What's the best knife sharpener

I have had good luck with Sharpmaker and Work Sharp. I can make them shave with these two but would like to get them sharper. I would love to have the skill to free hand or justify the cost of Edge Pro or Wicked Edge. I also need to work on my stropping skills.
 
I have an Edge Pro Apex that I rarely use because of time and mess. It's mostly for reprofiling an edge or getting a mirror finish. I do use my DMT Diamond/CeraFuse Ceramic Triangle Sharpener all of the time for everything including serrated edges. It's cheap and works awesome. I've had it for several years and use it atleast weekly. I just googled it to get the correct name and saw it for $41.99. :cool:
 
And I think a point that's commonly missed is that you only need to do the lion's share of the sharpening very infrequently!

I typically (although not always) use my WEPS or EP on a new knife to set and polish the bevels, followed by stropping with 1u and .5u compound on my belt grinder. Subsequent maintenence is handled, typically, by either a ceramic ultra-fine rod, the Sharpmaker and the ultra-fine rods, or stropping on a hand-held strop or with the belt. That, of course, highly depends on what I'm using it for, which knife it is, and how bored/enthusiastic I am at the time.

As much as I enjoy my guided systems, once the bevel is in place, it's typically not necessary to break 'em out again for touch-up sharpening, at least in my uses.
 
^^ don't know if that's spam or the truth but a chef choice sharpener is awful.
 
It seems to me that the best knife sharpener for an individual is whatever he or she has on hand that will sharpen their knives sharp enough for their intended use. This can range anywhere from the bottom of a coffee cup (more or less free) to the latest and greatest angle guided system for several hundred dollars, to a collection of stones costing $25 up to several hundred dollars, depending how elaborate you want or can afford to go.

It is like knives, for $15 you can get a knife that will cut, shave, slice & dice. Or you can get the latest custom for the price of a good used vehicle, or any thing in between. It all comes down to how much money you want to invest in your knife collection and the support equipment to keep it up. Sounds like an expensive hobby, and it is for some people, but have you priced a good fishing boat and motor and all that goes with that hobby lately? Maybe these knives aren't so expensive after all. :eek:

Blessings,

Omar
 
We bought one of those Chef's Choice sharpeners, the 110, before I knew better. It kept an OK edge on our kitchen knives but I nearly ruined a few outdoor knives. I like the Sharpmaker and Smith's 3-in-1.
 
It always seemed odd no one has made something like the sharpmaker with adjustable angles. It doesn't seem like sometbing that would be tbat hard to do and it would be a hell of a lot easier to use than an edge pro (no having to hold down a blade) or be like a clamp system that are hard to use on ffg blades.
 
Sharpmaker with adjustable angle? Doing so defeats the purpose of the design. Sharpmaker is still freehanding with a help (similar to some Japanese artisan that tilt the stone).

For human to hold a consistent angle requires training. The sharpmaker is designed to help in this, so a 10 degree difference set there is to provide most utilitarian edge. If it's made to narrower angle range (increment of 5 inclusive), it is doubtful average human with minimum training can take advantage on. So if the need to have exact angle is there, guided system is the way to go.

Totally agree with David (OWE) on the learning and practicing, and with Omar on what's best is what's one finds adequate for the need. One can simply want to have a working edge, or pursuing the ultimate edge that split atoms :D. Both are valid as choices we each make.

Lastly, I guess Mag quoted Jason that 'you are the best sharpener', which include what David, Omar and many others here said. YMMV and what makes you happy. ;)
 
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I have three systems but these only use two. I used to use and Edge Pro for setting the primary bevel and then touch up at micro-bevel angles using my Sharpmaker. These days I'm getting better at hand sharpening so I reprofile with a diamond stone, touch up with my Sharpmaker, and now I can actually strop without dulling the edge. Works quickly for most blades. I'm looking for a set of water stones for my kitchen knives that I may end up using for all my knives once my skills improve.
 
Chris "Anagarika";12344588 said:
Sharpmaker with adjustable angle? Doing so defeats the purpose of the design. Sharpmaker is still freehanding with a help (similar to some Japanese artisan that tilt the stone).

For human to hold a consistent angle requires training. The sharpmaker is designed to help in this, so a 10 degree difference set there is to provide most utilitarian edge. If it's made to narrower angle range (increment of 5 inclusive), it is doubtful average human with minimum training can take advantage on. So if the need to have exact angle is there, guided system is the way to go.

Totally agree with David (OWE) on the learning and practicing, and with Omar on what's best is what's one finds adequate for the need. One can simply want to have a working edge, or pursuing the ultimate edge that split atoms :D. Both are valid as choices we each make.

Lastly, I guess Mag quoted Jason that 'you are the best sharpener', which include what David, Omar and many others here said. YMMV and what makes you happy. ;)
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20 and 15 are pretty limiting. Especially given how many knives have factory edges that are in in between all of those numbers. You could reprofile an edge to a specific desired angle much better than a clamp system or one like the edge pro too like that because of not being limited by flats or the size of the blade. A sharpmaker style system is still a guided system, not free handing. Just handing, there's no free part about it since the angles are already set.
 
The person.

if you freehand, all you need is 1 or 2 stones and a nagura (stone flattener). At most $100.

500 grit and 1000-2000 grit is basic. Natural always better but cost more.


I dont mess with the sharpmaker types, they work for some with great results, I prefer doing by hand, certain men do thjngs BECAUSE its hardrr to do.
 
Chris "Anagarika";12348395 said:
You can always tilt the knife since you're holding it. That's why it won't be precise also.
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Hence why a system you could dial the exact edge angle in would be useful. Especially if you had something complicated like a large fixed blade with a recurve.
 
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