Recommend a Sharpener to Gift

[JD Spydo]

I voted for the Spyderco 204 Sharpmaker. You just can't go wrong with that kit. And they can always add extra stones later on if they really get into advanced sharpening.

I've got one of the original Galley V kits that I purchased way back in the late 90s and it sure has advantages for larger blades and for many types of culinary knives.

But overall the 204 Sharpmaker is a sharpening kit that you just can't go wrong with.

[cabfrank]

I'm pondering whether I get should a Worksharp or a new Sharpmaker. I'm leaning Worksharp, because I already have a Sharpmaker, but it is very old, with only one angle setting. It does still get the job done very adequately, or better, so of course I don't really need either, but we all know how much that matters sometimes. Any opinions?

[kennethsime]

I'm pondering whether I get should a Worksharp or a new Sharpmaker. I'm leaning Worksharp, because I already have a Sharpmaker, but it is very old, with only one angle setting. It does still get the job done very adequately, or better, so of course I don't really need either, but we all know how much that matters sometimes. Any opinions?

I would love to recommend the sharpmaker, but if you already have one I'm going to recommend the Work Sharp. It's so easy man. And so flexible. I'm having a blast with this thing.

My friends received their Work Sharp one Monday and sharpened their first knife ever the very next day - they sent me the video proof that they had created a clean paper slicer. The Work Sharp was definitely the right decision for me.

[cabfrank]

Thanks for your thoughts. It seems like a no-brainer at the price. I'm assuming the stones won't last long, but apparently replacements aren't expensive either.

[CPM-Greg]

Does it matter which of these sharpeners discussed are suitable for more funky blades like my Vrango, Subvert, Pingo, and Lil Lum?

Thanks

CPM-Greg

[kennethsime]

Does it matter which of these sharpeners discussed are suitable for more funky blades like my Vrango, Subvert, Pingo, and Lil Lum?

Thanks

CPM-Greg

I think for the purpose of the poll, the subject is simple kitchen sharpening needs for inexperienced sharpeners.

[kennethsime]

For units in that price range, it's honestly very tough to beat the WorkSharp Precision Adjust sharpener ($50) I don't even take my standard Sharpmaker out for use anymore.

Rick, I just wanted to thank you for the recommendation.

Last night the friends in question sent me a video of the very first knife they sharpened cutting through some printer paper cleanly. I'm going to help them refine their technique a bit and then they'll tackle the Miyabi.

They're super stoked on the Work Sharp, and it was absolutely the right call.

[TkoK83Spy]

For units in that price range, it's honestly very tough to beat the WorkSharp Precision Adjust sharpener ($50) I don't even take my standard Sharpmaker out for use anymore.

Rick, I just wanted to thank you for the recommendation.

Last night the friends in question sent me a video of the very first knife they sharpened cutting through some printer paper cleanly. I'm going to help them refine their technique a bit and then they'll tackle the Miyabi.

They're super stoked on the Work Sharp, and it was absolutely the right call.

Awesome! Glad I could help. I know a lot of people may think it's garbage because of the price or in comparison to the other guided systems out there. But, there is no denying that it gets the job done!

[bleasure]

Great thread. I'm curious if anyone has experience sharpening hand plane blades using the Worksharp, or even the Sharpmaker? One of the things that's made me want to try to get better at hand sharpening, despite the high learning curve, price, and amount of equipment is the variety of things you can sharpen that way. But you also obviously have far less angle control, and for something like a plane you'd really need to buy a guide (after my efforts at hand sharpening) because the plane blade angle and high sharpness are extremely important for an effectively working bench plane, or things like chisels, etc. The adavntage of the SM is the variety of things it can sharpen with ease, and the WS seems great for consistency and customizing angles. It's hard to pick between them when you don't want to spend the $ on both at the moment. Any thoughts from other woodworkers, or people who sharpen other non-knife stuff, on which is more effective?

[kennethsime]

Great thread. I'm curious if anyone has experience sharpening hand plane blades using the Worksharp, or even the Sharpmaker? One of the things that's made me want to try to get better at hand sharpening, despite the high learning curve, price, and amount of equipment is the variety of things you can sharpen that way. But you also obviously have far less angle control, and for something like a plane you'd really need to buy a guide (after my efforts at hand sharpening) because the plane blade angle and high sharpness are extremely important for an effectively working bench plane, or things like chisels, etc. The adavntage of the SM is the variety of things it can sharpen with ease, and the WS seems great for consistency and customizing angles. It's hard to pick between them when you don't want to spend the $ on both at the moment. Any thoughts from other woodworkers, or people who sharpen other non-knife stuff, on which is more effective?

I think you kind of hit the nail on the head as far as versatility goes - the Work Sharp does one thing really well, which is making precise knife sharpening easy to do.

The Sharpmaker makes knife sharpening fairly easy to do, and also offers a host of other features. You've got the scissor sharpener, you can use the base + two rods as a flat bench stone, heck the sharpmaker rods themselves are really useful in-hand.

I'm not a woodworker, but I bet that the sharpmaker would be the better bet for versatility.

[JRinFL]

If it were me, and it's not as I am not a woodworker, I would buy the appropriate bench stones to sharpen planes and chisels. I would not attempt to use either the WS or the SM to sharpen those tools. Bench stones plus a guide seem ideal for plane blades and chisels. Leevalley.com has appropriate sharpening gear for wood workers as one example.

[zuludelta]

I know the OP has already made his choice, but I'm throwing in my 2 cents anyway LOL.

My first recommendation would be for a Sharpmaker... it's very, very versatile if you have reasonable freehand sharpening skills (the overturned Sharpmaker base can be used as an improvised benchstone, thus one isn't really limited to just the 30°, 40°, and 12.5° angle settings). And I can't overstate how useful it is for me to have the ability to sharpen serrated edges. The only shortcoming I find with it is the diamond or CBN rods don't come standard with the system and getting them adds significantly to the overall cost. But that's an afi problem... your average knife user (assuming he/she isn't sharpening high volume vanadium carbide supersteels) should get along fine with the standard medium and fine ceramic rods.

I haven't been using the Work Sharp Precision Adjust for that long, but I think it's also a good, budget-friendly sharpening option, particularly for folks who don't have a lot of freehand sharpening experience or those who have fine motor control issues. The included coarse and fine diamond abrasives also make it a better option out-of-the-box than the Sharpmaker for tasks like reprofiling and repairing edges (this is my primary use for the Precision Adjust). It's hard to beat the price of the Precision Adjust, too... the entire system costs only slightly more than a pair of Sharpmaker CBN or diamond rods.

All that said, between the two I still prefer the Sharpmaker (once supplemented with the add-on CBN/diamond rods) as an "if I could only have one" sharpening solution, due to its versatility.

[sal]

I would suggest the Gauntlet.

sal

[Demon85z]

I would suggest the Gauntlet.

sal

Sal I've used the sharpmaker for years, still amazed by it every time I use it! I've been following the "if its not broke don't fix it " motto. I often forget with the advancements in steels and technology that something as timeless as the sharpmaker itself has too advanced. I am going to get a gauntlet on order and try the new platform.

[kennethsime]

I would suggest the Gauntlet.

sal

Thank you for chiming in Sal!

I think that a Gauntlet or a Galley will be the next step for them.

I've been telling myself I would get a Galley as soon as I got myself a nice VG-10 Gyuto, and I think that's still true. Nothing beats Spyderco's ceramic for quick touch ups!