Sharpening your Spydies

[uhiforgot]

I've had the chance to sharpen a few Spydies for various customers when I noticed the clips and started conversations. Most of them have their knives "professionally" sharpened, and have used them hard as they were meant to be. But when I get to sharpen them, I'm taking off a whole lot more steel with a fraction of the effort it takes to sharpen my own. This was most notable on a VG10 D3 a few months ago, and an ATS55 Police I sharpened yesterday. The sharpmaker is now littered with ATS55 metal shavings. But this is what I'm wondering:

1) Does "professional" sharpening ruin the heat treat of the blade? (this might be a sign that the person sharpening is using a grinder or something, eh?)

2) What is your preference in sharpening your Spydies?

[vampyrewolf]

I've got 200/300 and 500/800 AO stones, the 303MF and 204MF from :spyder: , and a ~14"x3" strop loaded with veritas green

I strop my knives after a good amount of use (could be a day, could be a week or two). The 303 or 204 get used when the strop fails to bring back a working edge. The AO stones are usually used on kitchen knives, since by the time they get sharpened again there are so many nicks and dents it's not funny (or when someone gives me a knife to shapen, same story).

nothing like sharpening by hand to waste time. Can spend an hour if I want to, or create a working edge in about 5min flat. 18yrs of freehand sharpening, only managed to cut myself a couple times while sharpening (note to self, fingers stay UNDER the stone :o )


As far as 'professional' sharpening, a lot of them use a buffer. If you really want to see a sharp edge that's mechanically produced... get a cardboard buffing wheel.... nuff said

[WhyNot]

I received Sharpmaker only two day ago. Last night I used it for the first time. After watching DVD (Thank you, Sal!) and talking to experienced sharpener (Thank you, bh49) I did not have any problem sharpening one kitchen knife and making my SS Jester almost as sharp as it used to be. The best thing – I did not add any new scratches!
So, Yes “I sharpen them myself”. :D
WhyNot.

[Piet.S]

I got the medium and fine benchstones from Spyderco.
Get them all shaving, no worries.

[Left Hand Path]

I sharpen all of them myself with 204 Sharpmaker, and DMT coarse stone when needed. I also use the 701 Profile set for SE.

I have found sharpening to be very rewarding. It is a good feeling to put a sharp edge on a knife, and my friends/family have been very happy with some of their knives that I have sharpened.

[bh49]

talking to experienced sharpener (Thank you, bh49)
WhyNot.

You are flattering me. Thank you.
I started to sharpen my knives only a year and half ago and just a few month ago I started to do acceptable job. I am using 204 with UF stones for sharpening and coarse (150 and 320 grit) ½” triangular Congress Tool stones (Ruby, Moldmaster, and Flex. Mostly I use Ruby and I want to try Res-Cut) with sharpmaker base for big jobs.

[moeman]

I sharpen all my knives by hand with a ProFile Set ~ 701MF
I have been for years.

Never really cared for the sharpmaker type fixed angle. all by feel....

[bigkahunasix]

Where do I start? I have probably a dozen AO and SiC stones, all 3 Spyderco bench stones, 303's, 701's, 203 and 204 w/ UF's, modified lansky, every grit of DMT pocket and bench hones, Edge Pro Apex and 2 or 3 strops.
So yes, I do my own and many other peoples too. My gunshop customers got in the habit of having me repair, reprofile and sharpen their EDC's and hunting knives after a couple of impromtu cutting demos where I sought to prove Spydercos superior edge holding ability. It worked, I sell alot of :spyder: and also sharpen quite a few too.
I enjoy doing it, it is kind of a zen thing. Becoming one with the steel. Relaxing and theraputic in the pursuit of the ultimate edge.

Bigk6

[Bolster]

I'm a time-wasting self-sharpener. Even though I own the 204 for kitchen use, I still like to use a certain clamping rig, which shall remain un-named, so I don't arouse the ire of the forum, for use on PE pocket knives. The rig makes certain I don't deviate much from stroke to stroke, and allows me to sharpen a knife in such a way that it looks factory fresh with crisp edges (ie, no apple-seedness or blade scrapes).

[charge]

I have the Sharpmaker and officially sharpened my first knife ever with it. I practiced on my 154CM Leatherman blade that was used daily weeks. After about 10 minutes it shaved hair for the first time in its life. I hope to add the 701 Profiles to tackle my Tasman Salt.

I am impressed with all of Spydercos offerings.

charge

[Slick]

Edge Pro Apex for small knives and a Chefs Pro grinder for big (long) knives. Plus a nice set of strops (black/green/oiled) when I go nuts. I am too cheap to invest in a Sharpmaker I don't really need. Someday I'll pull the trigger on a sharpmaker. The Edge Pro is near idiot proof although I can still round a tip.

[uhiforgot]

Crud. I thought there'd be more people using professional sharpening so I could explore that phenomenon in more depth...

Anybody else ever sharpened a knife that has been "professionally" sharpened before?

[smcfalls13]

Sharpmaker and 701 Profiles are all I need. I don't need my knives to atomically split my arm hairs, I just need them to cut cardboard cleanly, and my own sharpening skills can handle that.

I sharpen my own. If I ever get to the point where the edge is too far gone, I'll send them in to be sharpened.

[yablanowitz]

Having seen some of the results of "professional" sharpeners, there is no way that I will let anyone else sharpen my knives. Remember, "professional" just means someone is stupid or desperate enough to pay for the service. It doesn't mean the person has the ability to sharpen a knife correctly. Yes, buffed edges can be incredibly sharp. You can also overheat a blade on a buffing wheel very easily if you don't know exactly what you are doing.

[steeltiger]

I use DMT black extra coarse, and get a hair popping edge from it. If I use anything else I cant get them sharp, on serrations I use a ceramic crock stick, and can get paper cutting sharp, solong as they arent dull to begin with. :spyder: =fun :D

[Fred Sanford]

I sharpen them myself. I have a Lansky setup and the stones to do serrations too. :)

It's therapy.

[Tank]

I sharpen myself 98% of the time, I have had a couple that I let go to long and had some problem sharpening but I am pretty good at keeping them sharp.

[jaislandboy]

I strop everything I have on a leather strop loaded with veritas green i snagged from knivesplus......I strop all hawkbills on a makeshift wooden dowel with glued on leather loaded with same veritas green compound ....

[spydutch]

Last Sunday I was finally able to put a spyderco factory sharp edge on my Delica 3/SE, so I guess I finally get the hang of it with my 204. I sharpen myself always.

However I must admit that I send 2 Endura 3/SE's to Golden for the first time, I didn't have the patience to restore the edges myself :o :o

[Peter1960]

I sharpen all knives, scissors, ... by myself and use the Sharpmaker as "Sharpholder". For regrinding plain edges I use the big Tormek water grinder (no possibilty to ruin the heat treatment :) ). If I will ever have the need to regrind a serrated edge, I will send it to Spyderco.