Knife sharpening

[F4phantom]

I just finished the knife thread and found it interesting. I have several old (circa 1980's) Gerber knives and a couple of inexpensive knifes that need to be sharpened. I have tried a couple of whetstones but I find that I cannot keep a good angle. Has anyone worked with a fixed angle sharpener and if so which one? I have been looking a WorkSharp but maybe a Lansky fixed angle. What do you all use.

 

[wood714]

I bought one of these. You could probably shave with my kitchen knives.

 

[Smoke]

I bought one of these on Black Friday last year. I'm not good at sharpening knives, like the OP my problem is holding a consistent angle.

The sharpener is essentially a jig that holds your knife at a consistent repeatable angle.

I can turn any KNIFE into a razor in about 20 minutes with this sharpener

 

[smitholdtimer]

F4phantom,
I have the "Work Sharp" outfit, carries in my pocket, it has the coarse, fine and ceramic plus the leather all contained together. The diamond impregnated plates are held by magnets and are replacable. All by hand with just angled guides on each end to help with the proper angle. It is a learned action and you will be glad you did.

I will add that using a motorized sharpner does offer the possibility of overheating the blade edge and I have never used one since I was a youngster and rouined so many knives because the stome was too coarse or I applied too much pressure.

I can sharpen a knife but am unable to post pictures.

 

[Richard Simmons]

Spyderco Sharpmaker. Best bang for the buck.

 

[marinevet]

Wicked Edge..........pricy, but they do work well.........

Wicked Edge Precision Knife Sharpeners

Knife sharpeners that are precision engineered to help you easily create the sharpest and most durable edges possible while taking excellent care of your knives

wickededgeusa.com

 

[Skyhunter]

Several years ago (maybe 10-12?) I bought the Work Sharp for our kitchen knives. It's done an impressive job and I do recommend it, but only for kitchen knives..
I also have the Lansky system and it works well. For medium to larger knives (kitchen/butchering), this is my "go-to" to get them
Having said all that, I use my hand-me-down-to-me from my grandfather to my father to me oil and whetstones for my pocket and hunting knives.

WYT-P
Skyhunter

 

[Harv 24]

Still using my Lansky Sharpener I won back in the late 90's. Still gets the job done.

 

[Warren Sear]

I like my Lansky sharpener too. It is slow, but turns out a perfect edge, and will never overheat a blade.

 

[imashooter2]

While I am by no means a master, I can make a serviceable edge with a whetstone. It’s a skill every man should have. So recognizing my frailties, I bought a Lansky sharpener many years ago. The Lansky made wicked sharp edges, but was a bit of a pain for long kitchen knives. So I bought a Chef’s Choice 120 which I now use on all knives. Purists will cry out in anguish at the thought. Not many of them can make a better edge.

 

[cherrypointmarine]

I have a Smith's , which is like a Lansky . Speaking of , I was given one but I've never used it . Years ago I started a post about honing blades . I posted I know it's sharp when I can shave the hairs on my arm , which my dad did . I caught some s*** about it , but it was good enough for my dad and my older brother . Another member that lives/ed near me pm'ed me and gave me a little jig that holds your knife at a perfect angle and I can use my Arkansas stones .

 

[Marshwheeling]

F4phantom,
I have the "Work Sharp" outfit, carries in my pocket, it has the coarse, fine and ceramic plus the leather all contained together. The diamond impregnated plates are held by magnets and are replacable. All by hand with just angled guides on each end to help with the proper angle. It is a learned action and you will be glad you did.

I will add that using a motorized sharpner does offer the possibility of overheating the blade edge and I have never used one since I was a youngster and rouined so many knives because the stome was too coarse or I applied too much pressure.

I can sharpen a knife but am unable to post pictures.

I have this sharpener, too, the Worksharp Guided Field Sharpener. In fact, I have two of them. Lost one, bought a replacement, and within a day or two the old one turned up, as I expected. I can get just about an y knife of mine to shave arm hair and cut paper cleanly. I’m not splitting any whiskers, and I am not interested in doing that.
It is a little big for pocket carry, but I throw one of them in a bag when I travel. I have the worksharp power sharpener, too, Ken Onion model. It worked pretty well for me but the housing broke and the company does not have a replacement part. Since I was outside their one year warranty period, the won’t replace it. I haven’t pursued it, in part because the Field Sharpener meets my needs.

 

[max503]

If you are frugal like me and want to do a bang-up job with just a stone I suggest you learn this guys technique. It is the only method I've ever used with a stone that worked for me. I can get knives shaving sharp with just a $3 Harbor Freight stone. I use the ones they sell as a whetstone. Works for me.

Edit: I Could not link the video, but if you go to Youtube and type this in it will take you there. I am really happy I came across this technique.

How to Sharpen a Knife with a Japanese Master Sharpener​

 

[Pepper51]

Edge Pro.
I picked the Edge pro over Wicked Edge because it works easier, better on small blades like pocketknives.

 

[steelslaver]

Mostly I use a 400grit belt on one of my 2x72 belt grinders and run it as a slack belt. Then go to my buffer with fine rouge to polish to a final edge. BUT, I can do it by hand and when I do I use first a course then a medium fine diamond, then a fine if I am looking for a fine edge. But, you can get a perfectly serviceable edge with a medium fine. I will never waste my time and money on another stone. Holding the right angle just takes practice

IF you use straight high carbon steel blades you can get a wicked sharp edge, I can get shave you hair sharp from most decent steels, but NONE of them will keep an extra keen edge with normal use. Some will keep paper cutting sharp with fairly heavy use.

 

[90-10]

I bought a Work Sharp Onion edition a few years ago but could never get a decent edge on anything. For me, it's too hard to hold a consistent angle against the belt, even though there are guides for both sides.
I currently use a Sharpal 162N Double-sided Diamond Sharpening Stone Whetstone Knife Sharpener Coarse 325 / Extra Fine 1200 Grit, Angle Guide (8 in. x 3 in.)
I have never had sharper knives. They are about $70 on Amazon but are worth it.
OUTDOORS55 has a lot of videos on how to use it properly. One of the best is titled "Sharpening a Kitchen Knife In Real Time".

 

[Max242]

I bought one of these. You could probably shave with my kitchen knives.

I have one of those also and love it. My only issue is being carful not to remove the point on the knife. I believe it actually mentions something in the manual

 

[3/4Flap]

I forge knives, parangs, bolos, garden tools, hammers, etc. See my post from a while ago in the knife section.
For speed a 48" belt grinder and a buffing wheel. No, you do not have to burn the edge...
For touchup a common steel, the best I've found are old ones like those made by Landers Frary & Clark, etc. The kind that used to come with a carving set.
For kitchen knives & others a setup I use with Jap waterstones as pictured below. Mounts over the sink. Water drips constantly from the can

 

[captn-tin]

40 + years a meatcutter. Always used a Norton 3-stone setup. Don't think I ever used the course stone ceptin for some kitchen knives my wife abused...HA! I found the best way for me to get the right blade to stone angle was to lay the blade across the stone. push down on the edge, and try to keep that angle.

 

[Hawg Rider]

Spyderco Sharpmaker. Best bang for the buck.

+1 for the Spyderco. Like most sharpeners, it takes some patience, but this one will sharpen knives, serrated knives, scissors, etc. I bought some diamond triangle rods to speed things up a little.