Good point!
I use the iGaging Angle Cube that came with my WE but if I do not have it at hand I also sometimes use the free Android App "iHandy Level" which works very well.
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WE vs KME vs Lansky
- Thread starter Fuori
- Start date
Good point!
I use the iGaging Angle Cube that came with my WE but if I do not have it at hand I also sometimes use the free Android App "iHandy Level" which works very well.
I have tried the Edge Pro but it did not work for me. Maybe because I am left handed although I doubt it but I found it awkward to hold the blade steady when using my right hand so I gave up on it. I am of course aware that most systems have a learning curve but I did not like it enough to invest the time in it so I sold it and bought the WE in stead.
I am probably not the right person to advise about freehand sharpening with stones. I have no problem using stones and I would say that I am pretty good at it and can get my knives very sharp but not as clean and consistent as with a guided system (which stones can be used freehand as well of course).
A lot of people claim that they can get results that are just as good as those of a WE or other guided system but I think that very few if any, actually can.
Yes, very good results are absolutely possible but you just have to look at the edge from most factory knives that are hand sharpened. The people who sharpen those knives do so all day every day for years yet most of us would say that those edges are just acceptable.
I think that everyone who wants to sharpen knives should try to learn how to sharpen freehand as it is a skill that will be useful for the rest of your life but I think that > 99% will get better results with a guided system. Not to mention that a couple of good quality (diamond) stones in different grids are not cheap either.
I am probably not the right person to advise about freehand sharpening with stones. I have no problem using stones and I would say that I am pretty good at it and can get my knives very sharp but not as clean and consistent as with a guided system (which stones can be used freehand as well of course).
A lot of people claim that they can get results that are just as good as those of a WE or other guided system but I think that very few if any, actually can.
Yes, very good results are absolutely possible but you just have to look at the edge from most factory knives that are hand sharpened. The people who sharpen those knives do so all day every day for years yet most of us would say that those edges are just acceptable.
I think that everyone who wants to sharpen knives should try to learn how to sharpen freehand as it is a skill that will be useful for the rest of your life but I think that > 99% will get better results with a guided system. Not to mention that a couple of good quality (diamond) stones in different grids are not cheap either.
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The accessory I forgot to mention ( but others didn't) is the base. I did buy one, and use it about half the time. Really just depends on my mood, and what I'm doing at the time. If spending a little extra time to do a full re-profile, it is very handy. I also did just add the pen blade clamp too. Real easy to change out, and works good for tiny little blades like small SAK's or the pen blade on a Barlow.
But many of these "systems" are like a Dillon reloader. You can start out with a base model, and add features as you go or can afford.
But many of these "systems" are like a Dillon reloader. You can start out with a base model, and add features as you go or can afford.
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Seems you can use Lansky hones with the KME . Remove the screw from end of the Lansky hone's plastic carrier, screw the KME rod into the Lansky hone carrier...and there you go.....
Funny, I have used the KME stone holder with the diamond stones with the Lansky clamp.
Unless the KME holder has changed, you can not use it with the Lansky stones as the KME rod has #8 - 32 UNC thread while the Lansky hones have #10 - 24 UNC treads.
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I have tried the KME rod now with a brand new Lansky Fine Grit (600) Alumina-Oxide Hone ( http://lansky.com/index.php/products/fine/) and it fits.
Which thread is it do you know? My Lanskys are 10-24
All my Lansky stones are 10-24 as well.
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Sorry, don't know . Only know they fit and this works fine.
This is an interesting discussion! I want to learn how to properly sharpen a knife and not ruin it. I have some expensive Case knives and I want to properly sharpen the blades. Have heard about the Wicked Edge, KME, Edge Pro, and Landsky systems. I am thinking the KME might be for me. But yet maybe I will make knife sharpening a hobby and buy all those sharpeners.
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If you are sharpening Case knives the KME with pen blade attachment is the best option out there for systems imo.
I prefer freehand but when I want a degree of precision I pull out my KME.
This is a good thread and appreciate the balanced comparative discussion of these system. I'm mainly a freehand sharpener now, but have used Sharpmaker a lot, still have one, and wanted to add a few comments on that system based on recent experimentation I have done and posted about here at BF.
With a few add-on purchases, you can do some pretty effective things with Sharpmaker to overcome its limitations. For example, in addition to Sharpmaker, say that you acquire the diamond or cbn rods (400 mesh), the UF ceramic rods (estimated to be in the 1800 - 2200 grit range), the Congress Tools Moldmaster Silicon carbide 150 grit triangle stones (only about $12 for both), and something to strop with.
With this setup, you can sharpen nearly all super steels effectively, except perhaps a few super high vanadium ones like S110v. With the diamonds, you can put a good medium-coarse shaving sharp edge on super steels, then use light strokes on your UF rods to micro bevel or refine further, and a strop with CBN compound to finish and get it to hair popping. You can do full edge reprofiles in a reasonable amount of time (I've done it several times, including in the last week with an M390 blade that took about an hour and I posted about here on the forum). Is all this 'optimal' or the best possible sharpening setup? No way! You could always spend more: KME, WE, nice freehand stones whether diamond, Shaptons, Naniwa, etc, and get better results. But the SM system with these add-ons is no slouch. It can profile an edge, handle nearly all popular super steels, handle all kinds of blades including recurves and serrations, and get your knives seriously sharp.
