The perfect Sharpmaker technique?

[frontline29]

I also think it has something to do with your ability to keep the edge flat against the flat part's of your stone's.The flatter you can keep the knife against the stone's the better.When I first got my sharpmaker, I sucked....bad.And I was unimpressed with it,and quickly went back to my Lansky system.But As soon as I got better at it with a little practice and I could keep the blade flat with the stone every stroke,BAM -I was GOLDEN,I just finished up with my BM 940 on the sharpmaker and I can now whittle hair with it.It took me MUCH longer to get that kinda edge on it,then it would have on the Lansky system,and the edge it leaves is not as "pretty"or "high polished" as the Lansky leaves,But in defence of the sharpmaker I do not own the Ultra Fine stones.So I can't speak to that.

IMHO. Take your time, keep the blade straight up & down, go lightly and keep your blade flat against the stone's

I don't know if this is the best technique or whatever
but like I said, I sucked at first,and now I can whittle hair.

Best of luck my friend

 

[Stockman]

I get the best results on the SM by making sure that I raise a burr on the corners of the Brown ( medium ) rods first. I just sharpen 1 side until a visible burr is created along the entire edge, then swap sides until the burr has swapped sides. I then do 1 stroke each side with a slightly increased angle and with light pressure, to completely remove the burr.

After this, light pressure, alternating sides as per the instructions, corners, then flats, through to the Ultra Fine rods.

This always produces hair whittling sharpness for me.

 

[Josh K]

Well, may be, but people who did that also present whittled hair - hard to argue that.

Thanks, Vassili.

You can get a zero radius edge that has uneven angles on either side. Sure it will whittle hair and such but if the edge is lopsided and uneven (not consistent along the entire side) you're going to have problems resharpening.