I am very new to knives, well, edc knives at least. While searching for my first edc folder I came to this website a lot and finally decided to order the byrd meadowlark 2 as a starter edc folder ( http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Mead...4069287&sr=8-2&keywords=byrd+meadowlark+2+frn ). The problem is, I want a sharpener for the thing. I came across this basic sharpener from Smith's ( http://www.amazon.com/Smiths-PP1-Po...069185&sr=8-1&keywords=pocket+knife+sharpener ). I know that it's cheap but, so is the knife. My question is "Will this sharpener work on my knife" (again, I am a knife noob). Thanks to all who reply. -Jake
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Will this sharpener work
- Thread starter jharp
- Start date
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- Oct 20, 2012
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I am also a knife noob and recently joined this forum. I actually own that sharpener. It has great reviews on Amazon and is one of the reasons I bought it. I didn't know anything about knives really at the time and I bought it along with my Gerber Evo Jr.
I honestly think it is not too bad. I used it to sharpen my swiss army knives (which I thought were pretty dull before) and they cut paper afterwards so I guess it did work. I think the general response here is going to be that if you're going to have only the knife you bought that little sharpener is probably enough. But if you're going to get more into knives you're going to want something else. My guess people are going to recommend the Spyderco Sharpmaker or a Wetstone. But I am actually interested in purchasing a sharpener for my pocket knives, kitchen knives, and anything I may get in the future so I would be interested to see what others who have more experience with the subject have to say.
Overall, I would think if you're gonna get more into knives get a more advanced sharpener....Anyone have ideas as to what?
I honestly think it is not too bad. I used it to sharpen my swiss army knives (which I thought were pretty dull before) and they cut paper afterwards so I guess it did work. I think the general response here is going to be that if you're going to have only the knife you bought that little sharpener is probably enough. But if you're going to get more into knives you're going to want something else. My guess people are going to recommend the Spyderco Sharpmaker or a Wetstone. But I am actually interested in purchasing a sharpener for my pocket knives, kitchen knives, and anything I may get in the future so I would be interested to see what others who have more experience with the subject have to say.
Overall, I would think if you're gonna get more into knives get a more advanced sharpener....Anyone have ideas as to what?
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Not really. Pull through sharpeners are set at wide angles and they tend to tear up the edge more than sharpen it. If they are carbide pull throughs. If ceramic they still don't work well, imo. You are better off investing in a sharpmaker and practicing, imo.
A valuable lesson that I learned and its stated on this site over and over is......there are no effective shortcuts to sharpen well. Its all time and practice. In the end its worth all the effort. It wil be frustrating and you will want to give up, but you will get better and eventually it will get easier and be worth all the time and effort.
A valuable lesson that I learned and its stated on this site over and over is......there are no effective shortcuts to sharpen well. Its all time and practice. In the end its worth all the effort. It wil be frustrating and you will want to give up, but you will get better and eventually it will get easier and be worth all the time and effort.
I don't own nor have I ever used a Sharpmaker. That being said...
That is probably a great knife for getting a feel for EDC knives. After all, the most important thing about an EDC knife is personal appeal. Even if you have the most reliable and useful knife you can afford, it won't get much use if you don't enjoy using or being seen using it.
As for sharpening, that is probably a decent sharpener for the serrations. Other than that, it might get the plain edge decently sharp. On the other hand, I have to piggy back on what some of the other guys have said. You cannot beat the sharp edge attainable with a plain stone. It takes lots of practice and patience, but its worth the satisfaction. I bought a Norton dual-grit bench stone to learn on. I think Smith and Lansky make some good ones too.
That is probably a great knife for getting a feel for EDC knives. After all, the most important thing about an EDC knife is personal appeal. Even if you have the most reliable and useful knife you can afford, it won't get much use if you don't enjoy using or being seen using it.
As for sharpening, that is probably a decent sharpener for the serrations. Other than that, it might get the plain edge decently sharp. On the other hand, I have to piggy back on what some of the other guys have said. You cannot beat the sharp edge attainable with a plain stone. It takes lots of practice and patience, but its worth the satisfaction. I bought a Norton dual-grit bench stone to learn on. I think Smith and Lansky make some good ones too.
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- Mar 31, 2009
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Will it work? Yes, but it's going to give you an obtuse and very rough edge. Will it help you learn how to sharpen properly? Probably not.
Be careful. Sharpening knives is a hobby unto itself, that can cost as much (and sometimes more) than collecting knives.
Be careful. Sharpening knives is a hobby unto itself, that can cost as much (and sometimes more) than collecting knives.
Start with something like this: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100069242/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053
It has a coarse side and a fine side, but I doubt you'll need the coarse side at all. With normal use, you may only need to touch it up with a honing steel.
There are also plenty of stuff around the house that can be used to touch up an edge: the un-glazed bottom of a ceramic mug/plate/bowl, a rounded edge of a sheet of glass, leather belt, newspaper, etc.
It has a coarse side and a fine side, but I doubt you'll need the coarse side at all. With normal use, you may only need to touch it up with a honing steel.
There are also plenty of stuff around the house that can be used to touch up an edge: the un-glazed bottom of a ceramic mug/plate/bowl, a rounded edge of a sheet of glass, leather belt, newspaper, etc.
