What's your favorite budget sharpener? Do they work?

E

edcwhitewolf92

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Aug 9, 2019
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I gotta say I have my favorites but when push comes to shove a kit for $30 to shave paper is pretty impressive. What is a budget sharpener that you've tried that actually works?
 
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I just bought the latest Ruxin Pro model directly from Good Old China along with some diamond hones (it comes standard with some wetstones). Construction quality is good. Cast steel table/bench clamp is sturdy and the system that allows you to flip the knife without unclamping it insures you always maintain the same angle on both sides as you progress through grits.

I guess that it is as good as any other guided system. The quality of the edge will depend on how consistent you are with presssure and your progression through all the grits.

Mikel
 
I went from carbide and diamond sharpeners to a Lansky system and on to a Sharpmaker. That works best for me so far.

Next up will be a Wicked Edge.
 
Years ago, I cut off most the handle of a Eze-Lap model L and put tin my wallet suits always with me. It's done most my knife sharpening over the past 15 years. If I need more, then I use my old silica stone that is in my desk drawer.

Sometimes I use the bottom of a coffee mug or soup bowl, and strop on the back of the Dickies work belt I wear.
 
I mostly use emory paper taped to a paint paddle; 220, 400, 600, 1000, 1500 grits. If really re-profiling or taking out chips for a friend. I use either a Norton Combination stone or diamond cards (medium,fine,extra fine). I've always hand sharpened (65 years), that way never have to depend on some companies gadget.
Rich
 
I've been using a combination of a cheap multi sided Harbor freight diamond block, an old medium carborundum pocket stone, an old chunk of porcelain, then a strop with green compound.
That's how I get my best edges lately.
 
I’ve used the DMT diafold coarse/fine as my primary for years with no complaints. I have other stones and such but that has always been my primary sharpener.
I’m not sure if this qualifies as ‘budget’ but I did pick one up on sale years back.
 
I used a lansky turnbox (poormans sharpmaker) for over a year and it worked ok, limitation being the length of the rods but for 20 bucks it gets the job done along with an old leather belt for stropping. Since moved on to an actual sharpmaker for touchups and lansky diamond clamp system for more involved chip repair, reprofiles, etc. the lansky ceramic clamp system could be considered budget i suppose at around 35 bucks for the deluxe kit. Haven't found a need for any more expensive systems yet. All used in conjuction with an inexpensive leather strop.
 
More than price I read "Budget" as portable.

For the most part I use these diamond paddles.
This is my EDC sharpening tool roll. Unless I'm just out to dinner it is with me in my back pack.
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They come in a pouch (shown below) and they sell individual ones to fill in the gaps in grit.
They sharpen anything from my pocket knife or box knife to drill bits and even masonry and carbide bits. Thin so they can get into the flutes. I've gone down to as small as say 2mm drill bits getting clean twin spirals of swarf afterward :thumbsup:
Very portable / thin / light / super durable / don't require lube or water to rinse off.
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Being a man engineered water stone freak I MUCH prefer water stones and . . . basically . . hate diamond sharpening. I use diamonds when I have to but . . .
So I have taken to cutting the ends off some of my old water stones to make smaller, more portable hand held stones. As with Michael Christy I have come to appreciate holding the stone in my hand.
So
for the medium alloy knives I go for these. Old Nortons mostly 700 to 8,000 ( have a Shapton Pro 220 that is not in any photos yet. (((don't waste your time with the Norton 220)))
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For the basic low alloy and plain high carbon steel the natural water stones are pretty handy and nostalgic. The leather slips are labeled with which stone came out of it so that is very much appreciated. I have hardly used these but fun to have and nice and thin so more compact for carrying around. Might want to add a strop to this until you get the hang of deburing and that super fine Translucent.
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Oh !
I almost forgot. The Spyderco Ceramic Triangle rods hand held.
I pretty much only use it on my M4 for an ever so slight touchup. It won't debur some of the wimpy stainless. Great for unrolling those rolled edges and getting an edge serviceable until you can take it to something that will cut all that off.
Gets into dings in the edge to !
EXACTLY WHAT YOU WANT FOR RECURVES ! ! !! (more than one grit though)
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Call that a "System" or a bunch of crap stuffed in a bag.
For a true System I don't look at the price tag.
When I want Formula One cutting edge performance I look to the Edge Pro Apex, Shapton Glass stones and or Die Maker's Diamond Matrix stones. Formula One ain't cheep but it's fun ! And worth it ! ! !
There is just no comparison. A fairly impressive muscle car is OK . . . but put it beside the latest all out Formula One car and it's all over before we get to the first corner.
And after the first corner ?
Well there's always the fire crew . . . I hope he's OK . . . did you see how many times he flipped and rolled ? ! ? ! :eek:
Need a little better chassis for the cool guy stuff.

Oh look at that ! The knife stays in place with no clamps !
How can this be ? ? ? ?
(in this photo not even a magnet)
Imposssssiiiiiblllllle and yet there it is.
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Mikel_24 said:
Initial invest for DMT's is not something I would consider budget!
Click to expand...
Oh sure it is.
One natural Japanese water stone can be $600 +
A guy "needs" three or four at least ;)
Too rich for my blood.
I'm stuck slumming with the DMT'S too :p :D
 
I've made sharpening stones by lapping two pieces of local siliceous siltstone together until flat, and they're lovely as far as naturals go. I've also used a carved piece of wood poked with the tip of a knife to make recesses and then rubbed in fine earthen dust as a hone when I needed something very fine and specially shaped (I was honing a gut hook for a friend) and didn't have appropriate purpose-built sharpening tools handy. Them's cheap as free. ;) But in terms of overall value it's hard to go wrong with a traditional vitrified synthetic stone or two and some sandpaper in various grits for wrapping around sticks to hone oddly-shaped stuff.
 
Lansky turn box impressed me. Didn't think it would work. It did. Sharpmaker is better, but I have the turnbox in my lunchbox for quick touch ups.
 
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