What's the best sharpening system

There is no best. Its what works best for you.

I like the hapstone and edge pro. Kme is okay too. Wicked edge is crazy expensive to get same results. But if it works for you, then maybe it's worth that cost. The Russian sharpening system is also a bit expensive but really good.

These systems either have a clamp or a table. One requires you to hold it with each hand the others are clamped in. Each have there advantages to the user.

 

As a beginner, I love using the Sharpmaker by Spyderco.

 

I've tried a number of systems, and have settled on the Wicked Edge. Perfect edges, perfect repeat-ability, minimal steel removal.

 

Do you necessarily need a system? I have used the sharpmaker a few times over the years but 95% of the time I just take the tri-stones from it and use a strop to restore the edge.

 

People that sharpen their own knives, have their best sharpening system.

It mainly depends on your budget, what you use your knives for, the level of finish you want and the time it takes to achieve that desired level of finish.
If you want a high mirrored finished edge, then a Lansky probably isn't what you want. If you want to keep a good hair popping, working edge, the Lansky would work.

For me, the best system to achieve what I want out of a finished edge is the KME. I have no doubt there are better systems that can do more than the KME, but it's all I need to get the results that best fit my uses for my knives. I'll admit, I do like looking at those highly mirrored edged pics, but that type of finish is not practical for what I use knives for.

 

The best polished edges I've seen have been from a Wicked Edge System if that's any help.

 

CRK has always recommended the Sharpmaker and it works fine for most at a reasonable cost. I have both it and the WE. The Wicked edge does a fantastic job and is very easy to use, but does come at a high cost. If you need to re-profile, it is going to be much easier with the WE.
I use my strop more than either of the 2.

 

If all you want is a mirror edge you can finish on your sharp maker and then take it to strops.

Though I like to use a guided system and run them through a progression of stones first to make uniform scratch patterns to reduce stray scratches in the end results. It's not really necessary.

Use your diamond or cbn rods to reprofile if needed then goto medium, fine, extra fine sharp maker rods then remove the bur on a strop then use some compound on a few more strops to remove any left over scratches. Or so that's the theory.

If you have high vanadium steel I'd highly recommend diamond or cbn for sharpening tho. It's not like it can't be done with the ceramic stones... But the vanadium carbides in super steel cannot be cut with ceramics due to them being harder than the rods. So it ends up just loading the Sharpmaker rods.

 

The sharpmaker is a good place to start, but it really only works on knives that just need to be touched up. I have used a wicked edge before, but now only use the Ken Onion Work Sharp.

 

It's debatable. I've seen charts that show SiC is harder than vanadium and charts that aren't. They certainly do work. But how much difference between diamond in actual cutting in vanadium, is hard to say without proper info and visuals.

You can get all sorts of stones at a vendor on this forum gritomatic.com
They even have venev bonded diamond stones which at least in my opinion are fairly affordable for diamond stones for the edge pro (or kme, hapstone, benchstone).

 

Wicked Edge for everything “V” grind, especially for the super steels. Their diamond stone/ceramics guilded system can do wonderfully accurate edges. And it’s almost idiot-proof. $$$

The Ken Onion Work Sharp will give you great convex edges. It takes more practice. $$

The Spyderco Sharpmaker is very simple use so long as you don’t let your knives get dull or damaged. I like to touch up edges with their white ceramic triangle sticks. $

I progressed through each from least to most expensive.

 

I’m glad to hear you guys who have “nicer” knives chime in on what and how you use sharpening systems.

I’m very conflicted and have to pull the trigger soon. I have money, I can buy whatever; but that doesn’t mean I am frivolous.

I free hand sharpen everything as of now. I can do it well, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best way to sharpen a knife.

Should I wait for the Wicked Edge 4 instead of the 3? I like the idea of doing both sides at once and no angle cubes. Can I get a mirror edge from the WE 3 and what it comes with?

@bhyde @halden.doerge @kidcongo @Charlie Mike @TheFactor @Ajack60 @Mo2 @Officer's Match

Thanks for any replies and Happy New Year!

 

I’m happy with my WE-130 but depending on the steel, you’ll need to buy finer “stones” to get a finer finish.

It appears the “best” finish depends on the type steel you’re sharpening and the material being cut.

Mirror edges require progressively finer “stones” and strops based on my reading here. Even I have found it fairly easy to get a mirror finish with the KOWS with some lesser steels but I haven’t spent enough time and money on all the things necessary to get that finish on S110V.

 

People talk about mirror finishes like it is the best, and it is a beautiful show finish. However I prefer a bit toothier edge for use, and very fine stones and polishes are not needed to achieve it.

 

• 
  Support BladeForums!
  Paid memberships don't see ads!

Yes. Based on my readings and viewings, I understand that for a mirrored edge with the WE, you’ll need the 800/1000 diamond and 1200/1600 ceramic “stones” and some strops with progressively finer diamond sprays or pastes.

I also understand some steels do better with a “toothier” Edge, but mirrors certainly look good and cut paper nicely.

I just finished a S110V blade using the 800/1000 WE stone followed by several passes on the white Sharpmaker ceramic triangle followed by a short time on a KOWS blade grinding attachment with their X4 fine grit belt (P3000 equivalent). I’m still experimenting.