what is the best sharpener

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knifeboy123

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Aug 2, 2010
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i have alot of knives with diffrent blade angles so i what to know what would be the best sharpener for some one with alot diffrent knives
 
a couple of benchstones of different grades, a strop and the will to learn how to do it freehand.

it really isn't hard.
 
i have never used a stone so i dont know how hard it is to use one how long does it take to get good at it
 
knifeboy123 said:
i have alot of knives with diffrent blade angles so i what to know what would be the best sharpener for some one with alot diffrent knives
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Whatever works for you.

Not in any particular order.

1. Edge Pro
2. DMT Aligner
3. Sharpmaker
4. Benchstones
 
Ok, I cant seem to get off the schneid. Edge Pro, too much of an initial investment. Sharpmaker, good to keep my Delica and Persistence honed up, but maybe not good for kitchen knives (some are very sharp, some probably not so). DMT seems okay but maybe around $70 if I get the coarser stones too, and the Sharpmaker, well, I could wrap that sandpaper around the rods for the coarser stuff, and once I get the knives honed up, then just touch up?

Or I could try to get one or two or three benchstones, and later a strop with compound, and free hand. I guess I could still do the sandpaper and mousepad for coarser stuff. I have two folders and about a dozen kitchen knives I want to keep sharp (not including the serrated kitchen steak knives). Looking to spend south of $50 or so on a system. What would you do?
 
Benchstones are probably the best(most cost effective versus results) when you learn to do it well. Unless of course, you sharpen a lot of knives. Then powered would probably be the way to go.
 
Greetings: Each method has it's pluses and minuses. Time and experience has a tendency to modify one's opinions and standards. If you stick with this hobby, your opinion of what constitutes a very sharp edge will change. What was once thought to be an outlandish amount of money for either a knife or a sharpening device may also change. As your knowledge increases, the amount of time and money that you feel is reasonable or worthwhile to invest in sharpening, may change too. Sometimes more, sometimes less. If you buy "cheap", you run the risk of being dissatisfied with the outcome. If you spend a "bundle" and loose interest, you risk wasting the money you have already invested. I have invested more than some and a lot less than others, in sharpening equipment. I have bought and still use many "sharpening systems". You can choose to either spend your time or your money. Most all of the methods used to sharpen ~ work. Both a simple or an expensive system, in the hands of an experienced sharpener, produces good results. Some are faster. Some are easier. Some are both but require either more skill or more money. If you are not YET experienced, I suggest getting a system that will still be used even after you become an experienced sharpener. The Sharpmaker is far from the best at reprofiling. Fortunately most people don't reprofile every day. In actual practice, my knives require touching-up or resharpenig FAR more frequently than reprofiling. At this the Sharpmaker excels. There are other methods that are equally as good or better but require a larger investment of either time or money. Out of all the sharpening methods and systems, I still use the Sharpmaker the most. OldDude1
 
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I use my sharpmaker the most and my Edge Pro Apex the least. Probably selling the EP and saving up for a Wicked Edge. Looks like most of the initial bugs are worked out.
 
The best sharpener is a skilled person using just about anything abrasive. A skilled person can put a shaving edge on a knife using emory paper, while an unskilled individual will struggle to obtain a decent edge using even the most elaborate shapening gismos. Spend time gathering knowledge, and as others have said, practice on less expensive blades.
 
pvicenzi said:
A skilled person can put a shaving edge on a knife using emory paper.......
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a skilled person can put a shaving sharp edge on a knife using the unglazed bottom edge of a ceramic coffee cup.

how much you spend on sharpening gear is a very personal choice.

benchstones and a homemade strop are possibly one of the cheapest options (~US$25 for a good stone, ~$5 for the materials for a strop).

then there's the other extreme where you buy a belt sander and a bunch of belts along with a bench grinder and some paper wheels. (cost? anything up to and over $1,000 depending on the quality of the tools you get).

in any event, don't look only at the price. my motto is: There's An Economy In Quality.

buy good tools and they'll still be in use and paying for themselves in 30 years.

buy junk, and you'll wind up buying your tools again and again.
 
pvicenzi said:
The best sharpener is a skilled person using just about anything abrasive.
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That's it. There's no substitute for practice. If you're not educated and experienced in sharpening, there is no system that can make up for it.

And personally, I think two hands and a stone is the best sharpening system. It is the most versatile.
 
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