Sharpeners: Is there a difference?

[alaskanativeson]

I have a Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker which I like, but I'm looking to change to something else just because I feel like it. I'd like to try one of the sharpening systems that hold the angle constant and was wondering if there was any real difference between the three that I'm aware of.

The ones I'm talking about are:

The Gatco Professional

The Lansky

The Apex Edge Pro

Does anybody know if there's any real differences in the quality or function of any of these systems? Being a knife and gadget junkie, the more accessories available, generally the better I'm going to like it.

 

[conw]

You get what you pay for. Honestly I thought the Lansky felt a little cheap and awkward, even though it works great and the only part that *really* matters (the rods) was great quality.

I assume the ones that cost 2-5x what the Lansky costs offer relatively greater ease of use, quality of parts, and accessories.

If you really want some cool knife sharpening stuff, though, get a belt sander and a bunch of fancy belts made for knife sharpening. Then you have what the pros use. If you want more, get some waterstones or similar. DMT's line of bench stones looks great, too. I have their Dia-sharp cards and couldn't be more pleased; I even carry one in my money clip!

I don't think your money is best spent with a "system." And truth be told, your best option is to get good at touching knives up without one (you may be already); however, the belt sander will let you put a really sweet edge on any knife that can later be touched up with manual methods. I recommend trying 10 degree edges (per side, 18-20 inclusive) if you haven't already...most knives come with a crap edge profile from the factory, including spydercos, benchmades and many others IMO. Change the edge profile and you will be absolutely flabbergasted at how much more effective the knife is at cutting. What's more, the lateral forces on a knife's edge are very low even wth chopping and the whole "keep a thick edge for chopping" is over-emphasized greatly.

 

[ArfinGreebly]

Edge Pro

If I recall correctly, the Edge Pro permits infinitely variable adjustment of the angle, whereas Lansky, Smith, and others have set "stops" for the guide rods.

Now, for all practical purposes, a range of four or five angles may be all you ever need.

On the other hand, if I have a knife whose edge is already great, and the angle doesn't match any of the fixed stops, I'd be happier with a system that let me match the angle exactly for edge maintenance.

 

[conw]

Maybe it's just because I was inexperienced with my friend's Lansky, but it was ridiculously time consuming attempting to reprofile a fairly thick 52100 blade. In fact, the knife was 0.156" and didn't really even fit in the whole setup right. If you can't easily reprofile with a Lansky, and it's got fairly limited angles (IMO), what's the use? The Edge Pro does sound much more appealing if it's infinitely adjustable...

 

[bikerdoc]

I prefer freehand and own a wide variety of stones. Like Conwict I go for a low angle.
and reprofile every knife I ever bought except the SAKS.
After stones, I use wet/dry sandpaper up to 2k grit the polish and strop with chromiun oxide or mothers mag polish.
I own a lansky and rarely use it . EdgePro's are big money compared to the lansky but I will drive accross town to use my friends if I need to.
Belt sanders are great, but have a learning curve. I have a small on and only use it to shape the rough angle on a knife I am making

Here is an example of a knife I made and sharpened by hand.

 

[hso]

If you're just looking for "something new" use bench stones.

 

[Carl Levitian]

I'm also a big fan of free hand. The gizmos may be okay, but sooner or later you're going to have to touch up that blade out someplace. It bugs me a bit how many people these days don't know how to sharpen or maintain a knife out in the field.

Our gun club has a requirement for new members to put in a set number of hours work on club projects in thier first year of probationary membership. One thing we have to do on a weekly and sometimes twice weekly basis is reload all the machines for the trap and skeet and sporting clays ranges. This leaves a very large pile of White Flier boxes that need to be broken down for the cardboard re-cylce dumptser. Carbboard coated with clay bird dust from the few broken ones in every box is hard on knives. Most of the young guys show up with a halfway dull knife, or one of those tacicools with a very wedgy blade. By the time they're halfway done, they have a dull knife on thier hands. I'll hand them the little cut down Eze-lap modle L from my wallet, and I get a blank "What am I supposed to do with that thing" look. I take my knife and show them how to use it and they can't believe they can sharpen a knife so easy with a simple little wallet hone. They are so dependant on the gizmo at home, they've cripled themselves in a way.

Gizmos are products made by people who want you to believe sharpening is way more complicated than it is. They make money off selling the "better" more complicated mouse trap. It's not rocket science, and you shouldn't get obsessed over the angle thing. Our grandfathers and those before them took a stone and sharpened pretty good with it. They probably couldn't tell you what angle the bevel was, but they butchered hogs, did work on the farm, or used it in a industrial shop someplace and it cut just fine. Some of them even went to war with those knives, and got by very well.

Go free hand with diamond hones. K.I.S.

Then there's the bottom of a coffee cup!

 

[7X57chilmau]

Second that!

 

[Joe Demko]

Free hand sharpening is a good and valuable skill. But cutting up cardboard boxes, especially ones impregnated with grit, is a job for a knife like this.

 

[22-rimfire]

Utility knives definitely have their uses. I wish the blades are longer and stronger however. I'ver broken those blades a few times and that makes me nervous.

My new method is the tried and true old method of using stones by hand.