What is the best way to sharpen SnG?

Yeah, the sharpmaker is a very good way to sharpen essentially anything. I believe that the Strider guys themselves use the sharpmaker.
 
Needless to say, my SnG doesn't need sharpening yet. It's the sharpest 'straight from the shop' Strider I've ever seen.

However, I've sharpened my AR, DB and BT-SS with my Edge Pro Apex. The AR is at 25 degrees as are the DB and BT-SS, at least on their long/main edges. All three are extremely sharp, much sharper than they were when I rec'd them. The DB, in particular, is way beyond scary sharp.

Mick sharpens on a belt, AFAIK.
 
I've used a spyderco shaprmaker on mine. It works good. Use what works best for you. If you are used to using a benchstone freehand, use that, if you can use a cotton wheel w/ buffing compound, use that. I've found I'm pretty good w/ a sharpmaker, so I use that. If you've got it so dull that you can't cut with it, send it to Strider, I've done that before, and they sent it back good as new.

PS, I don't worry about the angles, never have. It's only my opinion, but some things don't need to be so over complicated.
 
I guess my point about the angles is being lost. On the Striders I've sharpened, the edges on all were 24-25 degrees (48-50 degrees included angle). On the Tantos, this only applies to to main edges.

The Sharpmaker can not sharpen at 24-25 degrees. It can only sharpen at 15 or 20 degrees (30 or 40 degrees included angle). Therefore, if you use a 20 degree Sharpmaker on a 24-25 degree Strider, you never touch the edge. That is, until you re-profile the Strider to 20 degrees, which is NOT what Strider intended...

Look at this thread again.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=215146
 
So tilt the knife to the inside a little on the sharpmaker, angle problem solved :confused:

Like I said, Unless you want to overcomplicate things a little, just use what works best for you. I would be willing to bet that not every edge on a Strider is exactly 24 degrees. They're sharpened by a human being, not a machine, there will be some variance. I've got great results from my sharpmaker, but YMMV. If someone wants it done exactly like it's done at Strider, send it in, they'll sharpen it for you. There are many of these blades out in the field, do you think that the owner carries a fancy sharpeners, or a protractor so that they can get that exact 24 degree angle?
 
That was my thinking also.

I just want to let you guys know that I am not a knife collector, and that SnG will be part of my work gear, and will see a lot of abuse. It will not sit on a shelf or be carried in a pair of Dockers.:rolleyes:
 
Guys,
Yes, you can compensate by holding the blade at a different angle on the Sharpmaker, but it is much more tedious this way, and I promise that you won't be doing it consistently every time. You can make a jig to do it consistently, but that's a task too. Not too hard, but just a pain to me.
I think that L.O. Little is just stating the best way to sharpen an SNG. I mean, you spend $400 on a Strider, why not get the best professional, do-it-yourself edge from the EdgePro?
I assure you if you use an EdgePro and see the professional edge that you can obtain, you will love the sharpener as much OR MORE than the knife itself.
Honestly, for $50, Spyderco needs to re-design their Sharpmaker 204 to where it will accomodate a wider or infinite range of angles. Hell, most Spyderco knives aren't even sharpened at the same angle as their sharpener. What's up with that?
 
If all you've got is a Sharpmaker, you might want to try propping something under the base until the angle matches the edge on the Strider.

I use a phone book and mark exactly which page number I use for which knives, so I can have some consistency in sharpening angle each time.
 
i swear you people must be retarded or something to be arguing over a task so simple.
just get a goddamn stone and freehand it for phucks sake:rolleyes:
 
If the blade is really dull I'll use the EdgePro. If it needs a slight touch up I'll use a buffer. If it needs more than a slight touch-up, but not a real sharpening, I will use the ceramic stones from the sharpmaker.

S.
 
I hear what L.O. Little is saying. He's got a point if you don't reprofile you edge to 20 degrees, you won't touch the edge when sharpening. If you have to tilt your hand every time, you won't do it consistantly.

If you already own the sharpmaker 204, you can flip the base over and put the ceramic stones in flat and use it like a bench stone.
 
I am with BH... Use what works best for you. Duane used the Spyderco before and the knives came out wicked sharp... I use spyderco and he damned knife shaves just fine...If it works for you do it if it dont than fix the problem... If you have never used a sharpener... Go with Edge Pro for a home based situation and a stone for the field... I use my spyderco for both; but that is just me.

Brandon
 
I haven't used my Edge Pro with the SnG to see what the original angle is, but I would say that mine is close to 20 degrees per side to begin with. I have touched mine up on my SharpMaker and one side is 20 degrees exactly and the other side is even less, perhaps 16-18 degrees or so.

A SnG is expected to do different tasks than an AR which is expected to different tasks than a full-size fixed blade Strider. Also, as they are all ground by hand, I would not necessarily expect that all of them would be ground to the same 24-25 degree angle.

I'd say get a black marker and "paint" the grind. Use your SharpMaker and see if the edge is shiny. If it is, you are good to go. If not, then it will take a long time to re-profile Bos heat treated S30V on a SharpMaker. ;)
 
Great post Greg! You said what I should have said, better and with less words. Why didn't you say it quicker? :D

P.S. BTW, Greg, I meant absolutely NO sarcasm with my compliment. Sometimes I need somebody to (politely) shut me up and say what needs to be said. You did it. Thanks!
 
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