Your personal experience with Spyderco Sharpmaker

IUKE12 · Mar 22, 2008

Love the SM for quick setup and fast touch-ups. It could be all the tool you need if you don't experiment with bevels much.

poonchasta · Mar 29, 2008

I've had the sharpmaker for a year or so. When I first got it, it was amazing. It got my Kershaw Scallion shaving sharp, and I couldn't have been happier. I didn't use it for a while because I had lost interest in knives. I recently sparked my interest again after a trip to Cabela's and seeing their great selection. What my problem seems to be with the sharpmaker now is that the rods wobble while they are in their preset angle holes. I'm not sure if it always did this or not, but it is currently affecting my ability to sharpen my knives (the wobbling really makes it hard to sharpen on the flats. I only use the flats now because some of the corners on my rods have dents and dinges for some reason). I get mixed results now with it. Has anyone else had experience with this?

I'm starting to shy away from the Sharpmaker, and I have been experimenting with an Arkansas medium grit pocket stone. I'm also getting mixed results with that, but only because I have no experience with freehand sharpening. I want to get better and eventually get the Smith's Tri-Hone. I'm not sure what to do about my Sharpmaker and the wobbly rods.

me2 · Mar 29, 2008

Yep, my son used my brown rods for drumsticks and now only one flat and one corner are usable. For a final edge, the Sharpmaker rules. I'll put on a bevel at 12 or 17 degrees using an 800 grit water stone, then use the 15 or 20 degree slots on the Sharpmaker for the final edge. This applies a small microbevel that is easy to touch up for a while before needing the go back to the water stone. Or, I'll sharpen at roughly the same angles using my Harbor Freight 1x30 belt sander, then after the leather stropped edge from the sander wears off, I'll sharpen for a while on the Sharpmaker. I can get an edge off the Sharpmaker that will whittle beard hair, with just the brown stones. Rebeveling a knife is right out though. Get as course a stone as you can find for that. I used a Course India, which is about 90 grit, then went to the Sharpmaker, until I switched to the water stone.

Stringfellow Hawke · Apr 9, 2008

Zeasor said:
The popular advice is obviously SHARPMAKER. The latest is model #204, MSRP= $79.95 per Spyderco's website. Check TheBladeShop.

Also search Ebay for Spyderco Sharpmaker. Your will find the Sharpmaker system (remember model #204) and replacement stones.

How can you tell if is a #204 model ? Is it marked on the packaging and if so where ?

Sorry for the bump. I'm about to pick one up locally and am not sure about the model differences. Are there any ?

Zeasor · Apr 9, 2008

Stringfellow Hawke said:
How can you tell if is a #204 model ? Is it marked on the packaging and if so where ?...

I suspect the model# 204 is the only one of this type currently produced by Spyderco as shown here. It has:

1 base with lid
2 sets of holes in the base for the stones, labled 30° and 40°
1 hole on the end of the base for 12.5°
2 sets of triangular stones, medium (brownish) and fine (white)
2 metal rods
1 instructional DVD

The main feature you want are the 30° and 40° settings. Hope this helps.

Stringfellow Hawke · Apr 9, 2008

I't helps alot.

My only concern was a difference in stone quality or improvements made over the years, as the store has them with two different type clampacks.

Butcher1 · Apr 9, 2008

I guess it dosent add much since everyone else already said it but I use the EP for rebeveling and the Sharpmaker for touch ups.

DainBramage · Apr 10, 2008

Odds said:
Been using one for a short time now and I find it fast, simple and very effective. Down the road I'll probably get an Edgepro for reprofiling but for now the Sharpmaker is great.

Yep, my thoughts exactly.

poonchasta said:
I've had the sharpmaker for a year or so. When I first got it, it was amazing. It got my Kershaw Scallion shaving sharp, and I couldn't have been happier. I didn't use it for a while because I had lost interest in knives. I recently sparked my interest again after a trip to Cabela's and seeing their great selection. What my problem seems to be with the sharpmaker now is that the rods wobble while they are in their preset angle holes. I'm not sure if it always did this or not, but it is currently affecting my ability to sharpen my knives (the wobbling really makes it hard to sharpen on the flats. I only use the flats now because some of the corners on my rods have dents and dinges for some reason). I get mixed results now with it. Has anyone else had experience with this?

I started a similar thread that might interest you: http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32769

thebrain · Apr 10, 2008

I have only had the sharpmaker for 8 months and it works great .I agree with everyone who has used one and likes it, I also agree that you should never try to reprofile a knife with it unless you have a year of free time I use a lansky or gatco (yep I have both)to reprofile and for really dull or new knives .all work great but the sharpmaker is the fastest easiest sharpener I have ever used (that lets you keep your knives tips) I have old crock stick sharpeners that I purchased because I remember my dad having them when I was kid and they work good too but they round over the tips after a while .P.S.you can find a sharpmaker for under $60 shipped if you shop around online