When to replace Spyder Sharpmaker stones

C

CrocodileDundee

Joined
Jul 12, 2010
Messages
7
Hi folks.

I bought a used Spyderco Sharpmaker a few years back and have been using it semi regularly since. I don't feel my blades are getting as sharp as they should be. I took some pictures and ask for your informed opinions on my stones. I cleaned them with Comet but maybe the grey stones need replacing? I am under the impression that the white ceramic stones never need replacing since they're harder than metal and therefore never wear out. Looking on eBay it seems that replacement stones are so expensive I might as well buy another unit! Any help is greatly appreciated!

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Your stones look o.k to me. They could be cleaner, some abrasive detergent would work.
In my opinion the stones are through and through made of the same material, it's not like a diamond coated stone or anything.

Have you checked your bevelangles with a marker pen? I had a ZT that i could not get sharp. Turned out the angle was way to flat from the factory. being that it was S30V my sharpmaker didn't do jack to it.
So far i've had great results with most knives. If i don't get good results it's usually a angle issue.
 
I use Barkeeper's Friend, about $2 a can, for cleaning the stones. My white stones are almost snow white after using that stuff. I just get them wet, put some of the powder in my hand, and scrub manually, turning them to get all three sides, adding more scrubbing powder as needed. You can get a pair of the medium stones for about $30 shipped if you want to replace them.
 
what jc57 said... barkeepers friend. Mildly acidic stuff, helps remove the fine metal off the ceramic stones.

first time you use it, you'll be surprised at how clean you find the stones are afterwards.
 
Thanks for the help, guys. I went to Rite Aid and I was looking for Barkeeper's Friend but had to settle for Comet. It worked pretty good on the white stones. The dark stones didn't look much different after.

What kind of sharpness can I expect from the stock stones on the Sharpmaker? I was watching the instructional DVD and it showed the demonstrator going Edward Scissor Hands style on some paper, it was literally making the paper fly! He was also carving paper like it was nothing and shaving his arm with the knife. After sharpening mine I can shave the hairs off my arm but I have to do it at an angle where he was doing it perpendicular very easily. I have a Benchmade 585 with 154CM steel, am I just expecting too much or do I need to get the ultra fine grit stones?
 
CrocodileDundee said:
Thanks for the help, guys. I went to Rite Aid and I was looking for Barkeeper's Friend but had to settle for Comet. It worked pretty good on the white stones. The dark stones didn't look much different after.

What kind of sharpness can I expect from the stock stones on the Sharpmaker? I was watching the instructional DVD and it showed the demonstrator going Edward Scissor Hands style on some paper, it was literally making the paper fly! He was also carving paper like it was nothing and shaving his arm with the knife. After sharpening mine I can shave the hairs off my arm but I have to do it at an angle where he was doing it perpendicular very easily. I have a Benchmade 585 with 154CM steel, am I just expecting too much or do I need to get the ultra fine grit stones?
Click to expand...

By 'at an angle', do you mean with the blade tilted to one side or the other? If so, that's likely due to a burr that's leaning to one side. It'll shave from one side of the blade if the burr is leaning/curled down into your skin; it won't shave if the burr is curled upward away from the skin, when attempting from the other side of the blade.

Aside from that possible issue, the stock hones on the SM can do great on their own, whether you have the UF rods or not. Even the shaving and paper-cutting you saw demo'd in the video could be done from just using the medium (brown) rods, for that matter (and paper-cutting is often easier at a coarser and more toothy edge finish, anyway).

Keep looking for the Bar Keeper's Friend, if possible. BIG difference in how it works, versus Comet or others. The BKF uses oxalic acid to literally dissolve iron/steel; other cleaners just use abrasive action, for the most part. Does a much more effective job with hard-embedded swarf on ceramics. The BKF in powder form is best; mix it to a paste consistency with water, then scrub the hones with it, using a Scotch-Brite pad (works well in tandem with BKF). Rinse everything thoroughly in running water. Not a bad idea to use rubber/disposable gloves, while working with BKF, and don't get it on other surfaces where you don't want it. Doing the cleaning directly over a sink filled with water is a good way to catch any drips and/or dunk the hones periodically.


David
 
Thanks for the clarification on the hair, yes I meant at a slanted angle. Definitely going to be on the lookout for barkeeper's friend.
 
My 20yr old Sharpmaker is still on its original stones and they
have a prominate flat to them.

And they still work.

Clean them regulary and use them.

I use ajax and green scotch brite pad
 
I use Scotchbrite and scouring powder too. Every year or so I go to one of my mechanic friends shops and use a bead blaster,(not sand) on the stones to make them look new. Takes about one minute per stone to fix them up .
 
If your brain, can keep your hand motion plumb as you use this tool, nothing better. If you cannot, you convex the edge, and that may still be pretty sharp.

An upgrade would be diamond cutting rods, and extra fine rods with red marked ends.

This system will do this.

[video=youtube;cA0To8cKmWc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA0To8cKmWc&list=UUr0TMbvXxVlab_2AdEkCRGg&feature=share[/video]
 
Comet and a green scrubbie pad is what I use, works great, You can use a pink pencil eraser for quick cleaning too.
 
I pick up BKF at most grocery stores. Comes in a liquid also. Like the powder better.
 
run your nail over the stones and feel for nicks or gouges, and to clean them I know this will sound funny but use tooth paste, I generally have Colgate around the house. I've used gel and regular and both work through regular works best in my opinion.
 
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