Which method of sharpening is most efficient for the money?!

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Aprophet20

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Aug 31, 2013
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I am currently awaiting the arrival of my spydie vallotton and was wondering... What kind of sharpener should I buy? I am fairly new to the knife world after inheriting some knives from my grandfather. I was looking at DMT diamond pocket sharpener (fine) and it seems to me like that would keep the edge razor sharp, even on the go. I don't want to spend over 40 dollars on whatever I buy but suggestions and opinions would be of great value to me.

~the butchers apprentice
 
The ring on the bottom of a ceramic mug, finished on a leather belt as a strop or a chef's steel from your kitchen knife block.
 
If you already know how to sharpen, then you know the answer is what c219460 said: readily available items like coffee cups, a brick, a river rock, an old leather belt, a pair of worn jeans, etc.

Since you posted, I'm assuming you want to learn how to sharpen. In which case, I recommend the Norton Combo India Stone and a bottle of Lansky honing oil = $25
 
Haha I love the ninja, use your surroundings, style but I would like more practice with an actual stone before I go using ceramic mugs. One day ill be there though.
 
In that case I've had a good experience with Norton India stones, but I started out with one of the GI keychain-style stones in the green case that you can easily find online. They're small stones, but cheap (under $5) and easy to EDC.
 
Aprophet20 said:
Haha I love the ninja, use your surroundings, style but I would like more practice with an actual stone before I go using ceramic mugs. One day ill be there though.
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One inexpensive method that works for many is wet-dry sandpaper (silicone carbide) as sold at auto supply and hardware stores, starting with a course grit and progressing to increasingly finer grits.

When beginning to learn there are a couple of different cautious approaches. One is to not use any dry-wet paper grit more coarse than 600. Another is to practice on a knife of low monetary value.

Your progression of grits might be 320 or 400, 600, 800, 1k. Later you might add 1.5, 2k grits.

If the grind of your knife is flat you can use a flat board. If your knife has a convex grind you can use a flat surface or a moderately hard rubber mat under your dry-wet paper.

One of the many Youtube videos demonstrating this method is by Virtuovice. A great simple demo is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rt44uDP82CE .

When you are done strop with leather. Later maybe hone using the top edge of an automobile window -- its a ceramic which is better than steel hones.

Later you might consider the famous EP device made by Ben Dale, perhaps a used one. It is an expensive device yet one that many believe is the best for beginners and experts at achieving an accurate and consistent bevel.
 
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Aprophet20 said:
I am currently awaiting the arrival of my spydie vallotton and was wondering... What kind of sharpener should I buy? I am fairly new to the knife world after inheriting some knives from my grandfather. I was looking at DMT diamond pocket sharpener (fine) and it seems to me like that would keep the edge razor sharp, even on the go. I don't want to spend over 40 dollars on whatever I buy but suggestions and opinions would be of great value to me.

~the butchers apprentice
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Assuming your Vallotton is S30V (I'm looking at Spyderco's published spec for it), I'd say you're on the right track. 'Most efficient' depends at least somewhat on which steel you're going to sharpen with it. And S30V, with it's generous serving of nice, extremely hard vanadium carbides, will be handled most efficiently with a diamond hone, most likely. Other stones in SiC or AlOx will also touch up & maintain it, but if you have to do some major field repair/re-bevelling someday, a diamond hone will be your best friend. A ceramic mug would be an exercise in frustration for this particular job, on this steel; for many other knives, they're fine. A lot of fans of S30V seem to like the edge left by a 600-mesh (or so) diamond, and the DMT Fine is just that. Even a pocket hone like the DMT 'credit card' can do a lot, and you won't have to spend more than maybe ~$15 for it. And the bonus is, the same diamond hone will be useful on any other blade steel you put to it. I'd say it's a pretty efficient choice. :)


David
 
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Personally, I've never really been a fan of diamond sharpeners; especially the cheap ones.

I've had better luck with a belt grinder and a buffer (and I'm not talking about a harbor fright 1x30), but that takes significantly more of an investment than $40.

You might try a paper wheel system, if you already have a bench grinder. A ceramic stone, or any other kind of quality bench stone (med to fine grit( should be plenty to keep your knife touched up.
 
I like the idea of being able to have the diamond pocket sharpener everywhere. I also have a triangle stone at the butcher shop here I work, for more laborious sharpening. I think I will go with the DMT pocket fine grit sharpener. Thanks guys
 
For the money I think one of my freehand blocks is tough to beat (link in my signature), especially now that I can offer an option between aluminum oxide-based compound for more common grades of steel, and silicon carbide-based compound for higher wear stuff.

However, I'm between runs and it will be another week or two before I'll have more of them ready, so I'd highly recommend a Norton Crystalon stone. Can be used with water, oil, or dry - can repair and refine just about any steel out there to an arm hair shaving edge. Throw in a few sheets of paper or some old newspaper to wrap around the stone and some compound to rub on it, and you have a pretty complete kit for about 25 bucks.
 
Aprophet20 said:
I like the idea of being able to have the diamond pocket sharpener everywhere. I also have a triangle stone at the butcher shop here I work, for more laborious sharpening. I think I will go with the DMT pocket fine grit sharpener. Thanks guys
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Hey, from what you're saying, I would suggest the dmt coarse/fine diafold. Great portable sharpening. I bought mine a few months ago at the suggestion of folks in this forum. It does a great job for its size and will cut even the hardest steels.
 
Aprophet20 said:
I like the idea of being able to have the diamond pocket sharpener everywhere. I also have a triangle stone at the butcher shop here I work, for more laborious sharpening. I think I will go with the DMT pocket fine grit sharpener. Thanks guys
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If you're going for one, I believe the Diafold with fine/X-fine would be better value for your money while you're at it.
 
I got along just fine for many years with DMT's little pocket sharpeners. (interrupted surface)
One of each...Blue/Course, Red/Fine, and Green/XFine.
They cost less and are very effective, especially considering how portable they are.
I have since moved on to larger DMT products, ceramics, strops etc. but I learned more about sharpening from the little guys.
 
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