Sharpmaker question

[Shenmue728]

I got my D2 para shaving sharp the other day on a mulit-oil benchstone we have at work. I have been looking at the sharpmaker for a long time and I read you can lay the stones flat and use free hand as a traditional benchstone. If you use 2 stones to make the flat plane, is there a gap between the stones? If there is, does it or will it effect the sharpening job you are doing?

I really like freehand sharpening and spyderco just has the quality i can trust. thanks for any input! :D

[Phalanx7.62]

I would think the Spyderco bench stones would be a better fit for you than the sharpmaker.

[yablanowitz]

There is a small gap between the stones when placed in the back of the base. Unless you are running the blade straight down the stones instead of using a heel to tip stroke, it shouldn't cause any problems. At least it hasn't for me.

[THG]

I think it's hard to freehand using the Sharpmaker as a benchstone. The stones don't rise high enough from the wide base, so you might not even be able to get your knife sharpened at the right angle, depending on how the knife is designed (if you hold the knife at a high enough angle, part of the handle will touch the base, and you won't be able to get the edge toward the kick sharpened).

[dalefuller]

I have used mine as a benchstone before, but I agree that if you freehand, you'd be better off with one of Spyderco's real benchstones.

[whkento]

I have used mine as a benchstone before, but I agree that if you freehand, you'd be better off with one of Spyderco's real benchstones.

+1 on that.

[Shenmue728]

Thanks for the input. the reason i was considering the sharpmaker over the stones is that i have some SE knives. is it possible to sharpen them in the benchstones?

[Morales]

The sharpmaker is perfect for SE sharpening. Benchstones just wouldn't work as they only touch the tips of the serrations. In the longrun the serrations would disappear step by step. The edges if the sharpmaker rods are able to sharpen the serrations completely.

[ghostrider]

Thanks for the input. the reason i was considering the sharpmaker over the stones is that i have some SE knives. is it possible to sharpen them in the benchstones?

If that's the case, do you think that maybe the 701 profile stones may be a better match for you?

[Shenmue728]

Thanks for the input guys. Just like trying to decide between 2 knives the answer maybe just to get both :D I'll start with a sharpmaker then work my way up to the benchstones. best of both worlds :cool: just gotta save my pennies :rolleyes:

[awlriteeden]

Or get the benchstones and the profile stones! Since you say you prefer sharpening freehand, you'll probably have no problem using the profile stones, which are even more specialized for sharpening Spyderedges.