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Hello,
You can make your own for very little money. Get a Piece of oak or some other hard wood thats about 3/4" thick and cut it so its 1 1/2" wide and about 15" long. Get a roll of double sided carpet tape thats 1 1/2" wide, its extremely sticky and is reinforced with fiberglass. Buy a combo pack auto body sand paper. Sand the hardwood smooth and flat on all sides. Lay an 11" piece of the carpet tape on the wood and remove the protective paper, lay your sandpaper sheet on top of the tape, press it firmly, then take a razor blade and cut the sandpaper flush. Sharpen with light pressure. The unused 6" of wood can be shaped into a handle and you can epoxy a strip of leather on the opposite side of the paper to make a strop. It should cost less then $20 and because you got combo pack of sand paper its like have multiple stones. If you add the leather strip youll have everything you need to sharpen just about any knife you may own. I have 6 or 7 stones and a few ceramic rods but I use the wood board sharpener the most.
Have a good one,
Chris
You can make your own for very little money. Get a Piece of oak or some other hard wood thats about 3/4" thick and cut it so its 1 1/2" wide and about 15" long. Get a roll of double sided carpet tape thats 1 1/2" wide, its extremely sticky and is reinforced with fiberglass. Buy a combo pack auto body sand paper. Sand the hardwood smooth and flat on all sides. Lay an 11" piece of the carpet tape on the wood and remove the protective paper, lay your sandpaper sheet on top of the tape, press it firmly, then take a razor blade and cut the sandpaper flush. Sharpen with light pressure. The unused 6" of wood can be shaped into a handle and you can epoxy a strip of leather on the opposite side of the paper to make a strop. It should cost less then $20 and because you got combo pack of sand paper its like have multiple stones. If you add the leather strip youll have everything you need to sharpen just about any knife you may own. I have 6 or 7 stones and a few ceramic rods but I use the wood board sharpener the most.
Have a good one,
Chris
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2012
- Messages
- 7
The Lansky guided systems are decent and can be had with an angled hone to sharpen serrations for about $30. I have one without the angled hone and have done plain edges with good results but I can't speak to how well they do with serrations. I think the Universal kit includes stones for both. For the money it seems pretty good, but I prefer the sharpmaker if you have room in the budget.
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- Mar 31, 2009
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- 2,237
It depends on a variety of factors. What type of sharpening style are you most familiar with? Some people get along just fine with a mousepad and sandpaper. Other people swear by waterstones, while others are in love with diamond stones, and yet others prefer powered systems.
How much are you willing to spend on sharpening equipment? Some people are willing to spend $80+ per stone on a system with 10 or more stones (i.e. $800+ dollars) to achieve an extremely fine edge. A 10,000 grit Chosera stone can run upwards of $250, for example.
If $25 is the maximum you would want to spend, then I'd suggest the mousepad and sand paper route. It won't give you the prettiest (or most perfect) edge, but it will work well enough for a knife that actually gets used.
Jason B.
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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Ok, so here's how I look at it.
Your starting out in the right direction with the blade why not do the same to at least take care of it?
The above Norton stone from HD is about $5 and will do well to remove edge damage and change angles as likely will be needed at some point. (Coarser grit sharpening and forming a bevel are the first things you should learn)
Next would be to refine that edge that has been created by YOUR motions of sharpening. I have the above stone and even the "fine" side is fairly coarse and will be very difficult for a beginner to get a sharp edge with. It will set a basic shape for finer stones to follow. In this case I feel the Spyderco Double Stuff would be a perfect choice.
http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=87
Being your first venture into knives a lot of things can be sticker shock from the knives to the tools to keep them cutting. I see you purchased a entry level knife which is good just don't be too shocked when its fit and finish is not at the level of a $200-300 knife. Use it to get the feel for having a knife in your pocket and using one for daily tasks and if you find it helpful and not a bother to carry then consider a upgrade to a higher class of cutlery.
My second stone choice for the double stuff will also fit into the list of new responsibilities you take on when you decide to EDC a knife. The double stuff provides a medium and fine surface to further sharpen and hone your edge which can provide a great degree of sharpness and a simple way to keep your edge in-tune. The idea it to set a bevel then maintain it for as long as possible with finer grit stones to prolong the life of the blade. The small and portable size of the double stuff will allow you to practice often in the beginning which is the only way to learn, practice, practice, practice. Being able to hold the stone for a better feel and concentrate on a small area will help too.
Same as with the knife, if you find your stones being surpassed by your skill then its time to upgrade and get something better.
Your starting out in the right direction with the blade why not do the same to at least take care of it?
The above Norton stone from HD is about $5 and will do well to remove edge damage and change angles as likely will be needed at some point. (Coarser grit sharpening and forming a bevel are the first things you should learn)
Next would be to refine that edge that has been created by YOUR motions of sharpening. I have the above stone and even the "fine" side is fairly coarse and will be very difficult for a beginner to get a sharp edge with. It will set a basic shape for finer stones to follow. In this case I feel the Spyderco Double Stuff would be a perfect choice.
http://www.spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=87
Being your first venture into knives a lot of things can be sticker shock from the knives to the tools to keep them cutting. I see you purchased a entry level knife which is good just don't be too shocked when its fit and finish is not at the level of a $200-300 knife. Use it to get the feel for having a knife in your pocket and using one for daily tasks and if you find it helpful and not a bother to carry then consider a upgrade to a higher class of cutlery.
My second stone choice for the double stuff will also fit into the list of new responsibilities you take on when you decide to EDC a knife. The double stuff provides a medium and fine surface to further sharpen and hone your edge which can provide a great degree of sharpness and a simple way to keep your edge in-tune. The idea it to set a bevel then maintain it for as long as possible with finer grit stones to prolong the life of the blade. The small and portable size of the double stuff will allow you to practice often in the beginning which is the only way to learn, practice, practice, practice. Being able to hold the stone for a better feel and concentrate on a small area will help too.
Same as with the knife, if you find your stones being surpassed by your skill then its time to upgrade and get something better.
Razorsharp-Travis
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youll get a better edge with rickity old sandpaper than that smiths pull-thru