What would you recommend for my goal?

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mjninc

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Jan 14, 2020
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Hi everyone, thanks for all the content on this site, it's been very helpful. I've done a lot of searching but wanted your input on what you think might best fit my goals.

Goals:
  • My main goal is repeatability in the following;
    • Reprofiling
    • Sharpening/maintaining an edge
  • It's not really a hobby, I don't want to spend a lot of time doing it, I would just like consistently sharp knives.
I understand some things take time, but if time is limited and repeatability is the main goal, what would you recommend?

If you need me to be more specific, just let me know as I appreciate the help.
 
Last edited:
It depends what's your budget I take it you are looking at a guided system and not freehand.
 
Yes preferably guided.

What would your recommendation be for the following price points?

  • Less than $200
  • Between $200 and $500
  • Greater than $500
I'm ok with a combination of systems, if it best fits the goal of repeatability.
 
The simplest solution would be an angle guide that clamps on the spine of the blade and a set of bench hones, preferably diamond.
 
A guided sharpener with magnets in the table that are strong enough to hold the knife in place with a little help with a free hand and a three point blade guide, hands down the most repeatable. I find a correct rubber on the table to be very beneficial. Edge Pro and Hapstone make this type of sharpener. EP doesn't put rubber on their tables but are much better quality than the one Hapstone I got to play with. I am not a fan of clamps as they introduce way more sources of error than a table.

Maintenance sharpenings for me take about 3-5 minutes and I like very polished edges for push cutting. This is for any good steel.
 
mjninc said:
Yes preferably guided.

What would your recommendation be for the following price points?

  • Less than $200
  • Between $200 and $500
  • Greater than $500
I'm ok with a combination of systems, if it best fits the goal of repeatability.
Click to expand...

If you want a clamped based system look at the TSProf K03 Outdoorsman sharpener sold at either statesllc or gritomatic and both George and Konstantin are stand up guys,the Outdoorsman edition is 509.00
The only other thing's I would get right off the bat would reinforced spring's for the single and double clamps which are fairly cheap and a Wixey angle cube from amazon for 26 buck's.

The reason for the reinforced spring's is because they don't flex hardly at all when sharpening when compared to the stock springs that are included with the clamp's.

The stones that come with the system are ok and are silicon carbide and they were a bit on the fast side but that would be a set of stones to get you started if you couldn't sing another 200 bucks for the Venev stones right off the bat.

If you get the Venev stones you want to be sure and click the button that say's Sirius those are the 100% concentration version of those stones and they can handle any steel you throw at them,the 400 800 and 1200 are great stones and I find myself using them a lot.

For between 200 and 500 dollars go to facebook and type in Mad Edge it's also supposed to be a good sharpener but for me I like the TSProf the best for many reason and one being is they have the more styles of clamps then anyone else.

I don't have anything against table system's other then the fact you have to switch hands when you flip the knife over and I'm not very good at using my right then left arm.

For less then 200 bucks I wouldn't even bother wasting my time looking as your not going to get anything that's very good.

What kind of steels do you plan on sharpening,also when it comes to stones and whats included in the kit your unless you plan on spending 1K plus or in the area your not going to get very good stones,and even then a lot them include diamonds the are made the same way diamond plates are where the diamonds are electroplated on and they won't last as long and the result's won't be a good as the Venev stones.

https://www.statesllc.com/products/new-k03-outdoorsman-kit-free-shipping-conus-stock

You can see the springs at the top of the page in this link.
https://www.statesllc.com/component

These are the stones.

https://www.gritomatic.com/products...set-for-edge-pro?_pos=10&_sid=aaf24c951&_ss=r
 
Thanks everyone for your responses.

I intend on sharpening kitchen knives and any pocket knives I have. If the system will do it, I could also sharpen an axe.
 
I would invest in a few stones and learn freehand.
It is actually very easy to get a sharp knife this way, it does require some initial practice and patience though.

Once you get your technique down it becomes second nature, sort of like riding a bicycle.
 
mjninc said:
Thanks everyone for your responses.

I intend on sharpening kitchen knives and any pocket knives I have. If the system will do it, I could also sharpen an axe.
Click to expand...

To sharpen an ax with a TSProf system I have seen guy's take the clamps off and put the ax on a block of wood and then nail a strip of wood to the block of wood a a back stop,you just want about an inch of the blade of the ax to overhang the block of wood.

Do you have any PM steels that you sharpen.
 
Sounds like you want a simple and fast option under $200.

go for a worksharp Ken Onion elite edition and be done with it. Easy guided sharpening at power tool speeds. $199 new, and the belts that come with it will last you a long time for reprofiling and sharpening all your knives.

there are so many great options out there these days, but nothing is faster and more convenient for someone who wants a sharp, usable edge.
 
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