The Best Knife Sharpener

colts4u · Jan 14, 2014

Ok, every one reading this forum, and this thread, has at one time or another had a dull knife to sharpen. And if your like me you have had days you couldn't put a proper edge on a knife if you worked on it all day!
So, in my 60+ years of carrying a knife I have always had an eye out for a better mousetrap when it comes to keeping a sharp knife in my pocket.
So far, I have not found the perfect sharpener. Now please let me clarify something. The perfect sharpener should be able to:
A. put a nice edge on any size blade
B. Do it without having to find out where 12 or 15 degrees is
C. Do it in less than 30 minutes, which is my maximum attention span when trying to sharpen a knife.

I have not covered every corner of the knife world, but I certainly have bought more than my share of sharpeners that promised to be the "Last one I will ever buy".
Anybody got any good answers, I sure am willing to listen.

OKFC05 · Jan 14, 2014

Assuming the knife has been correctly ground to shape, then ordinary Arkansas stones in medium and fine plus a buffing wheel to get the whiskers off should have a piece of quality steel extremely sharp in less than half hour.

Just touching up a blade that has been previously sharpened takes 5 minutes.

I have no use for the "gizmos" and mechanical sharpeners.

gm272gs · Jan 14, 2014

I have one question. Do you have a good leather strop?
A strop and some newspaper wrapped around a flat piece of wood, make for a very nice edge.

gdogs · Jan 14, 2014

I've got an Edgepro from Apex and have been very happy with the results. It is pricey though. My dad bought a knock off of it and although it does work, it is not any where near as solid as the original.

colts4u · Jan 14, 2014

Now see, there is two good ideas, I don't have either one. The last item in my sharpening drawer of goodies, was a Craftsman tool grinder, lol, works but doesn't give the edge I desire.

SweetMK · Jan 14, 2014

What are you using the knife for?

For a kitchen knife I use this;

Amazon.com - Yoshi BladeTM - Santoku Knives@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510wbZkYnWL.@@AMEPARAM@@510wbZkYnWL

It stays scary sharp (literally!), nobody will use it but me because they fear it.

My first one lasted a year before I broke the tip, I have a second one that is now over a year old, with daily use.

colts4u · Jan 14, 2014

SweetMK said:
What are you using the knife for?

For a kitchen knife I use this;

Amazon.com: YoshiBlade Knife, Ceramic: Kitchen & Dining

It stays scary sharp (literally!), nobody will use it but me because they fear it.

My first one lasted a year before I broke the tip, I have a second one that is now over a year old, with daily use.

For me, a knife is just a tool, I use it for whatever problem it will solve.
Scraping, cutting, minor prying, wire stripping, etc

snubbyfan · Jan 14, 2014

OKFC05 said:
Assuming the knife has been correctly ground to shape, then ordinary Arkansas stones in medium and fine plus a buffing wheel to get the whiskers off should have a piece of quality steel extremely sharp in less than half hour.

Just touching up a blade that has been previously sharpened takes 5 minutes.

I have no use for the "gizmos" and mechanical sharpeners.

I use a medium diamond sharpening block, a fine Arkansas and extra fine Arkansas oil stone. Since I sharpen my knives and my leather punches, knives, awls, edge bevelers, etc. I have no use for "gizmos" either. I also use very sharp wood chisels for trimming leather. I've even sharpened my wife's pencil sharpener. For sharpening inside curves I use a fine diamond impregnated rod. I'm planning on making a leather strop to get that fine polished edge on some of my cutting tools.
I consider learning how to shape and maintain a sharp edge worthwhile.
As OKFC05 pointed out, touching up a previously sharpened edge only takes about 5 minutes.

TACC1 · Jan 14, 2014

Although I am currently using a Lansky "Fold-A-Vee"
on a WW2 k-bar, for every thing else, I use the
medium and fine Arkansas stones, with honing oil
or some other type of light oil. They work just fine,
and won't break the bank. I like mine to be sharp
enough to shave the hair on my arms. When a touch-up
is needed, it's a matter of minutes like the earlier
posters replied.
TACC1

Jaymo · Jan 14, 2014

Ouch. My knives are crying out in sympathetic pain for your knives.
I use scrapers for scraping, wire strippers for stripping wire, prybars for prying, and knives for cutting.

