What Kinds Of Sharpeners?

[EGZMETALFRK666]

I was curious to know what kinds of sharpeners everyone is using. Pictures would be nice on your sharpening setup.




I'm very basic(Not much knowledge ). I'm using a Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker.

 

[richard j]

i use paper wheels to do all of my sharpening. once you learn how to use them you can get your knives as sharp as the ones in these videos. http://www.myculpeper.com/richardj/MLNA0001a.AVI
http://www.myculpeper.com/richardj/MLNA0018.AVI
for more information you can email me or check out the manufacturers link at my website.

 

[EGZMETALFRK666]

richard j - I think they're good and sharp.

 

[krazichinaman]

richard j - I think they're good and sharp.

I use the same setup as you. Except I have the diamond rods and the UF rods. I would suggest that you clean your rods, they look like they are pretty dirty.

 

[mitchshrader]

i sold my spyderco sharpmaker last year to someone who lacked flat stone sharpening skills, for half price.. after i'd used it maybe a dozen times in 15 years. .

it's an extremely limited tool. you can neither apply enough pressure nor does it touch enough of the blade at once to maintain an identical angle down the length of a long blade, albeit it's FAST for what it does. if you're impatient and don't know any better it's tolerable, most especially for short blades with not very hard steel.

works fine on cheap stainless folders, compared to nothing. add the diamond rods and it'll work on expensive stainless folders.

covers a very small fraction of what is necessary to sharpen knives. suitable for fast pocketknife touch ups, if you're careful.. and not a whole lot else.

whereas stones are not suitable without an investment in skill, WITH that investment they are vastly superior ..

i own belgian, japanese, arkansas, finnish, german, and turkish sharpening stones. the belgian is 'best' (bang buck) .. the finnish is fastest on thin carbon steel (kitchen rock) the japanese is best if you enjoy sharpening, excellent results but slower than belgian.. and more expensive.. the arkansas rocks are in great part worthless, suffer from inclusions and variable grit quality, which is why they tell you to oil em.

put it in your bible, if you have to oil it, it was the wrong rock. don't oil rocks unless you're sharpening machine tools that need oiling anyway.. not for knives and CERTAINLY not for kitchen knives. gack.

rocks is the answer that worked the LAST 5000 years, you think they suddenly quit working?

give spyderco credit, their gadget actually HAS a use, i've seen some real cute doodlebug knife sharpeners that were completely worthless junk, and spyderco avoids that. . but if you want to sharpen knives, buy good stones. an orchestra's worth. with care, you might manage it with 6 good ones, or two, maybe three.. great ones. they won't be cheap. they'll likely outlive you, so decide which kid or grandkid will inherit them OUT LOUD.

 

[EGZMETALFRK666]

I use the same setup as you. Except I have the diamond rods and the UF rods. I would suggest that you clean your rods, they look like they are pretty dirty.

I've only had the sharpener for 2 days

Do they really need to be cleaned already?

 

[richard j]

i used to use a single ceramic rod before getting the wheels and i always cleaned it after using it a few times to make sure it cut good the next time. if you arent feeling it cutting, chances are it needs cleaned.

 

[Hard H2O]

Here is my sharpening kit.

GATCO Professional
Added extra fine and ultimate finishing hones
Arkansas tri-hone
Leather strops with red and white polishing compound

 

[EGZMETALFRK666]

Hard H2O - What's that fixed blade with the black handle?

 

[Hard H2O]

Hard H2O - What's that fixed blade with the black handle?

Buck 103

 

[siguy]

i use this whenever i don't have my shop handy. i have 400 grit through 0.5 micron film for stropping. its great for maintaining an edge.

at home i use a 1x30 belt sander with polishing belts up to 9 micron.

 

[EGZMETALFRK666]

siguy - I really like that, very compact.

Update: I just cleaned my rods with these soap pads with powder cleaner, and wow did it make a difference.

 

[krazichinaman]

I've only had the sharpener for 2 days

Do they really need to be cleaned already?

It looks like you've been sharpening a lot of knives. :thumbup: I would suggest to clean the stones at least every 2-3 knives. You will feel the stones getting "slick" and lose their "bite." When that happens, its time to clean them up with a scotch brite and some commet. You can feel the difference of clean stones vs dirty ones.

 

[EGZMETALFRK666]

It looks like you've been sharpening a lot of knives. :thumbup: I would suggest to clean the stones at least every 2-3 knives. You will feel the stones getting "slick" and lose their "bite." When that happens, its time to clean them up with a scotch brite and some commet. You can feel the difference of clean stones vs dirty ones.

As I said, i have these pad things with built in powder cleaner. It makes cleaning so simple.