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Best Knife Sharpener

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Discussion Starter · #1 ·
Ok guy's. I want to know who makes the best knife sharpener thats not a hundred bucks?
Some of us are gifted enough to be able to get a knife razor sharp on a rock in a few mins. I am not that gifted. I can do it but it will take me 30 mins.
I want one of the Lansky type sharpeners that holds the blade at the proper angle and will sharpen the hardest steel..

I almost bought a Lansky Diamond kit but wanted to get faCts first.
Also where is the cheapest place to get what you reccomend?
 
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#2 · (Edited)
A MS knife guy I know finishes all his knives with a Spyderco Sharpmaker and he doesn't mess with the Ultra stones. He only uses the white smooth blocks. I have watched him finish off many knives with it including mine and it makes em' sharp. If its good enough for him its good enough for me.
 
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#5 ·
I bought the Lansky pro kit and not happy with the results. Just doesn't seem to get it that sharp but it does help when the blade is so bad you need a guide to get a profile started on the blade.
 
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#6 · (Edited)
For $40 you can buy a Harbor Freight belt sander. The belts are 1" wide and 30" long. It's a workbench model and you hold the knife edge up to the belt while is running. There are many videos online about how to use them to sharpen. I also own several other systems, including the Lansky, KME (better made Lansky), Japanese water stones, and diamond stones, but once you get used to the belt sander, you forget about the others. You will need to buy some fine grain belts online.

Purists will tell you it is heresy to use a belt sander for this purpose. I have so many different implements that need sharpening, however, and this is the fastest easiest way I have ever used. (Try sharpening a long machete on one of those other systems.) When friends come for dinner now, they bring all of their kitchen and other knives that need sharpening. Fifteen minutes later, everything is sharp sharp sharp. You touch the blade lightly to the belt until you feel the burr come up on the other side, then rotate. Then switch to a finer grain belt, or even finish with a leather belt and rouge. Just don't let the blades get too hot or it could ruin the strength of the steel.

Sander: http://www.harborfreight.com/1-inch-x-30-inch-belt-sander-2485.html

Belts: http://www.theedgemasters.com/SharpeningSuppliesforSale.html?gclid=CL-T_avGhrQCFYuZ4AodOHgASw

The belts are $8 each. I think I have a 120 grit, 400, 800, and leather. I also have a very rough 40 that is used to put new edges on an axe or machete.

Youtube video. Dull knife to shaving hair in under 5 minutes with the Harbor Freight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTQttzLrdtU

Of course, you can't carry a belt sander in the field with you, so you do need to maintain some hand skills to use when you're not at home.
 
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#7 ·
I bought a Lanksy and really don't like it at all. I was highly disappointed in it actually. For all the great reviews I read it really only works well on wide bladed knives in my opinion. My next one to try eventually will be the Spyderco as those are supposed to be great.
 
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#8 ·
I know the purists will cringe but I use a Speedy Sharp to put a fast edge on any blade I own. My wife has developed the art of dulling knives to a fine point. And she complains that they are dull after she scrapes them across a glass cutting board .....
Anyway, I find the Speedy Sharp to be fast and easy to use. If I want a scalpel I can always spend an hour or two with a water stone and the edge goes away after the first cut?
Are we talking about utility knives or working knives, or what?
Semper Fi
Rocky
 
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#10 ·
About two years ago, maybe less, I learned from this board how great the Spiderco sharpener worked for others so bought my own off Ebay and IMO the best knife sharpener for under $100.00 period. Tried Lansky and several other sharpeners but like Spidy better. I paid $46.00 getting a good buy but I'd have paid more once I knew how well it worked...The key too sharpening with this tool is; listen and pay attention to the CD several times, at least 2 or 3, then practice awhile doing exactly as the CD tells you. Last thing is,- if sharpening often and before the blade is dull as - @#%$#%&*, only the white finish stones are needed. I keep my stones very clean as well, takes just a few minutes with soap and water...

GC45
 
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#14 ·
I used to use a Lansky and it worked fine, with the ceramic sticks especially. But i wanted to learn to hold an angle by hand and bought two grades of DMT diamond stones. With a little practice and Youtube help, I can now freehand better than i used to do with the Lansky. I think it's worth the trouble...and it's fun.
 
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Tried the Spydy Sharpmaker and HATED it!!!

Something about getting the shoulder of your blade honed down to match the angle of the stones/rods before the edge even hits the stone/rod and it can take FOREVER!!! :grumble:

After almost an hour of fooling around with this thing, I packed it up and returned it. I was so frustrated, it gave me enough determination to practice with a wet stone & I have learned to get a great edge on my blades.

Sorry, but I don't understand how one can say it's "idiot proof" because personally, you'd have to be an idiot to waste that long getting the shoulder on your blade honed down rather than take much less time and learn to use a wet stone.

Just my 2 cents from personal experience.

Now that little device on Amazon looks interesting for doing everything around the house at a brisk pace.
 
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