ViperSharp? Any good?

bbbowers

bbbowers

Joined
Dec 25, 2009
Messages
109
Saw the kickstarter on this and wondered if I should jump on it. I used to have a W.E. and loved it but when I needed the funds, it went and I never got another one. For around $100 it looks descent but I wondered if anyone had experience or any obersvations. I am also seeing the "profile K02" but it is 3 times the price.

Any suggestions?
 
The Arkansas stones are going to be pretty slow with some of our modern pocket knife steels.
Cool looking rig though, just not sold on the stone selection.
Russ
 
Yeah, I thought about that. I do have quite a few knives in "less modern" 1095 (love hand forged blades). I agree about stone selection though. It comes with a lifetime warranty and a promise of more stones to come. From a design standpoint, does it look as effective as the others out there?
 
bbbowers said:
Saw the kickstarter on this and wondered if I should jump on it. I used to have a W.E. and loved it but when I needed the funds, it went and I never got another one. For around $100 it looks descent but I wondered if anyone had experience or any obersvations. I am also seeing the "profile K02" but it is 3 times the price.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

i've run across the videos a couple of times. I won't say it's "bad"... I'm sure it works OK, but I'm not sure what problems he's 'solving' that he thinks other similar sharpeners have. A couple of things I noticed... his base isn't very heavy and looks like it'll need to be held or clamped to work. I don't like the design that the clamp has to be removed and replaced to turn the knife over... I think the design of the KME is much better and easier... especially if you're finishing a knife and want to do alternating strokes, flipping the knife each time... that's gonna get old quick.

Also, did you read through the comments? He's depending on funding before considering any other stones... for example, he states he would need $60,000 to provide diamonds, doesn't think a leather strop would work on the sharpener (although later he says he's looking into it), and states it won't work with a FFG, just a few things I noticed.

Personally, I'd look at the KME... IMO, better clamp setup, diamond stones (this alone probably makes the price difference negligible), available accessories, and a more established company.
 
Hi,
How low can it go? What is the lowest angle?


One website from 2015 say it goes from 12° to 35°
the vipersharp website says infinitely adjustable angle
...
It comes with maybe $40 (retail from dan's) worth of 4inch stones
...
Good luck to the guy :)
...
for comparison,
generic version of edge pro can go as low as 5 degrees,
comes with 6 inch stones,
extra stones and/or diamonds are really cheap like $1-$3 ,
whole contraption can be had for under $20 ...
..
a generic version of lansky/smiths can be had for $7.43
with diamond stones and clamp...
add $10 (high) worth of hardware (base/screws/nut/pipe)
to make it infinitely adjustable instead
of fixed angles of 10/14/17/20/23/28/33
 
cbwx34 said:
i've run across the videos a couple of times. I won't say it's "bad"... I'm sure it works OK, but I'm not sure what problems he's 'solving' that he thinks other similar sharpeners have. A couple of things I noticed... his base isn't very heavy and looks like it'll need to be held or clamped to work. I don't like the design that the clamp has to be removed and replaced to turn the knife over... I think the design of the KME is much better and easier... especially if you're finishing a knife and want to do alternating strokes, flipping the knife each time... that's gonna get old quick.

Also, did you read through the comments? He's depending on funding before considering any other stones... for example, he states he would need $60,000 to provide diamonds, doesn't think a leather strop would work on the sharpener (although later he says he's looking into it), and states it won't work with a FFG, just a few things I noticed.

Personally, I'd look at the KME... IMO, better clamp setup, diamond stones (this alone probably makes the price difference negligible), available accessories, and a more established company.
Click to expand...

These are just about the same thoughts as I have about the system but I would go as far as to say that it is a bad design and a waste of money. I would also recommend the KME instead but I would even prefer a basic 3 stone Lansky above the Vipersharp.
 
Gotcha, that makes sense. Thank you for the clear response, that helps. I guess it would make sense to just go with the KME or the tsprof then.
 
bbbowers said:
Gotcha, that makes sense. Thank you for the clear response, that helps. I guess it would make sense to just go with the KME or the tsprof then.
Click to expand...
If your going to get a TSprof your going to have a little wait next shipment around the end of November. And yes I am on the list.
 
Hey guys, I just wanted to put a note out there that the Vipersharp has come a long way in the last year. Arkansas stones dropped, Ceramic and diamond added and heavy stone base options are available as well.
 
I don't think I would after consider looking at a Vipersharp you tell they never thought anything threw at all when it comes to stone select because they use their own funny mounting system for mounting the stones also why anyone would want a 4 inch stone over a 6 inch stone is another thing that baffle's my mind,it looks more a stripped down knock of a KME from what I can see and for how basic it is it seems to over priced to me as well,now if they sold for 75 to 125 bucks then I would say for someone who only wants to sharpen 3 to 5 knives a year for kitchen use then I be more likely to recommend the Vipersharp to someone who is on a budget.
 
I didn't see any good reviews and a bunch of negative comments so I avoided it. Can't recall what the issues were off hand but iirc had to do with the stones. No experience otherwise. I'd suggest the kme, an edge pro or hapstone. A diamond lansky or gatco kit for budget option.

Avoid the generic versions. They are junk with horrible stones
 
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The TSPROF K02 and K03 are excellent options. I have zero regrets about getting the k02 I have. Many types of stones in many grits available for it, and are very easy to find as many places sell the edge-pro style stones it uses. It will even use bench stones you already have.
I watched a viper sharp video and wondered how long until they go out of business. I will pass on the viper sharp.
 
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