Which one please? There appears to be 4, most well outside of my humble price reach
Opinions on the best Knife Sharpener
- Thread starter GMan14
- Start date
I just had a quick look online and they do seem have to gone up in price (I guess everything has) since I got mine years back. The very basic 2 stone system with just the 200 and 400 grit stones will be absolutely fine for most people's needs. The grit numbers on these stones translate to much higher numbers relative to say Japanese water stones. I use 120, 220, 400, 600 and 1000 grit stones. The 1000 grit stone is like a smooth piece of granite. I think from memory it relates to about an 8000 grit water stone which is not really a sharpening stone as such, it is more a polishing stone to get a mirror finish. Fun and remarkable how sharp you can get a knife but entirely not needed for most of our needs. I use that for the finest cutting instruments for the best finish on leather and stuff like that. I certainly do not use it for deer knifes or a small blade for breasting out pigeon.Which one please? There appears to be 4, most well outside of my humble price reach
I think the 120 grit is good correcting badly worn edges where lots of metal needs removing, 220 is fine for a less damaged edge and then 400 is fine for refining the edge before a quick strop on my leather with compound.
You can buy stones separately and they only used to be about a tenner. No idea what they are now but they last a very long time.
If you are ever local, you are welcome to pop in and have a go.
I use a warthog and it's great for the moras but for my boning knives, it doesn't seem to touch them .. any tips ?
Ali
Well-Known Member
Years ago I bought a Lansky Diamond, with three stones: coarse, medium and fine. For quite a longtime I had acceptable results with the kitchen knives were never sharp enough to cut cleanly the skin.
I changed the procedure, first by setting the angle to 20°, instead of the suggested 25°, then by using the stone like a file, stroking forth and back the blade instead of raising it after the upward stroke.
I bit tiring for my old and arthritic hands but, at least, successful.
Something I can't approve of the Lansky: the design of rod tightening is a bit too simple and cheap. A flat rod, insted of a wire, and a finer tread of the fastening screw would assure a more consistent position.
I changed the procedure, first by setting the angle to 20°, instead of the suggested 25°, then by using the stone like a file, stroking forth and back the blade instead of raising it after the upward stroke.
I bit tiring for my old and arthritic hands but, at least, successful.
Something I can't approve of the Lansky: the design of rod tightening is a bit too simple and cheap. A flat rod, insted of a wire, and a finer tread of the fastening screw would assure a more consistent position.
StephenToast
Well-Known Member
Had to look that up but from the video frankly not impressed as way too easy to ruin a knife.
K
You can ruin a knife very quickly. Anything motorised will have the potential to ruin a knife. It’s a great system for re grinding a badly sharpened knife, it’s not something you’d use every day, maybe once a year depending on the quality of your knife and the grief you give it. I use it to sharpen the lads wood chisels, they come in looking like a bolster and in minutes are sharp and useable again.
For knife maintenance I use a 14” diamond steel. Usually all that’s needed to keep a razor sharp edge,
Watched this and totally get it for use with woodworking tools:
With the diamond belt it will set you back over £500.
K
Have been using Spyderco Sharpmaker for over 20 years now. I intended to use it for a long time, and surprised it lasted that long and still going
I no longer care for razor sharpness. However, stroking a few times each side is all I need to have the blade sharp enough for anything
I also have Gate TriSeps when I travel for a long time (especially when I see relatives abroad, I always find their knives dull), Buck Diamond sharpener (it helps to quickly change profile), some Soviet (from 70s) stone to sharpen razors and some electric bench one from ScrewFix - I use it only to fix broken blades
I now find I need a steel to sharpen the knives before each use as I can feel how much better they become once I touched the blades with Syderco, but I don't need Spyderco each time
I no longer care for razor sharpness. However, stroking a few times each side is all I need to have the blade sharp enough for anything
I also have Gate TriSeps when I travel for a long time (especially when I see relatives abroad, I always find their knives dull), Buck Diamond sharpener (it helps to quickly change profile), some Soviet (from 70s) stone to sharpen razors and some electric bench one from ScrewFix - I use it only to fix broken blades
I now find I need a steel to sharpen the knives before each use as I can feel how much better they become once I touched the blades with Syderco, but I don't need Spyderco each time
Freeforester
Well-Known Member
Another guy who knows what he’s doing:
Time ago I wrote about the frustration due to difficult sharpening with a Lansky set.
Few weeks ago I decided that the "fine" (golden-yellow handle) was worn out and that a new one was needed. The stone arrived and I tried it.
Surprise! Better Surprises!
Surprise Nr 1: the new stone was serrated, with a fine serration.
Surprise Nr2: it perfectly sharpened several knives (some of mine, some belonging tothe Lady of the house).
Evidentky someone in Lansky deciced to improve the stones. Now I am looking forward to an improvement of the guiding rods.
Few weeks ago I decided that the "fine" (golden-yellow handle) was worn out and that a new one was needed. The stone arrived and I tried it.
Surprise! Better Surprises!
Surprise Nr 1: the new stone was serrated, with a fine serration.
Surprise Nr2: it perfectly sharpened several knives (some of mine, some belonging tothe Lady of the house).
Evidentky someone in Lansky deciced to improve the stones. Now I am looking forward to an improvement of the guiding rods.
Overlay
Well-Known Member
Never easy finding the right sharpener, I’m using the work sharp ( lansky type rod and stones) I find them really good.
Oil or Waterstones I like but getting the angle spot on by way of a adjustable angle by degree blade holder is what I would like to get hold of but no luck at finding one yet
Devices and mans festination with them holds more folks back than helps them . I did a free- hand sharpening video at the week end from totally as blunt as a butter knife to scary sharp with a very cheap set of diamond stones and free-hand .
Will likely put it on one of my socials or actually start that u-tube channel i have been " getting round to " .
Will likely put it on one of my socials or actually start that u-tube channel i have been " getting round to " .
Is that what's called a teaser?
Come on, let's have a link to it so we can all benefit
Its nearly 30 mins of footage need to sort somewhere suitable to post itIs that what's called a teaser?
Come on, let's have a link to it so we can all benefit
There are any number of very good videos out there on free hand sharpening with stones. The problem is not knowing what you need to do. The problem is learning HOW to do it. And that, like any precise motor skill, comes down to practice - lots of practice. And, like all precise motor skills, the early phases are very disappointing.
Ultimately, it’s something you have to really want to do for the sake of it - like fly fishing or restoring vintage vehicles. Many of us don’t have the time, the patience or the interest. We just want an efficient, repeatable way to get sharp knives. And that’s where the various tools come in.
I get very fed up with freehand purists getting superior about it. You might as well get superior about the fact that you make your own sourdough bread or hand carved the banister for your stairs. Oh… wait…
Ultimately, it’s something you have to really want to do for the sake of it - like fly fishing or restoring vintage vehicles. Many of us don’t have the time, the patience or the interest. We just want an efficient, repeatable way to get sharp knives. And that’s where the various tools come in.
I get very fed up with freehand purists getting superior about it. You might as well get superior about the fact that you make your own sourdough bread or hand carved the banister for your stairs. Oh… wait…
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