I wouldn't 'recommend' SM as a serious alternative to freehanding or any of these systems here. But where I would recommend it is the person who doesn't want to get into more cost and the learning curve of freehand or these guided systems, and just wants to do a better job getting their knives sharp than say a pull-thru sharpener.
For those folks, Sharpmaker with a few add-ons can actually give them quite a bit of capability, up to and including edge reprofiles and sharpening super steels at 15 dps.
Still, I agree with you that if a person want to spend some $$ on a guided system and is willing to get KME, there's absolutely no value in Sharpmaker. Sharpmaker is primarily targeting a niche market, like the type of knife owner I listed above. It helps keep the cost down, keeps the sharpening process simple, and gets you solid general-purpose edges at 15 dps.
With a few add-on purchases, you can do some pretty effective things with Sharpmaker to overcome its limitations. For example, in addition to Sharpmaker, say that you acquire the diamond or cbn rods (400 mesh), the UF ceramic rods (estimated to be in the 1800 - 2200 grit range), the Congress Tools Moldmaster Silicon carbide 150 grit triangle stones (only about $12 for both), and something to strop with.
With this setup, you can sharpen nearly all super steels effectively, except perhaps a few super high vanadium ones like S110v. With the diamonds, you can put a good medium-coarse shaving sharp edge on super steels, then use light strokes on your UF rods to micro bevel or refine further, and a strop with CBN compound to finish and get it to hair popping. You can do full edge reprofiles in a reasonable amount of time (I've done it several times, including in the last week with an M390 blade that took about an hour and I posted about here on the forum). Is all this 'optimal' or the best possible sharpening setup? No way! You could always spend more: KME, WE, nice freehand stones whether diamond, Shaptons, Naniwa, etc, and get better results. But the SM system with these add-ons is no slouch. It can profile an edge, handle nearly all popular super steels, handle all kinds of blades including recurves and serrations, and get your knives seriously sharp.
I wouldn't 'recommend' SM as a serious alternative to freehanding or any of these systems here. But where I would recommend it is the person who doesn't want to get into more cost and the learning curve of freehand or these guided systems, and just wants to do a better job getting their knives sharp than say a pull-thru sharpener.
For those folks, Sharpmaker with a few add-ons can actually give them quite a bit of capability, up to and including edge reprofiles and sharpening super steels at 15 dps. Still, I agree with you that if a person want to spend some $$ on a guided system and is willing to get KME, there's absolutely no value in Sharpmaker. Sharpmaker is primarily targeting a niche market, like the type of knife owner I listed above. It helps keep the cost down, keeps the sharpening process simple, and gets you solid general-purpose edges at 15 dps.
Super useful side-by-side comparison comments in this thread. Good to hear this kind of firsthand user feedback on the pros/cons of each.
Although I'm freehanding right now, the KME system sounds pretty interesting and if I were going to get into guided systems, this is the most interesting to me of all of them.
Although I'm freehanding right now, the KME system sounds pretty interesting and if I were going to get into guided systems, this is the most interesting to me of all of them.
That is absolutely true if like you say, "is used correctly". That being said, in my opinion, the Lansky (with the old style clamp) is best suitable for flat ground pocket knives with a blade length of up 4" and the Lansky is still my system of choice for my Victorinox knives and most of my other small traditional knives. Larger knives can of course be done but it wouldn't be the best system for them.
Unfortunately, a lot of people have no idea what they are doing and do not use it correctly as can be seen in most of the videos about the Lansky on Youtube. Any system can be misused of course but it seems to happen more with the Lansky. The new type clamp that does not clamp smaller knives very well so that does not help either. I think Lansky made a big mistake when they changed the clamp and in the process transformed a perfect system into a crappy system.
The WE is arguably the best system on the market but also the most expensive. A Pro Pack II with some additional accessories will easily cost > $ 1000.- and would be best suitable for larger tactical knives and kitchen knifes. Smaller knives can be done especially with the optional low angle adapter but it is not the best system for those.
The KME fits nicely in between both in price and capabilities. Compared to a Lansky diamond set, it is about twice the price but just a fraction of the price of the WE. It can handle smaller knives as well as larger knives and with all the available accessories you can tailor it to all your needs.
I have all three systems as well as a few others which is of course a bit insane but I consider it a hobby and as we all know, hobbies are usually expensive
I have no affiliation with any of the brands and have good experience with all of them so I have no reason to recommend one over the other and I can only try to tell what I like and do not like about the various systems but what works very well for me might not work for you and that is why I usually buy it and try it for myself and than keep it or sell it if I do not like it.
What I can also say about the KME is that I have been in contact with them a number of times and I very much appreciate their perfect service. They are a small family owned company and they care about their customers. This might or might not be important to you but like it very much. I have good experience with WE customer service as well so no complaints there either.
jeepin
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