimum place.
The Sharpmaker is durable. I was quite curious to check what means SPYDERCO claimed "wear only slightly over time"? Well, I have reprofiled the edges on at least dozen knives with ATS-34, D-2, M-2, 440C, CPM 440V and VG-10 blades. The 95% of entire work were done on the medium-grit rod edges. I also have sharpened about two dozens knives more, then I put the rod edges together and looked onto them against light. Only hardly visible gap between the edge middles appeared! No any gap appeared between medium-grit rod flat surfaces and between fine-grit rod edges and surfaces. If the rods will wear out this way farther - wow! - they will work quite decently even for my son. Especially taking into consideration that I do not reprofil the edges daily... Plastic base also looks very durable, so far it doesn't display any rod loosening.
The Sharpmaker is very cost efficient. For less than $50 it is possible to satisfy practically all sharpening needs around entire household.
Last but not least, you don't need any lubrication, oil or water. The same concerns all SPYDERCO ceramics. I can't say here the Sharpmaker is cleaner than another sharpening devices. Removed steel remains removed steel, here you have it in plain dust form.
Am I singing only "glories" here or Sharpmaker has drawbacks also? Yes, no one thing in this world does have one side only. So far I have found two main drawbacks of this design:
Especially pleasantly is to "steel up" the slightly blunted edges to shaving sharpness, literally some strokes on each blade side and your knife shaves again! I'm also using my Sharpmaker when I need to sharpen some knives with the same sharpening angle, for comparison test for example. Here no one factor (like blade wideness for ex.) can influence the sharpening angle consistency from one knife to another.
So SPYDERCO Tri-Angle Sharpmaker 204MF is definitely "must have" item for each knife nut and not only. Nothing wrong is to have this one even simply in kitchen, by the way the place where knives are used the most hard and frequently.
<a href="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050016&Sequence=0" target="_blank"><IMG align=right SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050018&Sequence=0" border="2"></a>Well, if the Sharpmaker is the necessity the another SPYDERCO sharpening device I'm getting as some kind of refined delight. These are the Bench Stones 302. Working free hand nothing stands between my patience and sharpening skills from one side and blade hardness and profile from another. And I can do with the edge all what I want, 8x2-inch large sharpening surface allows doing all with each knife. To get your edge sharp, sharper, the sharpest, as sharp as it is possible and when even a bit sharper - this is the challenge for knife nut! The difference in satisfaction between this vs. working with accomplished (and expensive) mechanical devices I could compare with satisfaction being in the bed with beautiful and sensitive mistress vs. ..., think you understand what I have in my mind
No one mechanical device can replace good sharpening skills. Each device can break, wear out, it can be stolen etc. but your sharpening skills will be with you always!
By the way, SPYDERCO Ultra Fine ceramics is available in Bench Stone only. It really allows to get the finest edge I whenever could obtain! I'm not partial to stropping because it is hard for me to "catch" the moment when stropping stops to polish the edge and starts to blunt it. Having SPYDERCO Ultra Fine Bench Stone I can say certainly - no more stropping!
Maybe so smooth finishing is not necessary for working edges until you have no intentions to shave your face with your knife. But at least the knives are our hobby, right?
------------------
Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland
[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 08-26-2000).]
[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 08-26-2000).]
<a href="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050007&Sequence=0" target="_blank"><IMG align=right SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050008&Sequence=0" border="2"></a>Continuing the topic I have started here this time I would like to present some SPYDERCO sharpeners I have had experience with. Well-known and highly respected knife manufacturer SPYDERCO have started in 1978 with sharpener production.
Basics. All SPYDERCO sharpeners are made of High Alumina Ceramics. This material contains abrasive particles of synthetic sapphires embedded into ceramic matrix. After shaping this mixture is kiln-fired at very high temperatures, 3000° F (about 1650° C) for up to three days. As result is obtained extremely hard material with hardness 9.22 in Mohs Hardness Scale which is able to cut any steel or alternative blade material.
Grits. SPYDERCO does not specify their sharpener stone grit in numbers remaining with descriptive specification. They are making their stones in three grits:
- Medium grit (brown) - allows to sharpen dull blades removing the steel quite effectively, though not as effectively as coarse counterparts from another manufacturers. But at least SPYDERCO doesn't claim this stone as "coarse". It's possible to improve noticeably medium stone's cutting speed working on it's edges, this effect is utilized in Tri-Angle Sharpmaker working principle. Sharpening on medium stone creates working edge quite adequate for heavy cutting tasks, mostly slicing. Medium stones have "open-celled" structure where abrasive particles are placed not too densely, this is necessary to rice cutting speed. These stones display little wear over time.
- Fine grit (white) - allows to finish the edge to decent shaving sharpness. The edge finished with fine stone works nicely in push cutting like wood whittling for ex.
- Ultra Fine grit (also white) - allows to obtain highly polished edge. Both Fine and Ultra Fine stones have "closed-celled" structure where abrasive particles are placed very densely, this is the condition of smoothness. They display no wear over time.
Tri-Angle Sharpmaker 204MF is the improved version of previous model 203 with some useful sharpening options added. The package includes very nicely executed manual in printed form and on videotape, so I'll omit the description how to work with this device. I would like to share here my impressions and evaluations only.
First and foremost, the Sharpmaker is very versatile. Following the manual you can sharpen any edged tool starting from knives and chisels, through scissors up to wire cutters or advanced tools like router bits, wood gouges etc. No problems sharpening recurved edges! You can sharpen also pointed tools like darts, fishhooks or even dental or surgical tools. Here we are speaking mostly about the knives. Well, it is really very easy to sharpen a knife with the Tri-Angle Sharpmaker because it is...
