what to get (sharpening)

[lionken07]

I just got a few knifes (battle rat, Ka-bars). Now I need to learn how to sharpen them. What is the cheapest way to do it myself? Japanese waterstone? or something like that? and can anyone tell me the exact way of doing it?

 

[dano]

HUGE topic. For the beginning sharpenist, I would recommend a clamp system like a Lansky.

For the intermediate, I would recommend the Spyderco Sharpmaker or the Edge Pro Apex (probably the best "mechanical" sharpener there is).

After a basic understanding of sharpening techniques, angles, etc, try freehand.

Helpful info::
http://www.sff.net./people/pff/sharp.txt

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

http://www.lansky.com/

http://www.razoredgesystems.com/


--dan

 

[ledfanfromjuno]

I have tried almost everything out there: waterstones, diamondstones, lansky clamp system, diamond rods, diamond sticks, steels, angle guides for regular stones like the japanes waterstones, meyerco's sharpen it, the accusharp, spyderco's sharpmaker and a hell of a lot more. This is what I have found.

People say the edgepro apex is the best system but it's too expensive and bulky looking for me and I found out about it too late after I bought everything else but that's how shopping goes.

1. The spyderco sharpmaker is the most perfect system I have. It is also light and compact for travel. I recommend gettting the diamond rods option for it.
http://www.newgraham.com/sharpene.htm

2. I really like my accusharp. But it's built crappily out of plastic and it looks like it can bust at any moment. However it can shape metal FAST. It can easily handle weirdly shaped axes and knives I have. It can even sharpen a sword with no problem because of its design. Try sharpenning your japanese katana with a sharpmaker and you'll instantly see its limitations. Therefor this type of carbide sharpenner really complements the sharpmaker's shortcommings very nicely. I think that klawhorn's aluminum ceramic carbide redi edge pro may be the perfect carbide sharpenner. But I don't know since my order is still in the mail and it hasn't arrived yet. From the specs and similarities to the accusharp I feel it is the way to go. I reccommend getting the redi edge pro. If, when it arrives this week at my house, I find it sucks then I'll edit this post but I believe I'll be satisfied.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://www.klawhorn.com/rediedgepro.htm

 

[Spudman]

I'm also a fan of the spyderco sharpmaker. It works best for knives that are not seriously dulled because it removes a minimal amount of metal. If you need to remove more steel on a really dull knife, or you are changing the bevel angle, you can get diamond replacement rods that take the metal down more aggressively. They cost more than the sharpmaker does, I believe.

 

[ewick]

I've not used anything but a Lansky, but for the price, I think it'll be hard to beat. Easy to use, easy to store, works great. But do yourself a favor and get the diamond stones. I've got a .pdf at home I put together from some pretty good techniques pulled from the internet. Let me know if you're interested.

 

[txwest]

Check the current thread under this section on "sharpener recommendations". TX

 

[MicroE]

Another vote for the Spyderco Sharpmaker. I use Japanese waterstones for my plane irons and chisels, but the Spydie does a great job on knife blades.---Marc

 

[ledfanfromjuno]

I add one more recommendation to what to buy. Get a pre-angled steeling tool from the razor edge. It is pre-angled just like the spyderco sharpmaker is. It has 2 steels preset at the perfect angle. It is a very fine steel so it doesn't cut up your blade edge but leaves it smooth and sharp. I just finished cutting up a bunch of cardboard testing my sharpenning tools on kabars and glock knives in my garage and hacking at the cardboard and stabbing afterward to test the edges put on by the different tools. Afterward I noticed the edge was a little jagged but still sharp enough to shave with. I tried this steel I bought in the razor edge special pro kit on sale. It worked better than I thought bringing the edge to an even smoother sharpness that seems to be even sharper than what I get by just using the spyderco sharpmaker alone. I give this steel two thumbs up. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://www.razoredgesystems.com/store/index.asp?SelectedCategory=4#RS10
RS10 - Raz-R Steel - $22.95

 

[Nathan S]

I use a Gatco system for re-profiling, and a Sharpmaker for everything else. Works pretty good.

 

[TOB9595]

I just finished reading The Razor Edge Book Of Sharpening. It really helped me lay on a beaut of an edge. I reprofiled some frost china knives. Clones of beautiful knives but these are JUNK. Screws fall out, handles crack when left in the car BAH!!!
I also put some great edges on some Klein, Buck and a Blackjack Mamba.
I used my lansky to great effect....But I will save up for an apex edgepro. The Lansky doesn't hold my blades securely.
I used only a extra coarse and Fine DMT stone and stropped on cardboard as I had no leather when I did these.
Read up on the angles for blades and you won't have a dull life again /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif