Taboo talk ~ pocket pull thru sharpener....that works!

Wolfjohn said:
Ok...ok...I know this isn't the thing most people care to hear especially those of us in the knifemaking world but, I found the greatest little pocket sharpener (carbide) I've ever seen...it's made by Benchmade (and others I suppose). Anyways, if you're out someplace and need to put back on a decent edge quickly, this is a dandy and it's easy to stow in your pocket too. It runsa about $15.
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Maybe I should have clarified my use of this...I don't use this on my EDC or other quality knives, I have used it often in a pinch on my large camp knives. I have two pretty hefty thick 1095 steel choppers that get used hard for every grunt cut job and it works great to get a half ass edge back on them.
 
Somewhat of an aside, but I wonder if some of the damage is attributable to the fact that you're drawing the knife parallel to the edge, instead of perpendicular like most sharpeners??

- Mark
 
Mark J said:
Somewhat of an aside, but I wonder if some of the damage is attributable to the fact that you're drawing the knife parallel to the edge, instead of perpendicular like most sharpeners??

- Mark
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Sharpmaker sharpens the same way, but one per side.
It's just the carbide, and the fact that your push down on the edge that leaves such a horrible looking edge.
 
Think of those micro-edge pieces breaking off when you cut food :eek:

Tried such sharpeners once...never again. Edge rippers I call them :rolleyes:
 
If you must use a pull through sharpener get a Rapala two stage sharpener. Instead of carbide blades it has coarse and fine ceramic rods that won't destroy your blade. Around $3 bucks.

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A fallkniven dc3 or dc4 will cost about $5-$10 more and you can get a great edge with those. Comes will a leather sheath too.
 
I got to admit I use one like that in the kitchen occasionally on some old gerber M2 kitchen knives - those ripped up edges slice like a mutha!
 
These things are only evil to knife nuts. For regular folks, not so much. My Mom is an example. When her knife stops cutting like it used to, she runs it through one of these carbide sharpeners a few times, and as if by magic, the knife cuts better again. She has no interest in looking at the edge through the microscope to confirm that the knife is, in fact, sharper than it was before.

I like polished edges. But if this type of sharpener is all I got, it's what gets used. Frankly, after giving some thought over how these things work, and making allowances in usage, I find they work well enough for many typical applications.
 
shecky said:
These things are only evil to knife nuts. For regular folks, not so much. My Mom is an example. When her knife stops cutting like it used to, she runs it through one of these carbide sharpeners a few times, and as if by magic, the knife cuts better again. She has no interest in looking at the edge through the microscope to confirm that the knife is, in fact, sharper than it was before.

I like polished edges. But if this type of sharpener is all I got, it's what gets used. Frankly, after giving some thought over how these things work, and making allowances in usage, I find they work well enough for many typical applications.
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The hell you say! You sharpen your knives for use, not the inspect under microscopes???

I guess I fall into the sharpening sinners catagory. I have used a variety of the quickie sharpeners, and still can cut things better after using them than before....

Isn't that why you sharpen knives?
 
Yep and you can use regular gas in your 1000hp drag car too..... race gas is such a rip off.
 
I'd go with a brick and cardboard instead lol, I don't like pull through/crock stick style sharpeners because I like my tips ultra pointy:cool:.
 
shecky said:
These things are only evil to knife nuts. For regular folks, not so much. My Mom is an example. When her knife stops cutting like it used to, she runs it through one of these carbide sharpeners a few times, and as if by magic, the knife cuts better again. She has no interest in looking at the edge through the microscope to confirm that the knife is, in fact, sharper than it was before.

I like polished edges. But if this type of sharpener is all I got, it's what gets used. Frankly, after giving some thought over how these things work, and making allowances in usage, I find they work well enough for many typical applications.
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The problem with these isn't what the edge looks like under a microscope, it's the damage that it does as well as the results. Consistent use will typically result in a torrn up 'wavy' pattern to the edge, (for lack of a better word). As the knife moves into thicker metal, it gets worse. It's also an indication that the user doesn't properly use the knife, and will basically saw thru everything, because the knife will no longer push cut, or even slice well. It also shortens the life of the knife, which may not matter on a cheap set, but will on a quality set. Have your mom's knives properly sharpened, and I'll bet her attitude would change. "Cutting better" and cutting properly, are two different things. It's not working properly... her expectations are just lower. I see it all the time (which is also why users will cut themselves with a properly sharpened knife... they're not used to how it performs).

cbw
 
The problem isn't the sharpening tool, it's the person using it. Any tool, even plain old flat bench oil stones can ( and do) leave the user with damaged edges if the user cannot utilize them with enough skill. Show me a sharpening tool that cannot ruin a knife, and I'll show you a sharpening tool that is worthless.

The fact is that people use pull through carbide sharpeners to satisfaction around the world. That knife nuts don't consider them "proper tools" producing "proper results" is irrelevant.
 
A lot of people around the world just let their knives go dull until they're bruising their vegetables apart. I guess if you set your standards low enough, you can be satisfied with anything (or nothing...)

Parker
 
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