Spyderco Sharpmaker

N

nksmfamjp

Joined
Jul 30, 2009
Messages
24
This looks like my best option. I am kind of angle challenged with stones, I believe. . . I keep reading that the medium is too fine for bevel setting. Thoughts?

The sharpmaker has available ultra fine and diamond coarse stones. Should I get the additional $60 in stones?

Anyone have one for sale they would like to offer me? nksmfamjp@yahoo.com
 
Best system ever IMO. You definetly need a diamond stone or rods for reprofiling. I use a Smith's diamond sharpener and lay it on the Sharpmaker rod at 30 Deg. I sure would love those Spyderco diamond sticks though!
 
great system,,fool proof,dvd ,cant ask for anything more,,if you have the extra $$ get the diamond coarse rods
 
nksmfamjp said:
I keep reading that the medium is too fine for bevel setting. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Yes. The brown stone is a bit finer than DMT's red "Fine" stone. You don't want to reprofile with that.

nksmfamjp said:
The sharpmaker has available ultra fine and diamond coarse stones. Should I get the additional $60 in stones?
Click to expand...

I'd recommend getting the DMT Aligner and an Extra Coarse stone (either one that fits the system (4x1) if it exists, or get an Extra Coarse Diasharp stone (6x2, or get a bigger one if you like) starting at $20. It's better for bevel setting, in my opinion.
 
IMHO, the Sharpmaker is a fantastic system. I am also angle challenged when it comes to sharpening blades, but with this system getting knives shaving sharp isn't that much of a challenge.

Definitely go ahead and buy the diamond rods and ultra-fine rods when you order. Be aware that the UF rods are sold individually, and not in pairs. Having only one rod for your Sharpmaker reduces its efficiency tremendously. (Don't ask how I know. :o)

I'm still learning, so I haven't gotten to the scary sharp level using it yet. But it's by far and away the best system I've tried. Definitely worth the money.
 
The Sharpmaker is an excellent system. The extra stones are a good idea. If you get into a lot of super dull knives, the diamonds will help save time.
 
nksmfamjp said:
This looks like my best option. I am kind of angle challenged with stones, I believe. . . I keep reading that the medium is too fine for bevel setting. Thoughts?

The sharpmaker has available ultra fine and diamond coarse stones. Should I get the additional $60 in stones?

Anyone have one for sale they would like to offer me? nksmfamjp@yahoo.com
Click to expand...

THG said:
Yes. The brown stone is a bit finer than DMT's red "Fine" stone. You don't want to reprofile with that.

I'd recommend getting the DMT Aligner and an Extra Coarse stone (either one that fits the system (4x1) if it exists, or get an Extra Coarse Diasharp stone (6x2, or get a bigger one if you like) starting at $20. It's better for bevel setting, in my opinion.
Click to expand...

I agree. Don't try using the coarse brown Spyderco rods to change an edge angle unless you have a LOT of time on your hands. I use a DMT X-tra Coarse for changing the bevel. Cheaper than the Spyderco diamond rods. I use a 6"x2" stone and rest it against the rod.
 
I received a Spyderco Sharpmaker system last Friday. I also ordered the diamond rods with it. I am impressed with the system, it's been easy to use.

I have sharpened a few knives in steels from 420HC to S30V. I did use the diamond rods to re-profile a S30V knife and it worked well.

I used a rod system from Lansky before this (crock sticks) and Spyderco's system is 100% better then the Lansky. I highly recommend the system for someone that is sharpening challenged like me.
 
I have a sharpmaker and diamond rods. I can get knives very sharp with it, once you get a feel for it the results are great. The key is to use light pressure, and even lighter pressure when finishing to remove the burr.

I think I will be investing in the ultra-fine rods as well.
 
I asked a bunch a questions about the Sharpmaker back in May, but can't find the thread [maybe I have to upgrade or something]. Anyway, the members here were extremely helpful.

I bought the standard system, but for my dull kitchen knives, I wasn't capable of 'finding the edge' or creating a burr with the brown and white stones ... even after probably 1000 passes. I opted for the diamond stones and I found the edge pretty fast. They remove 'a lot' of material quickly. So I highly recommend getting those. It's a dead simple process that works very well.
 
Yep, the diamond stones are a "must have" for Sharpmaker users. I've been able to get shaving sharp edges consistently without the ultra-fine stones though.
 
knarfeng said:
I agree. Don't try using the coarse brown Spyderco rods to change an edge angle unless you have a LOT of time on your hands. I use a DMT X-tra Coarse for changing the bevel. Cheaper than the Spyderco diamond rods. I use a 6"x2" stone and rest it against the rod.
Click to expand...

Excellent advice there. The diamond rods are about your only choice for rebeveling hawkbills, but they are way slower than DMT X coarse (or especially XX Coarse) at rebeveling standard shape blades. The brown rods can literally take thousands of strokes on a very wear resistant steel to change the angle, where a DMT XX Coarse only takes a couple minutes to plow through ZDP 189 Enduras to drop the angle by 5 degrees per side.

Mike
 
I have the diamond rods and they are not worth your money. Purchase a diamond stone and just lean it against one of the rods. However, the Ultra Fine rods are totally worth the price!:thumbup:
 
I have used stones to sharpen since I was a young one. Now have the Sharpmaker with all of the rods, as well as an EdgePro Apex. The diamond rods are just ok. I have found that using a diamond stone or the Apex to be the easiest way to set the edge bevel and then the Sharpmaker to finish. If I really want an edge beyond that, I'll use a paper wheel to final polish.
My sharpening opinions have changed as I try new methods and what works. It has been an evolution!
 
Yeah same with me. i was horrible at sharpening until i got a lansky system with guide rods. i used that forever but hated going through all that trouble of clamping and unclamping. i used to wait until my knives were pretty dull before sharpening. i picked up a used sharpmaker from cabelas and have never looked back. it takes 2 minutes to put a shaving sharp edge on pretty much anything i've got. So now I sharpen my everyday carry and kitchen knives about once a week. ill never go back to a guide rod clamp system.
 
I would go ahead and buy just the sharpmaker if your a beginner.The medium and fine rods will do good on AUS-8,8Cr13MoV,154 CM,1095 High carbon, and High Carbon Stainless steels.The diamond rods are for reprofileing a knife with a hard steel that doesn't have your desiered angle.They are also used for starting the edge of hard steel.The ultra fine rods are for hair whittiling,highly polished edges.If your EDC only does light work and doesn't need to be so sharp you want to cut fingers off or you don't have super steels such as S30V,S90V,M4,ZDP-189,etc. I wouldn't suggest the diamond and ultra fine rods.My overall suggestion would be to use the sharpmaker as is and if you need/desire the other rods,go for it.
 
I got it. I have some work to ddo around the house tonight, but after that, I will dig in and see if I caan correct the bevel and sharpen my old hunting knife to scary sharp. One small question. All of my leather pieces have been moved to my new place, so is there something else to strop with?
 
nksmfamjp said:
One small question. All of my leather pieces have been moved to my new place, so is there something else to strop with?
Click to expand...

There's a lot of makeshift-strop materials to choose from that are readily available... cardboard, the palm of your hand (careful!), et cetera... I use the leg of my jeans. The flesh of my leg underneath has some give, so I keep a relatively flat angle to keep from rounding the edge over. May not be the optimal strop, but it can refine the edge a bit over the fine Sharpmaker stones.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top