Spyderco Sharpmaker changed?

[evert67]

I used to have a Spyderco Sharpmaker. This came with a number of ceramic rods.

Now I looked at the Sharpmaker at various webshops and there they are offered with saffire rods. The price also seemed to have increased. The ceramic rods are available separately.

Has Spyderco changed the configuration of her Sharpmaker?

And does anyone know the difference between the saffire rods and the ceramic rods? Are the saffire ones more agressive?

Or are they perhaps the same as the ceramic rods. Because on the site of Knives and tools (http://www.knivesandtools.co.uk/en/pt/-spyderco-204mf-sharpmaker.htm) it is first written the Sharpmaker comes with ceramic rods and in the same product description they speak of ceramic rods.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

That 'sapphire' description may just be another name for the 'alumina ceramic' most-often used to describe them; I'm betting it is. Both 'alumina' and 'sapphire' hones are based on, or forms of, aluminum oxide (Al[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]3[/sub]); in fact, 'alumina' is just another common name for aluminum oxide. Don't know if it's a language thing (noticing your linked vendor site is in the U.K.), or just a fluke in the description. Either way, I'm betting Spyderco hasn't changed those, or we'd likely be hearing a LOT about it here.

Here's another vendor description directly linking the two descriptors in reference to the Sharpmaker's rods:

"Alumina Ceramic is a ceramic compound formed when alumina particles (synthetic sapphires) are mixed with a ceramic bonding agent. The mixture is shaped, then kiln fired at temperatures in excess of 3000 degrees Fahrenheit for up to three days. "

David

 

[bgentry]

Sal (owner of Spyderco) has referred to the composition of the Sharpmaker ceramics as containing "synthetic sapphires". I think it's because of the hardness of the abrasive they are using; not the ceramic matrix, but the abrasive that's embedded in that matrix.

To answer the original question: I think they are the same as they ever were.

Brian.