I use Arkansas oilstones and Japanese water stones when I need the best, smoothest, sharpest edge.

I use diamond hones for fast sharpening, resharpening really dull knives, and for stainless steel knives.

I also use one of the quartz tubes from the inside of an industrial light bulb.
Don't remember if it was a sodium light or a metal halide light.

Comrad · Jan 14, 2014

The best knife sharpener I have is my son in law, not too portable but does hone a keen edge.

Doubless · Jan 14, 2014

Find a Warthog. Angles are pre-set within range (although you can adjust) and there are steel inserts for the final finish. Not inexpensive, but quick and good.

colts4u · Jan 15, 2014

Comrad said:
The best knife sharpener I have is my son in law, not too portable but does hone a keen edge.

Would you loan him to me? I have a drawer full of misc knives, they all receive bolster damage trying to cut butter.

colts4u · Jan 15, 2014

I know what ya'all are thinking, even with the finest sharpener this guy couldn't sharpen a ax head, let alone a fine knife.
Ok, you got me! That's true, so do any of you live in southwest Ohio? lol I could use a good knife guy for a friend.!

parsonbw · Jan 15, 2014

colts4u said:
For me, a knife is just a tool, I use it for whatever problem it will solve.
Scraping, cutting, minor prying, wire stripping, etc

Wow !! What you need is a tool box.

47knuckle · Jan 15, 2014

"Lansky 4 rod turn box crock stick sharpener" $19.00 on Amazon. Has 2 fine rods, 2 Medium rods, 2 pre-drilled holes for 20 degree sharpening and 2 pre-drilled holes for 25 degree sharpening. So simple my wife can sharpen a knife. I guess I've sold a dozen of these for Lansky, as everybody that tries mine says "I gotta have one of these"

s&wchad · Jan 15, 2014

I recently sent five Warther knives back to the factory and they came back razor sharp. These were estate sale pick-up's that were not properly maintained over the years. I tried to put a good edge on them, but couldn't get them as sharp as I wanted.

They sharpen their own knives for free, but they'll also sharpen other brands for $3 each. Warther Cutlery is located in Dover Ohio, so you might want to take a road trip. You could also ship your knives to them, but you'll need to include $10 for return shipping. Do a Google search and you'll find their site. I highly recommend them.

107driver · Jan 15, 2014

Another vote for the Apex Edgepro. Way more solid than the Lansky system. The owner is a gentleman but more importantly a fanatic about sharpening. I visited his small shop and he took the time to walk me through sharpening my knife, and he's also been very responsive to email and phone queries. Very repeatable results, mirror finish if you want it. I finish by stropping with newspaper.

amp8021975 · Jan 15, 2014

The Warthog is the best in my book.

straightshooter1 · Jan 15, 2014

I am impressed. To spend half an hour sharpening a blade is impossible for me to imagine. Those of you who said you did that must possess a lot more patience than I do.

I am truly envious.

I have a Spyderco Sharpmaker and I spend about 2-3 minutes on a blade if it needs sharpening. I am sure I do not get it as nice, as sharp or as perfect as you folks do, but it works for me.

I think of it this way-whether I spend a long time or a short time trying to sharpen the blade, it still gets dull when I use it hard or a lot. So, for me, it makes sense to take the short cut.

I admit that patience is not one of my gifts (I'm still not sure what the other gifts I have are).

But the OP's original query about sharpeners? Well, I carry a Benchmade every day and have a larger one, a 710 for "backup." Every ten months or so, I send my EDC to Benchmade along with a five dollar bill and they return it to me in about 10 days from the time I send it in very sharp condition.

During my EDC's vacation, I use the 710 (which, as far as I can remember, has never cut anything and so remains as sharp as it was when I got it).

I truly do wish I had the patience and skill to sharpen it like you guys, but I just don't.

Wait! I just remembered. I have two machetes that I use from time to time and I do hand sharpen them. On my belt sander.

Bob

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