which sharpening tool should i get?

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khahztiss
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Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2004 10:33 am

which sharpening tool should i get?

#1

Post by khahztiss »

I have a long, relatively thick blade made of 440 stainless steel and is a bit messed up. Which sharpener should I get from the spyderco range? or is my blade too big for any of the sharpeners available? Thanks.
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vampyrewolf
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Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

#2

Post by vampyrewolf »

Most of the users in here will tell you to get a 204. I would say get a benchstone.

I tend to use larger(5-6&quot<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> fixed blade knives for camping, and dull the **** out of them in about 3 days. I take a simple benchstone type of thing, coarse(500) on one side, medium(700-800) on the other, as well as a 1000 grit stone for finishing.

I went on an Air Cadet Survival exersize this last weekend(weekend of June 26, 27) and sharpened all sorts of knives, because no-one else was expecting knives to dull. My knives were the only ones I DIDN'T sharpen this trip.

I have been using hand stones to sharpen as long as I can remember(about 12 yrs back). I used one of those "new improved kitchen knife sharpeners" which has a stone b/w 2 handles, you run the blade b/w the handles and its *supposed* to sharpen. It dulled the **** out of mine, 1st shot... last time with one of those.

I get my stones from out local hardware shop for about $8 and buy a new one every couple years. I currently have a 500/700, 500/800, 1000, 1200, Spydie Fine... I can take a knife from "won't cut thread" to "ouch, **** that was sharp" in about 15 minutes. 500, 800, 1200, fine *or* 500, 1000, fine.

I have a skinning knife with a shaving edge on it from my 1200 stone alone. I spent about 4 hrs working on it, and that was 3 yrs ago. I used it lots since and the 40degree held up.


So, a sharpening system normally depends on tastes. I like to know my knives, and hand sharpen, allowing me to correct for oddities in the stone, and curves in the blade. Others swear by the 204, saying anything can be sharpened on it.
The Stare
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Location: West of Big Sky

#3

Post by The Stare »

Hi khahztiss. Welcome to the forum!

I'm the furthest thing from an expert when it comes to sharpening, mostly because I don't use most of my knives very heavily. There are experts who swear by oilstones, or diamond bench stones, or the electric sharpeners. I believe that the 204 exists primarily because so many people have difficulty using a bench stone effectively. The preset angles of the rods make consistency easier for folks. Just have to hold the knife perfectly perpendicular. I believe that the 204 will handle even large knives quite effectively. Spyderco is trying to come up with good rods or sleeves to cover the ceramic rods with industrial diamonds, so more steel can be removed more quickly. But, 440 isn't usually made too hard for ceramics to handle easily.

Stare
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Clay Kesting
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Location: Sydney Australia

#4

Post by Clay Kesting »

Like Stare, I'd recommend the Sharpmaker 204. I used to sharpen freehand but I find it much easier to let the sharpening system look after the angle for me and not have to concentrate so hard, might have something to do with getting older. The first sharpening system I bought was a Gatco, similar to the Lansky setup. I found it awkward to setup on some knives and had difficulty keeping the angle consistent, particularly on long blades. OTOH the 204 is very quick to setup and gives results are consistent and predictable. I haven't used the Gatco since I got the Sharpmaker (anybody want to buy it <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>). The Sharpmaker is also very versatile as it's able to sharpen all types of blades as well as other tools. BTW I saw somewhere that many custom makers have a Sharpmaker bolted to their bench, so that must say something.

Clay

Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow, in Australia it's tomorrow already.
Zoro
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Location: MN USA

#5

Post by Zoro »

I like the sharpmaker a lot but it's only problem it can't remove a lot of metal you need something that you can thin the edge out and then use the sharpmaker to touch up the blade. I use a one in. belt sander to thin the blade out then use the sharpmaker to finnish off the blade.Works great!
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