<a href="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050009&Sequence=0" target="_blank"><IMG align=right SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050011&Sequence=0" border="2"></a>Second, very easy to use. "If someone can't to sharpen his knife with Sharpmaker he probably should not have any knife at all" - I do not remember who of Forumites said this but this is truth! You can make your knife shaving sharp and create decent back bevel practically with minimum skills and effort. Have patience and follow the manual carefully - this is all you need.
Serration sharpening is closely as easy as working with plain edges.
Next, no limits in blade length. You can sharpen even swords if you need and have enough patience.
Quite important: the Sharpmaker is very safe to work with. This is no way to make any harm yourself if you will follow the manual.
<a href="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050013&Sequence=0" target="_blank"><IMG align=right SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050015&Sequence=0" border="2"></a>One advantage more. If you need to sharpen your knife to the angle another than pre-set or if you simply want to sharpen your knife free hand - you can use the Sharpmaker in bench stone mode.
It is very easy to set up and also ease to take apart after you will finish your work. The only maintenance needed is to wash the rods from steel fouling. The simple abrasive kitchen cleaner can be used for this purpose. All parts can be packed into one compact plastic housing very easy to storage and requiring minimum place.
The Sharpmaker is durable. I was quite curious to check what means SPYDERCO claimed "wear only slightly over time"? Well, I have reprofiled the edges on at least dozen knives with ATS-34, D-2, M-2, 440C, CPM 440V and VG-10 blades. The 95% of entire work were done on the medium-grit rod edges. I also have sharpened about two dozens knives more, then I put the rod edges together and looked onto them against light. Only hardly visible gap between the edge middles appeared! No any gap appeared between medium-grit rod flat surfaces and between fine-grit rod edges and surfaces. If the rods will wear out this way farther - wow! - they will work quite decently even for my son. Especially taking into consideration that I do not reprofil the edges daily... Plastic base also looks very durable, so far it doesn't display any rod loosening.
The Sharpmaker is very cost efficient. For less than $50 it is possible to satisfy practically all sharpening needs around entire household.
Last but not least, you don't need any lubrication, oil or water. The same concerns all SPYDERCO ceramics. I can't say here the Sharpmaker is cleaner than another sharpening devices. Removed steel remains removed steel, here you have it in plain dust form.
Am I singing only "glories" here or Sharpmaker has drawbacks also? Yes, no one thing in this world does have one side only. So far I have found two main drawbacks of this design:
- Some problems can occur with blade tip if sharpening without suitable care. Working on the rod edges you should not allow the tip to slide out of the rod edge onto slanted surface. If you will not care about this your tip shortly will be rounded. The simplest way to avoid this is to stop the blade way along the rod 2-3 millimeters before the tip and later to finish the tip using the Sharpmaker in bench stone mode. A bit more advanced way is to stop to apply side pressure when the tip will be directly on the rod edge. This requires some proficiency and I strongly advise to try on cheap kitchen knives first.
- Medium grit rods cut steel somewhat slowly even working on the rod edges, it is especially noticeable when reprofiling thick edges. This work can to go on for 1-2 hours or even more, regarding on steel hardness, edge length and your physical condition. The diamond-coated rods could be a nice solution here, as alternative solution I can advise coarse or extra-coarse diamond whetstone from any manufacturer.
Especially pleasantly is to "steel up" the slightly blunted edges to shaving sharpness, literally some strokes on each blade side and your knife shaves again! I'm also using my Sharpmaker when I need to sharpen some knives with the same sharpening angle, for comparison test for example. Here no one factor (like blade wideness for ex.) can influence the sharpening angle consistency from one knife to another.
So SPYDERCO Tri-Angle Sharpmaker 204MF is definitely "must have" item for each knife nut and not only. Nothing wrong is to have this one even simply in kitchen, by the way the place where knives are used the most hard and frequently.
<a href="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050016&Sequence=0" target="_blank"><IMG align=right SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=222944&a=1651093&p=27050018&Sequence=0" border="2"></a>Well, if the Sharpmaker is the necessity the another SPYDERCO sharpening device I'm getting as some kind of refined delight. These are the Bench Stones 302. Working free hand nothing stands between my patience and sharpening skills from one side and blade hardness and profile from another. And I can do with the edge all what I want, 8x2-inch large sharpening surface allows doing all with each knife. To get your edge sharp, sharper, the sharpest, as sharp as it is possible and when even a bit sharper - this is the challenge for knife nut! The difference in satisfaction between this vs. working with accomplished (and expensive) mechanical devices I could compare with satisfaction being in the bed with beautiful and sensitive mistress vs. ..., think you understand what I have in my mind
No one mechanical device can replace good sharpening skills. Each device can break, wear out, it can be stolen etc. but your sharpening skills will be with you always!
By the way, SPYDERCO Ultra Fine ceramics is available in Bench Stone only. It really allows to get the finest edge I whenever could obtain! I'm not partial to stropping because it is hard for me to "catch" the moment when stropping stops to polish the edge and starts to blunt it. Having SPYDERCO Ultra Fine Bench Stone I can say certainly - no more stropping!
Maybe so smooth finishing is not necessary for working edges until you have no intentions to shave your face with your knife. But at least the knives are our hobby, right?
------------------
Sergiusz Mitin
gunwriter
Lodz, Poland
[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 08-26-2000).]
[This message has been edited by Sergiusz Mitin (edited 08-26-2000).]
