Cheapest Razor Sharpener

[Scorpion]

What is the cheapest sharpener that can come the closest to the factory spyderco plain edge? It will definitely need to be under $50, but the cheaper the better.

Secondary questions:

Are all spyderco edge angles perfect, always consistent to a standard?

Are predefined angle sharpeners useful (pocket pal) if the angle isn't the same?
-If I go this route is it reasonable to sharpen the edge until it is the same and then continue with touchups?

Are freehand stones and sharpening steels better at getting a razor edge than the above?

[Evil D]

You can get a basic sharpening stone for very cheap, but you'll have to develop some skill at sharpening free hand. The tool you sharpen with isn't as important as the person doing the sharpening. Murray Carter sharpened a knife on a brick and stropped it on newspaper and it would shave hair.

Secondary question, no not all Spyderco edges are perfect. They're sharpened by real human hands on a grinding wheel, so human error happens sometimes. However, they shoot for 30 degrees inclusive (15 per side) and are typically very close to this and almost always extremely sharp from the factory.

If by "predefined angle sharpeners" you mean those pull-through style sharpeners, I would personally run away from those as fast as your legs will carry you, so to answer the last question YES freehand stones are by far superior, but again will require you to actually learn some skill to earn a sharp edge.

That said, you can get a Lansky for under $50, which also requires some skill and there are some shortcomings that come with almost every jig sharpener available, but you will get razor sharp edges with this system http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-LKUNV-Univ ... B000B8L6M2

Most people here will suggest that you go with the Spyderco Sharpmaker, which is in its own right an excellent sharpener. It isn't the best option for reprofiling edges though. Not quite under your $50 limit, but they're definitely worth the $54 asking price. http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Tri-Angl ... B004HIZKHE

[Scorpion]

You can get a basic sharpening stone for very cheap, but you'll have to develop some skill at sharpening free hand. The tool you sharpen with isn't as important as the person doing the sharpening. Murray Carter sharpened a knife on a brick and stropped it on newspaper and it would shave hair.

Secondary question, no not all Spyderco edges are perfect. They're sharpened by real human hands on a grinding wheel, so human error happens sometimes. However, they shoot for 30 degrees inclusive (15 per side) and are typically very close to this and almost always extremely sharp from the factory.

If by "predefined angle sharpeners" you mean those pull-through style sharpeners, I would personally run away from those as fast as your legs will carry you, so to answer the last question YES freehand stones are by far superior, but again will require you to actually learn some skill to earn a sharp edge.

That said, you can get a Lansky for under $50, which also requires some skill and there are some shortcomings that come with almost every jig sharpener available, but you will get razor sharp edges with this system http://www.amazon.com/Lansky-LKUNV-Univ ... B000B8L6M2

Most people here will suggest that you go with the Spyderco Sharpmaker, which is in its own right an excellent sharpener. It isn't the best option for reprofiling edges though. Not quite under your $50 limit, but they're definitely worth the $54 asking price. http://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Tri-Angl ... B004HIZKHE

Wow, thanks for the informative reply. Is it possible to buy only a fine stone/honing steel and simply touchup without ever doing a huge sharpen? Or is there an advantage to the occasional major resharpen?

[Zenith]

Get one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/DMT-FWFC-Double-D ... oarse+fine

Read this:

http://gpvec.unl.edu/files/griffin/B-PI ... DG_2K7.pdf

Practice.

Watch a few videos on youtube.

To give you an idea, if your techinque is right, no matter the stone, you can get a good edge. Just remember, if you have a steel that is high wear resistant you will have to spend more time sharpening it.

[video=youtube;OPGGo3W15HQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPGGo3W15HQ[/video]

[Zenith]

[video=youtube;oLx_VL27fy8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLx_VL27fy8[/video]

[Evil D]

Wow, thanks for the informative reply. Is it possible to buy only a fine stone/honing steel and simply touchup without ever doing a huge sharpen? Or is there an advantage to the occasional major resharpen?

It's definitely possible, it just depends on how you use your knife and what steel it has. If you chip or roll the edge on some steels it will be more challenging to fix if you only have fine ceramics.

[Scorpion]

It's definitely possible, it just depends on how you use your knife and what steel it has. If you chip or roll the edge on some steels it will be more challenging to fix if you only have fine ceramics.

VG-10. I will only be cutting tape, paper, and maybe food, cardboard, or wood occasionally. Nothing major or often. Also the finest sharpener I have is my parents' steel honing rod. That should work as a fine stone right?

If I had to buy something, would this work? http://www.mec.ca/AST/ShopMEC/HikingCam ... rpener.jsp

[Blerv]

While a small stone and not able to do some blades like hawkbills and radical recurves a Spyderco Doublestuff stone is like $25. It has fine on one side, medium grit on the other. Reprofiling on something like that would be a painstaking process but could be done depending on how much material you are removing and what kind of steel it is.

The Sharpmaker is approximately your budget and is a bit more sophistocated. You can also get the UF stone and diamond ones down the road to round out the functionality. It can do hawkbills and serrations. It lacks the portability of things like the Doublestuff, 701 profile set (discontinued) or Goldenstone but adds versatility as a nice baseline sharpening system.

[Scorpion]

If I decide to buy a high(ish) quality stone, but can only afford one, is it better to get fine or extra fine? I love a sharp edge and if a little skill on a fine is sufficient it would be more useful as I could use it on duller knives as well. These stones are dmt diamond ones.

[Zenith]

If I decide to buy a high(ish) quality stone, but can only afford one, is it better to get fine or extra fine? I love a sharp edge and if a little skill on a fine is sufficient it would be more useful as I could use it on duller knives as well. These stones are dmt diamond ones.

This depends on what you use your knives for. If you are going to use them for hard cutting chores the going with a coarse, fine stone is good enough.

