Sharpmaker Appreciation - Blue Mist School of Sharpening

Discuss Spyderco's products and history.
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bluemist
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Sharpmaker Appreciation - Blue Mist School of Sharpening

#1

Post by bluemist »

Well, 3 years into my spyderco addcition and I FINALLY got a sharpmaker.

I spent 3 years using the crock sticks, the small set. I think it might be better to learn on a less sophisticated system cos when you switch up to the sharpmaker you'll be a sharpening god, like me.
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RedRunner
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#2

Post by RedRunner »

Anyway to sharpen the exotic steels like s90v with the Sharpmaker? I think it requires diamond sharpeners. I may still get one for CM154 and VG10 blades.
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bluemist
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#3

Post by bluemist »

As I understand it zdp-189 and other steels are easily maintained (with practice) on the sharpmaker. Also there is, I think, an optional set of diamond stones for the sharpmaker.
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Praxis
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#4

Post by Praxis »

The diamond sticks are a great addition to the Sharpmaker. Really come in handy when you need to reprofile a blade or clean up damage. I've just used my set to repair the edge of a old Spyderco Blackhawk with big chips on the blade. Cuts right through the GIN-1 steel. Not done yet, but the edge looks much better than before. Not sure I could have done it with the regular Sharpmaker sticks.
JD Spydo
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The 204 Sharpmaker will help you become a journeyman sharpener

#5

Post by JD Spydo »

bluemist wrote:As I understand it zdp-189 and other steels are easily maintained (with practice) on the sharpmaker. Also there is, I think, an optional set of diamond stones for the sharpmaker.
Bluemist there is a set of diamond sticks for the 204 Sharpmaker which you can buy separately. There are several vendors and New Graham usually always has them in stock. Also you need to get a set of the ultra-fine stones for the Sharpmaker. I'm truly amazed at how sharp I got my Native last night while watching the football game just fine tuning them on the ultra fine stones. I even used the ultra fine stones to strop them with afterwards and then stropped it again with a leather strop.

What I'm getting at is that for a kit type sharpener there isn't even a close runner up on the market that I'm aware of. And another thing I love about the Sharpmaker is that I learned a great deal about the basic principles of sharpening by viewing the video it came with and reading the instructional booklet that I got with my first 2 Sharpmakers. I got my first one back in 99 and I've been using my first one ever since. I have a second one I keep either in my bug out bag or tackle box.

Get the accessories that go with it if you want to really get stuff razor sharp. And by the way this kit get's scissors unbelievably sharp. good luck
Long Live the SPYDEREDGE Spyderco Hawkbills RULE!!
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sal
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#6

Post by sal »

Hi Bluemist,

Gail and I sold Crock Sticks for years before inventing the Sharpmaker. Louis Graves, the inventor of the Crock Stick is a friend of mine. I designed some of his small versions.

We felt that the concept was brilliant, but that further development was possible. With Louis Grave's help, we created the Tri-Angle Sharpmaker.

sal
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gunmike1
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#7

Post by gunmike1 »

Sal, your invention is what I got mt first sharp edge ever on, and your video instructions were priceless for me learning more about the principles of sharpening. I soon got the Diamond rods and UF rods to complete my kit, then graduated to benchstones (all 3 Spyderco grits got me started) of all kinds for more control over faster reprofiling. I still use my Sharpmaker for tune ups to hair whittling sharp on my microbevels when I don't have time to pull out the sharpening box of stones, and it is the onlygame in town for very quickly learning to get exceptionally sharp edges on most any edged tool there is. I got my Dad one a couple years ago, and gave my Father in law one for Christmas this year (so he can keep his Superhawk I gave him and all of his kitchen knives tuned up. I lethim borrow my Diamond rods to set his backbevels, and I also let him borrow the UF's to hook him on just how sharp you unassuming kit can get knives, scissors, darts, fish hooks, and anything else. I may use benchstones the vast majority of the time, but with my love of my Superhawk, Spyderhawk SE, and Endura Wave SE it gets plenty of work on top of it's quick touch ups that I still use the Sharpmaker for. I can't recommend it enough to people looking for a first time sharpening system that they will use a very long time. It is super simple to use with great video and paper instructions, the only thing it doesn't excel at is rebevelling (use the Diamond rods or lean a coarse benchstone against the rods for that). For just over $50 delivered I gave my Father in law his favorite and most useful gift of the year with his Sharpmaker, which he has already used to tune up all of his knives (and save me the work in the process, I guess it was a gift for me, too!).

Mike
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