Sharpmaker rod angle

[fivesense]

I've got the sense the left rod (30º angle) is slightly different (greater) than the right angle rod on my Spyderco Sharpmaker. Not so much visually, but by the way the rod fits into the triangle hole, and by the friction of sharpening on the left side as compared to the right.

I realize this is an unscientific comparison and I'm being a bit OCD (the edges aren't too terribly noticeably different). Does anyone else have this experience with their Sharpmaker?

I'm going to compare to another tomorrow. Just curious. And I'm sure others will appreciate my unscientific "precision."

[vivi]

There's a chance the difference you feel is due to how you're holding the knife. Something to keep in mind.

[soc_monki]

If you really want to be certain, download a protractor app for your phone, calibrate it, and check. I did this to check my lansky turn box rods, and they're only slightly off from 20 degrees. Don't use the 25 degree holes so I didn't care about checking them!

As for the sharpmaker, I've been getting excellent results so I'm not worried about it. Redid the bevel on my Tenacious with my lansky guided kit to about 32 degrees (16 per side) and then hit it on the sharpmaker for the 40 degree edge. It's a laser through printer paper, and will take hair off my arm so I think it's sharp enough!

[FK]

I have the same situation, the triangular holes in the plastic base are a rather loose fit for the ceramic stones.
The LH side is not exactly the same as the RH side angle.

One of the reasons I only use the Sharpmaker for SE blades,,, my Spyderco ceramic bench stones are use for plain edge blades.

FK

[fivesense]

Thanks, FK. What's an SE blade? Cerrated?

Socmonkey and Vivi- thank you for responding.

I may have to resort to a protractor and will also compare to another unit.

[soc_monki]

No problem! It may be off a bit, nothing is perfect. I doubt it will make much difference unless it is way off. A degree or 2? It'll be fine. They have to have some slop in the holes so you can get the stones in and out. And the stones themselves probably have a certain tolerance, some might fit tighter than others.

Check it out though, I may do the same for mine. It will be interesting to see. B

[Ric]

Had the same feeling, measured it with an angle mobile phone app and both side matched.

That are your measured results?

[Bloke]

One of the hardest things to do in this world is to make any two things exactly the same size.

Everything made has a tolerance, be it an inch or a tenth of a thousandth of an inch. When multiple parts come together accumulative error comes into play. :)

[Sharp Guy]

No problem! It may be off a bit, nothing is perfect. I doubt it will make much difference unless it is way off. A degree or 2? It'll be fine. They have to have some slop in the holes so you can get the stones in and out. And the stones themselves probably have a certain tolerance, some might fit tighter than others.

Check it out though, I may do the same for mine. It will be interesting to see. B

^ This

I checked mine a while ago with my angle cube and mine are off a tiny bit. It's not so much that the hole in the base is off but one rod is a little different dimensionally. Try checking by using the same stone in both holes. It doesn't bother me (I'm usually OCD about these things too) because it doesn't really matter for my use. I don't use the SM to reprofile anyway. I use it to touch up just the apex. I get my knives more than sharp enough and I can't really see a difference in that tiny edge bevel.

[lowcountry]

My left side is a lot looser than the right. I figured it was way off, so I put a piece of paper hanging over the edge of my kitchen counter, then laid the sharper maker on top(also hanging over the edge). Traced the inside of the stones onto the paper. Removed the sharp maker. Continued the angle to the vertex and measured with my daughters protractor. 42*. Close enough and a lot closer than I “thought”.

[FK]

fivesense,

Yes, SE = serrated, works very well with corners presented on kitchen bread knives and Victorinox 4 inch steak knives as well as Spyderco SE blades.

FK