I have a DMT coarse fine diasharp with me in the field currently and can get a shaving edge from the fine when applying the principles I showed above.

If you use your knives a lot and the experience a damage it is better to get a good coarse stone to align the edge.

A sharp edge is essentially two points meeting at one point, if that is done with a bastard file or a brick, however, after that refinement needs to take place, that refinement is where you use your finer stones.

[Scorpion]

VG-10. I will only be cutting tape, paper, and maybe food, cardboard, or wood occasionally. Nothing major or often.

I am just wondering if I would be benefited more by a sharper edge, since I would start with a spyderco factory edge I would either sharpen more often on a finer stone and get a shaving edge, or a slightly less sharp edge sharpened less often on a "fine" stone. In the latter case I could also use the stone on my less-awesome-than-spyderco knives.

[Scorpion]

How does this seem for a paper shaving stone (not necessarily arm hair shaving)? http://www.amazon.com/DMT-D3F-3-Inch-Di ... y_hi_img_y Could this be my only sharpening stone? Assume regular touch ups and a sharp edge to begin with.

[kennethsime]

I would highly suggest a sharpmaker if $50 is in your budget. I can't do anything but steeling freehand but on the sharpmaker I can get pretty much anything sharp.

[Zenith]

I would highly suggest a sharpmaker if $50 is in your budget. I can't do anything but steeling freehand but on the sharpmaker I can get pretty much anything sharp.

True. At just over $50 you can get a sharpmaker. That will suite Scorpion well IMO.

[JD Spydo]

This is one instance where the old adage "You Get What You Pay For" really comes into play. Because sharpening equipment and sharpening tools in general is one prime example of quality being the big difference in results. To limit yourself to $50 or under and hoping to get premium results really restricts your expectations.

I have no idea how much money I've got invested in Sharpening tools, kits, benchstones and tools that aid in sharpening. But I have found everyone of them to be a great investment.

Now "EVIL D" hit the nail on the head when he said that you really do need to attain the skills necessary. Because what good is it to have thousands of dollars worth of tools without having the skill or knowledge necessary to use them.

Now you can't go wrong with any of Spyderco's great equipment. And if you're wanting to sharpen any kind of a razor whether it's straight razors or whatever edged tools you're sharpening you definitely need something in the ultra-fine range.

But don't get the cart before the horse. Get some knowledge about the skills of sharpening before you buy anything. The Sharpmaker would be a great place to start.

[Scorpion]

This is one instance where the old adage "You Get What You Pay For" really comes into play. Because sharpening equipment and sharpening tools in general is one prime example of quality being the big difference in results. To limit yourself to $50 or under and hoping to get premium results really restricts your expectations.

I have no idea how much money I've got invested in Sharpening tools, kits, benchstones and tools that aid in sharpening. But I have found everyone of them to be a great investment.

Now "EVIL D" hit the nail on the head when he said that you really do need to attain the skills necessary. Because what good is it to have thousands of dollars worth of tools without having the skill or knowledge necessary to use them.

Now you can't go wrong with any of Spyderco's great equipment. And if you're wanting to sharpen any kind of a razor whether it's straight razors or whatever edged tools you're sharpening you definitely need something in the ultra-fine range.

But don't get the cart before the horse. Get some knowledge about the skills of sharpening before you buy anything. The Sharpmaker would be a great place to start.

Stupid me. I meant a razor sharp edge on a regular PE folding knife. The thing is, I don't think I want to spend more on sharpeners than knives (one keychain, two multitools). However I understand what you're saying and I see the value in a great set of sharpeners but only if you have a lot to sharpen.

[Evil D]

Stupid me. I meant a razor sharp edge on a regular PE folding knife. The thing is, I don't think I want to spend more on sharpeners than knives (one keychain, two multitools). However I understand what you're saying and I see the value in a great set of sharpeners but only if you have a lot to sharpen.

Do you only plan on ever owning the knives you currently own? Got any kitchen knives that could use sharpening? Friends knives? Most sharpeners will out last your knife.

[Zenith]

Not worth investing in a good knife, maybe even good tools such as chisels and not have good sharpening equipment to bring out the best in your tools.

[Scorpion]

Ok, so perhaps I will get the sharpmaker for my birthday. Will it be sufficient with only the stones it comes with to get a paper shaving edge? Also, what exactly are the shortcomings of a Lanskey "jig" setup? It certainly is cheaper. Guys I realize this is a spyderco forum and I will certainly buy their knives before the competition's, but if other brand's sharpeners are better value please let me know.

[Zenith]

Ok, so perhaps I will get the sharpmaker for my birthday. Will it be sufficient with only the stones it comes with to get a paper shaving edge? Also, what exactly are the shortcomings of a Lanskey "jig" setup? It certainly is cheaper. Guys I realize this is a spyderco forum and I will certainly buy their knives before the competition's, but if other brand's sharpeners are better value please let me know.

Scorpion

In all honesty, you can have the best system in the world, but without practice you wont get a good edge.

On larger blades the lansky thins out the tip. IE, the further away the tip is from the clamp, the lower the angle will be, the thinner the knife's tip will become. So you will have a 20 degree angle at the handle and a 10 degree edge at the tip.

Have a look here and see Sal Glesser demonstrate the sharpmaker.

http://www.youtube.com/user/SpydercoKni ... eos?view=0

When it comes to value, then what are you after? There have been good examples given.

If you want polished refined edges like you can see here:

http://www.spyderco.com/forums/showthre ... ose-Edges-!!!!!

You are going to have to invest more.

If you want a shaving sharp edge, you dont need that level of refinement. Look at my video of the old Norton stone I posted. That costs, $20.

What do you expect from the sharpening system? A shaving edge can be obtained easily with proper technique.