Recommendation? Work Sharp guided sharpening system?

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GroovyBro

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Jan 4, 2019
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I'm a pretty novice sharpener myself. I have ruined my leatherman's edge trying my skill with Japanese waterstones; this one specifically. I recently came across the guided sharpening system and it looks like it would solve my issues with maintaining a consistent angle.

I have a few questions:
Have any of you used this system? If so, would you recommend it?
Are there better options out there that are easy to use?
For the worksharp expansion pack, the strop comes with 25 degree guides. Wouldn't this just round off your edge considering the sharpening guides are 17 and 20 degrees?
What is the correct method to strop a blade? (I see a lot of conflicting advice on the internet)

*In regards to stropping, I'm considering the option of making my own strop instead of the expansion pack. Is this leather and this compound a good choice?
 
I have one. It works. I prefer using a 1x30 bench sander. Few pals of mine who still use got the belt sander edge sharpener attachment. Which is basically a belt sander. Which I had and used/use for.other purposes. Not knocking it. Just sharing my experience with it.
 
Bill3152 said:
I have one. It works. I prefer using a 1x30 bench sander. Few pals of mine who still use got the belt sander edge sharpener attachment. Which is basically a belt sander. Which I had and used/use for.other purposes. Not knocking it. Just sharing my experience with it.
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Is this the powered model you have? I'm not really looking at that model/style because I've heard you can ruin the heat treat and it can eat away at your blade if you're not careful.
 
I have the Worksharp GSS. It is a great way to learn how to sharpen. I highly recommend getting the expansion pack for the strop and the extra plates.

If you want to learn how to sharpen freehand on benchstones , I’m hard pressed to think of a better learning guide. The pivoting system is genius and the diamonds make it very forgiving.

I started out in a similar way to the OP messing around with a cheap Japanese whetstone and having terrible results. The WS GSS taught me how to get my angles right for freehand.

The strop and ceramic hones are a really great touch. You have everything you need from low grit diamond for reprofiling all the way up to ceramic and CrOx strop.

I’m a fan. Let me know if you have any other questions about it.
 
CasePeanut said:
I have the Worksharp GSS. It is a great way to learn how to sharpen. I highly recommend getting the expansion pack for the strop and the extra plates.

If you want to learn how to sharpen freehand on benchstones , I’m hard pressed to think of a better learning guide. The pivoting system is genius and the diamonds make it very forgiving.

I started out in a similar way to the OP messing around with a cheap Japanese whetstone and having terrible results. The WS GSS taught me how to get my angles right for freehand.

The strop and ceramic hones are a really great touch. You have everything you need from low grit diamond for reprofiling all the way up to ceramic and CrOx strop.

I’m a fan. Let me know if you have any other questions about it.
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I was thinking to make a leather strop with a balsa wood base or something so that it could fit on the guided sharpening system. From other reviews, I've heard that the extra fine and coarse plates are not that useful. Do you use the extra plates regularly? I think I would just end up using the strop from the expansion pack and it wouldn't make sense to pay for the extra plates if I don't need them.
 
hughd said:
Did you notice the leather was only 0.59" wide?
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Thanks for catching that, I thought it said 15cm. That would certainly be quite narrow.
How wide of a leather strap would you recommend I buy? Do you know any reputable leather sellers in Canada? Would this be ok or would it be too small?
I'd probably just be stropping smaller knives like an Ontario Rat 1 or a Mora Robust.
 
GroovyBro said:
I was thinking to make a leather strop with a balsa wood base or something so that it could fit on the guided sharpening system. From other reviews, I've heard that the extra fine and coarse plates are not that useful. Do you use the extra plates regularly? I think I would just end up using the strop from the expansion pack and it wouldn't make sense to pay for the extra plates if I don't need them.
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If you want to use the GSS to learn how to freehand sharpen then just get the whole system and dive in.

The strop is actually my favorite part of the system. The pivoting strop is really cool and it fits so well with the other plates as you learn.

The coarse and efine plates are nice to give you a wider range of grits, especially as you learn about scratch patterns and how to move through the grits, take out chips and some of the other parts of sharpening.
 
I use the WS GSS and I also recommend the expansion pack. I bought the unit and the expansion pack at the same time because I figured I would just buy the pack later and I'm glad I did that.

The guides will only help you start the angle. They won't help you maintain the angle but it's pretty easy to do and the guides do help. I only used the guides for my first two blades. I still use the system now but without the guides.

The Pivot Response System is the best feature for me because I always had trouble with curved tips.
IMG_3864.JPG
 
Railsplitter said:
I use the WS GSS and I also recommend the expansion pack. I bought the unit and the expansion pack at the same time because I figured I would just buy the pack later and I'm glad I did that.

The guides will only help you start the angle. They won't help you maintain the angle but it's pretty easy to do and the guides do help. I only used the guides for my first two blades. I still use the system now but without the guides.

The Pivot Response System is the best feature for me because I always had trouble with curved tips.
View attachment 1048934
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For the strop, is the angle guide correct? Shouldn't it be the same angle as the angle you sharpened the knife with?
 
GroovyBro said:
For the strop, is the angle guide correct? Shouldn't it be the same angle as the angle you sharpened the knife with?
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When I strop I strop a couple degrees steeper than I sharpened. Or at least I try to anyway. It should be noted that I haven't used any of the guides on my system for a long time. I've been using the unit freehand since a few days after I got it over a year ago.
 
Railsplitter said:
When I strop I strop a couple degrees steeper than I sharpened. Or at least I try to anyway. It should be noted that I haven't used any of the guides on my system for a long time. I've been using the unit freehand since a few days after I got it over a year ago.
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yeah that makes more sense I guess. Thanks!
I'll probably get the system next time I'm around MEC out here in Canada.
 
Railsplitter said:
When I strop I strop a couple degrees steeper than I sharpened. Or at least I try to anyway. It should be noted that I haven't used any of the guides on my system for a long time. I've been using the unit freehand since a few days after I got it over a year ago.
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One question about the strop though.
Is it single or double sided? How does it mount to the system? Is it magnetic like the plates?
 
I have one with the bga and I also prefer a 1x30 or 1x42 belt grinder. Better tracking, flat edges, and longer use without the motor burning up.
 
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