Spyderco Sharpmaker vs. Idahone comparison/review

ERdept

ERdept

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Hello folks, I usully use the forum as a means to do research before buys. Now I feel I have to present what I consider a better hone/sharpener than the much touted Spyderco. The Idahone.

First, I'm not starting any wars here (I own both of the sharpeners). I'm just presenting my opinion about a product that may benefit all of us knife fans. I bought the Sharpmaker on reputation and I like it fine. I just like the Idahone much better, having both in my possession and using both. I own both and feel that the Idahone is much better for several reasons.

1 Cost. Sharpmaker $60+ Idahone $35. One is almost half the price of the other, though the Idahone is not set up for sharpening fish hooks.

2. More stones for the money. The Idahone provides larger sharpening stones for more area to both sharpen and wear, this means.... easier to sharpen and harder to wear out because of greater surface area. The Sharpmaker only allows the use of three sides of the ceramic triangle. The Idahone has round ceramic stones, allowing use of all surfaces, not just the end of the triangle.

3. Ease of use. The Sharpmaker use process is 1. open box, 2. remove rods, 3. insert rods, 4. insert guards, 5. sharpen.

The Idahone use process is 1. remove rods, 2. insert rods, 3. sharpen.

For my purposes, just sharpening knives (not fish hooks, scissors, mower blades, etc.), the Idahone is all I need. Finally, the Idahone just seemed to sharpen faster for some reason.

Pics here of the two:
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL569/3466311/7123467/112557351.jpg

Storage of rods for each:
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL569/3466311/7123467/112557369.jpg

Set up for use for both:
http://pic15.picturetrail.com/VOL569/3466311/7123467/112557389.jpg

OK, that's all. Hope this helps anyone who wants to sharpen just knives and wants to save MOOOLA for more knives. :D

Cliff
 
Colorado Ceramics and Abrasives, they've been around a looooong time. The fine rods are 1200 and the coarse, actually medium to me, are 600 grit. I'm guessing 40 and 25 degrees respectively for back and cutting edge.

cliff

Edit: the angles are 15 and 22 degrees, and it has a scissors port on the side. Guess they like thinned out blades.

cliff
 
Sorry, I never buy knives with serrations. That's probably why I feel (my opinion) tht this is better and just informational. You know a FYI, "look what works for me and anyone with my situation". :D

Cliff
 
Interesting. Not a bad concept for simplicity's sake. A.G.Russell has a similar system with 2 diamond and 2 medium ceramic rods, in a smaller plastic base with a built-in pop-up guard. All the rods have fishhook grooves. :)
 
The biggest difference between those two are obviously the rods. The round ones are too big for serrations, and round rods will inevitably lead to the rounded knife tip. If you use the flats on the Sharpmaker, you shouldn't have the round tip problem.
 
Planterz said:
... round rods will inevitably lead to the rounded knife tip.
Click to expand...

It is also very difficult to get a crisp edge on round rods. If all you want are rods at an angle, youcan get v-rods as cheap as $2 at a flea market. I picked up one a few years back with on a total fluke the hole for the rod also fits a large DMT diamond rod and standard butchers steel.

-Cliff
 
Hi Cliff (ERdept). If you hold the two rods together, they form a "groove" between them, which can be used for your fishhooks. ;)

The original design was a Louis Graves "Crock Stick".

sal
 
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