Knife Sharpening?

[prhm]

What do you prefer to use to keep your knife sharp and why. Electric or manual? What material, ceramic, stone, diamond?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Charles S]

I keep my knives razor sharp, well really they shave without any real presure. The spyderco sharpmaker is the only way to go.

This is a ruby ceramic system with 400 and 600 grit....I think.

Just my 2 cents.

Charles

 

[Navy joe]

d. all of the above.

There are electric knife sharpeners? Well, there shouldn't be!

-Lansky mostly diamond and superfine stones unless repairing someone else's mess.

-Several DMT diamond sticks.

-Last favorite was the ceramic core of a fish tank heater until I dropped it.

-Bottom of coffee cup. Do it near every day. Check for coffee first.

-Dad has a DMT impregnated diamond wheel on a bench grinder.

-Side of boot, denim jeans, leather sheath or any other strop I see.

-Butcher's steel too at times.

As you can tell, I like my knives.

 

[ahenry]

Razor sharp, but as my collection has grown I have less and less time to keep them that way. I use a couple of Arkansas stones, and a double sided strop. One side bare the other loaded. Works pretty darn good for me.

 

[sm]

Never power driven here.

Manual with India stones
Ceramic (sticks, coffee cup...)
Steel

( Arkansas Stones are fine, just use to sharpen gravers and would 'groove' easy with these tools, used the black one (surgical) for testing gold)
had a bunch of high dollar ruby, sapphire and diamond stuff to sharpen with, just stayed with India.

 

[SADshooter]

I just got a Lansky sharpening system as a Christmas gift (what a wife!) but haven't used it yet. Looks like a good basic setup

Not to hijack the thread, but what sharpening angle do you experts use for your utility/hunting/defense knives? Examples of what I'll be sharpening: Benchmade AFCK (ATS-34), CRKT Polkowski/Kasper Companion, Cold Steel Recon Tanto, wife's Kershaw Scallion, Spanish FR-8 bayonet.

 

[HeadCleaver]

The aluminum oxide waterstones from Edgepro work pretty well. I also heard several good things about the Sharpmaker.

 

[griz]

The Lansky sharpeners with the angle bracket thingee work great if you don't have much practice holding the angle steady.

Mostly now I use the folding diamond sticks. The two sided one takes up almost no room when packing. I like them enough I might get one of the large diamond bench stones.

 

[Don Gwinn]

I think I used to use the 30-degree angle on the Lansky. It's very consistent, but I think it's been worth it to learn to sharpen freehand. All you really have to do is do it a lot.

The narrower angles on the Lansky are a waste of time for all but very thin, delicate blades like filet knives. The bigger angles are quicker and will still be a good start toward a shaving edge. They almost always leave a wire edge, though, so a strop, a crock stick or both will still help.

 

[sm]

Don Gwinn
Since Tamara said your the one in the know...
25-30 degree angle with an India stone is what I generally hone, then in lieu of strop a few passes on a ceramic or steel seems to give good service. Touch ups with a ceramic or steel usualy keep me in good shape.
Fillet knives I use 15 degree.

The former holds an edge longer , the later dulls quicker. Is this practice still about what's recommened or do I need to change my method I have used all these years.

 

[Chris Rhines]

I seem to be unable to manually sharpen knives. I've tried DMT and EZ-Lap diamond stones and Japanese waterstones, all with disapointing results.

Usually I take my knive to the Indy 1500, there's a guy there with an EdgePro Apex who'll sharpen them for a buck. As soon as I can afford it, I'll have one of my own.

- Chris

 

[Joe Demko]

I have an old Spyderco Triangle sharpener that I use. Even though I have the knack of being able to sharpen with a plain old whetstone, the Triangle does such a great job that I use it exclusively these days.

 

[JPM70535]

I second the vote for the Spyderco Sharpmaker.

It used to take ma an average 15 min. to sharpen 1 knife using stones,

It takes a maximum of 5 min. to go from butter knife dull to razor sharp. Getting the proper angle is a snap as the angle is preset.

 

[CyberGOP]

What's a wire edge ?

 

[OF]

Sharpmaker here.

If you want to learn about sharpening, visit BladForums and poke around for a bit. There are guys there who are waaaaay too into it.

- Gabe

 

[Ron L]

I've used a Lansky for the past several years and I've been pretty satisfied with it. For my pocket folders and my skinner, I generally use a 20-25 degree angle and for my other fixed blades, generally a 30 degree angle for more durability.

 

[Gila Jorge]

I use Scary Sharp techinique just as I use on my wood chisels....somtime stones if real bad. Scary sharp on glass and I can shave with the results.

 

[AnklePocket]

Lansky's and Sharpmakers are pretty good. The Edge Pro Apex is rediculously good. If you like, do an internet search and any questions can be answered by Ben at Edge Pro. It allows me to get knives about as sharp as can be humanly gotten.
A wire edge is the burr that can appear on the opposite side sharpened. It's eliminated by gently putting the finishing touches on each side switching back and forth until the burr (or wire edge) is gone. Not a biggie at all.

 

[hso]

More than you ever wanted to know about sharpening -

http://www.bladeforums.com/features/faqsharp.shtml

Sharpening for technogeeks -

http://www.physics.mun.ca/~sstamp/knives/sharpen.html

All around good sharpening site -

http://www.ameritech.net/users/knives/knives.htm

What do I use? SharpMaker for quick sharpening. Various flat ceramics and diamond for more detailed or rougher work. Strop to finish.

 

[Tamara]

hso,

What do I use?

You liar. You use rennaissancemann, same as the rest of us around here...

"Oh, boy! Come here, boy! My knife needs sharpening."

 

[Navy joe]

What's a wire edge ?

As you sharpen one side of the blade some of the metal will roll over the edge to the opposite side rather than being ground off. Usually to small to see, it's the finest part of the edge folded over. I can usually feel one with my fingers. It's best to alternate sides for each stroke and use lighter pressure and finer stones as you get the blade close. A few passes on a leather strop will clear the wire edge. If you leave it there the edge may feel grabbier. Some people think this is sharp since they can feel it, but it doesn't cut worth spit. Keep the angle consistent, remember that you can't easily replace removed metal, and keep on practicing. If it doesn't lift hair it's not sharp. Try some more.

 

[Byron Quick]

I used long Arkansas stones of various grit for years with a leather strop. For the past three years I have used the Spyderco Sharpmaker exclusively.

 

[hso]

Of course I have Ren do it when he's around! You don't think I'd dirty my hands (said with the same tone as the "royal We") and muss my manicure if'n the other hands (said with a SW cattle baron drawl) are around?

 

[deputy tom]

OOPS.

 

[deputy tom]

For fixing up a real mess...Norton Benchstone and oil free hand

For periodic (monthly) sharpening...Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker

For daily touch ups...An old Butchers steel

For packing...diamond folding sharpener

For quick touch ups at work/field...strop on legal pad cardboard

tom.