Sharpmaker

[LMC]

Hey, just curious how many of you own one of these and i you like or dislike the product. thanks

 

[Justin]

Since this is a question about a knife accessory, I'm going to move it to the Non-Firearm Weapons forum.

 

[Valkman]

Check out this recent thread : http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=173732

From what I've seen the only people who don't really like it are the ones who know how to sharpen with stones and can make any angles they want. For the other 99.9% though the Sharpmaker is excellent and I use it on the knives I make.

 

[chickenfried]

I like mine except when it comes to sharpening the blade tips.

 

[zahc]

Love it. I use it ten times more than my lansky, but the two really complement each other well and I'd have to say given a choice I'd have to take the lansky by itself.

 

[Don Gwinn]

Sharpmaker vs. Lansky seems to be a very personal issue.

I like the Sharpmaker for its simplicity and the quality of the stones. I have a tendency to scratch knives with the Lansky, especially with the very narrow angles. YMMV!

 

[Moon]

I have one, and recommend it. It makes sharpening a breeze. For all but the most technically proficient knife freaks, the Sharpmaker is the solution.

 

[DigMe]

I wouldn't mind having one but there always seems to be something that I'd rather spend an extra 50 bucks on when I have such disposable income.

Seems the only thing it wouldn't be able to do for me is maintain the convex ground edge on my Bark River. I'd have to stick to the strop for that.

brad cook

 

[TrapperReady]

I bought a Sharpmaker about 6 or 7 months ago. Literally, since the day I brought it home, my knives have never been sharper. A had to reprofile a couple at first, but now they are incredibly easy to keep "hair popping" sharp.

I used to use a couple DMTs and an Arkansas stone, and those worked reasonably well... but I can do much better with the Sharpmaker.

 

[hso]

I've had Sharpmakers for over a decade. Still do.

 

[bigjim]

I've had Sharpmakers for over a decade. Still do.

So HSO should we tango again or should we skip this dance?

 

[hso]

So HSO should we tango again or should we skip this dance?

You keep wanting to lead though

Ideally, eveyone should learn to sharpen free hand. I learned to free hand sharpen before I ever got the Sharpmaker, but I use a Sharpmaker or GATCO Croc Sticks for most of my sharpening out of speed and convenience. What BigJ neener: ) is referring to is that he doesn't like the Sharpmaker because of all the various cutting implements that it doesn't fit. Free hand sharpening with bench stones lets you set the bevel steep or shallow depending upon material, heat treat, and use. Since the Sharpmaker only has 2 angles you can set it's a little limited.

I keep a very large ceramic rod in my office drawer. Whenever I find one of my knives are not hair popping sharp, or I've got the urge to gut one of my collegues, I pull it out and prop one end up on the desk and, holding the other end, sharpen all the knives in my office. This usually calms me sufficiently to go back to being a non-homicidal PITA to my coworkers.

 

[progunner1957]

Spyderco sharpener rocks!!

I had a Lansky - did not care for it. I have used the Spyderco Tri-angle Sharpmaker for years and love it. It will put a shaving sharp edge on anything from my SOG folder to my kitchen knives to my Busse Combat Fusion Steel Heart (8.5" blade).

The key is to keep the stones clean using Brillo pads - the stones get a dark or metallic looking deposit from the sharpening process; it takes about 10 passes with a wet, soapy Brillo pad to clean this off and return the stones to like-new condition.

You can't go wrong with the Sharpmaker, IMO.

 

[albanian]

What makes the sharp maker so easy to use. It is just two rods at an angle right? I have seen that type of sharpener before so what is so great about the SM? I have a Lansky and a Gatco and I can't see how anything would be any more fool proof. Somebody mentioned that they scratch their knives using the Lansky? How the heck did you manage that?

I am not saying that one is better than the other but I just don't see what makes the SM so good? What am I missing? I will buy one if it is faster and eaiser to use than the Lansky because the Lansky is a PITA to use and is messy and takes up a lot of room.

 

[Kingcreek]

but I just don't see what makes the SM so good? What am I missing?

The sharpmaker has 2 sets of 3-sided ceramic rods. It can be set up to sharpen with the corners or the flats. corners cut faster than the flats so you actually have 4 choices of abrasiveness (is that a word?) . you can use either 30 or 45 degree angles or use 2 sticks in the base like a bench stone.
I grew up freehanding with stones and if that was all I had, I could sharpen happily for the rest of my days, but the Spyderco Sharpmaker is fast, handy, and almost foolproof. BTW, chickenfried is right about the blade tips. they do suller a little if you use only a set of V-sticks (any brand).

 

[DigMe]

Somebody mentioned that they scratch their knives using the Lansky? How the heck did you manage that?

The only things I could think of were that they either had the L-shaped arms on upside down or the clamp was on too far or something.

brad cook