Spyderco ultrafine rods...any help?

Surfingringo

Surfingringo

Joined
May 25, 2013
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3,700
Hey all, I posted a similar question in the spyderco subforum but didn't get much feedback so I thought I'd ask here. I'm going to be in the states soon and I'm considering buying the uf rods for the sharpmaker while I'm there. Has anybody used these much? I love the sm and get great edges, and I'm just wondering if I will be able to get even better results with the uf rods. I usually set bevel at 30 degrees with the diamond rods then the medium. Then I put a very fine 40 micro bevel with the medium then fine rods. After that my edges will pushcut phone book paper and whittle the occasional hair...barely. In y'all's experience will I be able to get a little more out of my edges with the uf rods? Thnks in advance for your opinions.

Lance
 
The UF rods will definitely refine your edge further. They will also give you more of a polished edge as well. I had them when I had a SM and I loved them. Now I have the UF bench stone by Spyderco and use it routinely :)

So I vote YES!!

Do you have a strop?
 
kwazyjuice said:
The UF rods will definitely refine your edge further. They will also give you more of a polished edge as well. I had them when I had a SM and I loved them. Now I have the UF bench stone by Spyderco and use it routinely :)

So I vote YES!!

Do you have a strop?
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I don't, and for some reason I am resistant to the idea of stropping! It just seems like buying some new rods for my existing system is a simpler option. Maybe I need to start reading up on stropping. If it was relatively easy and effective and I could get a compact system I might consider it.
 
I say the UF are the best addition to the SM... I totally agree with the strop too, but still get the UF rods. The strop I use is the strop block. It comes pre loaded with compound. I love it easy to use, and a great way to whittle some hair ;)
 
I like the ultra fine rods for shining up the surfaces of my bronze pivot washers. You don't have polish the whole suface. Just put a mirror finish on the high spots.
 
The reason I was asking is that it will compliment your SM with UF rods. You can get smaller strops for sure.

A strop will just help you keep your edge sharp in between sharpening on the SM.

Say you use your knife during the day. You go home and strop you blade and POW!!! Back to hair popping sharp :) It is also a precursor to maintaining consistent angle for freehand sharpening in the future. I think at least
 
singularity35 said:
The worth of the UF rods to an individual will depend on what you need your edge to do.
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Hey Chuck, well, my edges will honestly do everything I "need" them to do now. I guess the truth is I just want to play around trying to get some novelty edges. You know, the kind you seem to be able get in your videos with the medium rods! :D
 
If you want to play around and start dabbling into the dark side, by all means get the UF rods. :)

You'll get that sticky edge that won't slide off a hair. It just plain feels good. :)
 
I got the uf rods only because I didn’t want to short change myself in getting the best edge I could from the SM. I also like to strop because it is relaxing; soothing. There is something plain satisfying in being able to push a blade through phone book paper…makes me smile. I know there are people out there who don’t agree with us who like to hear the “zing” of the blade separating the molecules that hold the phone book paper together. Think it’s unnecessary work. I look at it as fun. Some psychological screw loose with our ilk I guess.
So, to answer your question about the uf rods. In my opinion it is a good step in line to the strop.
 
singularity35 said:
If you want to play around and start dabbling into the dark side, by all means get the UF rods. :)

You'll get that sticky edge that won't slide off a hair. It just plain feels good. :)
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That's all I needed to hear. Ordered.

As far as the "dark side", I started down that slippery slope months ago. ;)
 
SG, I know it's a bit later, but you'll be very happy with those uf rods! Thanks to mine, No factory edge is suitable to me anymore. When I sharpen my own knives, I'll use the uf rods, but not on other folk's knives. Most people have never owned a knife as sharp as you can get one with the uf stones. It frightens the average joe how sharp you'll make their knives.
 
I'm interested in these as well. Just looking around, they seem to go for about $20 per rod, so about $40 per set, is this about right?
 
Are the guys who advocate the UF's using them to polish both back bevel and cutting edge or are you all simply using them for microbevel refinement?
 
Magnaminous_G said:
I have come to the conclusion that I don't need the UF rods. The F rods are very, very fine, as it is.
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Hey there. You've used the uf rods much? Are saying that you find you can get your edges plenty sharp with the fines and don't need the extra bit you could get from the uf, or do u mean you have used the uf rods and haven't gotten a sharper edge than what u get with the fines? Just curious. As I said earlier, I definitely don't "need" the uf but seems like a cheap way to play around trying to get some silly sharp edges.

Thanks,

Lance
 
Surfingringo said:
Hey there. You've used the uf rods much? Are saying that you find you can get your edges plenty sharp with the fines and don't need the extra bit you could get from the uf, or do u mean you have used the uf rods and haven't gotten a sharper edge than what u get with the fines? Just curious. As I said earlier, I definitely don't "need" the uf but seems like a cheap way to play around trying to get some silly sharp edges.

Thanks,

Lance
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I like my sharpmaker a lot and was interested in the UF rods too. The sharpmaker is super reliable, and gives great results.
A set of paper wheels and grinder costs as much as a sharpmaker, and a set of UF rods. That will give you crazy sharp knives too. I already have paper wheels, and they're amazing. Period. Sharpest knives I've ever produced, in like a minute. Also, you get the nice mirrored edges.
 
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