Sharpmaker Failure

[ChrisinHove]

Unless there is serious damage, just running down the playing order (corners brown, flats brown, corners white, flats white) always works for me, whereas when I first started with the SM, that didn't seem to work - so I know your frustration!!
Not too hard alternate strokes, diamond rods for really blunt/damaged edges does it for me, now.
I would say, however, that some really cheap "stainless steel" kitchen knives of the ol' mans', just wouldn't sharpen at all. They also blunted on hard cheese, though.

[Bill1170]

Extremely cheap stainless blades are soft and stringy. The apex bends back and forth as you sharpen the sides alternately. The resulting burr is huge and hard to cleanly eliminate. The solution is to buy better knives.

Applying too much force is a common beginner mistake on the Sharpmaker. Especially on the corners, this will work harden the steel at the apex by bending it to and fro. This weakened metal won't take a proper edge and should be removed prior to resuming with better technique.

[Holland]

OP, that is part of why I asked what knives you were trying to sharpen. It may help by giving us a clue as to what edge angle and edge thickness you are working with. Other than that you are getting some good advice here in this thread.

Spencer, I cannot for the life of me figure out how Taichung makes knives with a custom level of fit and finish but they cannot sharpen. All mine have been pretty even but they have also all been pretty obtuse and some pretty dull.

Ive had the same experience, nothing the wicked edge and an angle cube can't fix

I went 600 grit then strop and lastly added a micro bevel with the SM. Literally falls through paper now :D

[MacLaren]

I just set mine to 40° and its all good!
Wouldnt take anything for my SM....
It took just a little time to get used to it, but man, its just so so nice to be able to touch up a knife so fast like ya can with the SM.
I think just staying consistent in how you are supposed to use the SM, helped me more than anything.
Honestly, Im very well over the notion of getting any other type sharpening system.
Not nocking them by any means. Its just the SM is perfect for me.

[anagarika]

Keep the rods clean. Loaded rods are less effective. I use pencil eraser on my UF.

I sharpen free hand, my lower grits are all diamonds. Diamond rod or CBN rod is highly recommended, need to use with light pressure.

Good video: https://youtu.be/ywogvxTQGXk

[Razzle]

Not the best pics, hope they help! First shows an edge that I just painted with Sharpie.



And.....after just a few swipes on the SM medium rods. You can see that the Sharpie black is being ground off right up to the apex......the sharp "edge". When both left and right edges meet at a nice apex, the blade will be relatively sharp.



The "shoulder" may not necessarily be equal on both sides, which will make your OCD crazy, but it's purely cosmetic.