Knife Sharpener of Choice

[Glenn Bartley]

I guess it stands to reason that if you have a knife of choice, and if you care for it at all, then you have a knife sharpener of choice. What would that be?

I use an Arkansas Hard (?) Stone I have had for about 18 years now, formally my great-grandfather's. Does a good job, when I use it right. I wind up putting scratches all over the blade sometimes even though it does not look to me as if I have to low of an angle. Someday I will learn how to properly sharpen a knife!

I am thinking of getting a Lansky Sharpening system if they still make them, but a simple stone is great for home or the field. I usually carry a small stone in my ruck, and have also used a small flat diamond sharpener.

[Magnum88C]

I have a course/fine diamond "stone" to begin with, then hone the blade with a soft Arkansas. If I'm putting a conves profile on the edge, I hone it in, and keep it honed with a razor strop.

Needless to say, I didn't vote, as I use 3 of the choices.

I'd also stay away from those v-notch sharpeners as it's too easy to ruin the temper on a blade.

[RIKA]

I use the Lansky system and it works great. Also carry one of those cylinder type diamond hones for field work (the rod type that fits into a brass handle - you unscrew it, turn it around, and re-screw it back into the handle to use).

RIKA

[Glenn Bartley]

Even if you use more than one sharpener, which would you prefer if you could only have one?

[RIKA]

The Lansky.

RIKA

[TODD 3465]

Ok that cleared it up. I'd go with the arkansas stone.

[Magnum88C]

Even if you use more than one sharpener, which would you prefer if you could only have one?

Then I'd pick a conventional stone, Arkansas.

[brass hammer]

i have been using a tri-stone setup lately from soft wetstone to hard oil moon stone, i have a lanskey[somewhere?]

i voted hard commercial stone.




[deleted] thanks.

[84 C4]

I use the "Tungsten Carbide V," because theys cheap and easy to use.

[txjaws2000]

I used to work for a machine shop and when I started there they gave us 1 sharpener. It was about 4inches long and about 1in to 1 and a half wide they told us that the first one was free. If we lost it we would buy the next one, needless to say I never misplaced it. A few guys did and they cried and griped for months on end for the amount that was taken from their checks.

Never found out what its made of but it does the trick 1-3 licks off it and your blade is razor sharp. It is a blackish color and does not wear down very easily.

[Temujin]

I prefer long, flat diamond systems followed up with a strap because I can "roll" my edges like Cold Steel does (on their Trail Masters). It took me a long, long time to get that method down, I even "ruined" a couple knives, but I'm glad I did. That is one of the reasons they retain an edge for so dang long and are so hard to dull. Beats a cantled edge anyday!

Oh, I voted diamond sharpeners. {flat}

[krept]

wow, interesting this one came up.

i like ceramic due to the uniform fineness of the grits and how well it stands up to use. on blades that are very dull (like an axe) I prefer to use diamond sharpeners, but sandpaper will work in a pinch.

[BigEd63]

Various natural stones from soft to hard when I'm at home.

Ceramic a close 2nd.

For field use I'm gonna go to a set of compact diamond stones.

[AZ COLLECTOR]

Well you guys may LOL at me but the most effective sharpening system i have found is a hard stone followed by....

gasp....

...the quartz element from a high pressure light bulb. it feels absolutely smooth to your fingers but you can feel it cut when the blade goes over it. the result is a razor sharp, polished edge. the thing that is so great about it is it holds its edge for an unreal amount of time and you never wind up with a wirey edge.

will post a pic if someone is interested in more info.

sean

[RIKA]

Picture would be nice please. What constitutes a high pressure light bulb?

RIKA

[Bainidh Sagart]

Well you guys may LOL at me but the most effective sharpening system i have found is a hard stone followed by....

gasp....

...the quartz element from a high pressure light bulb. it feels absolutely smooth to your fingers but you can feel it cut when the blade goes over it. the result is a razor sharp, polished edge. the thing that is so great about it is it holds its edge for an unreal amount of time and you never wind up with a wirey edge.

will post a pic if someone is interested in more info.

sean

YES!
A guy at work showed me that trick! They do feel just a little rough to the fingernail, but hone an edge unbelievably well. Even better than a ceramic rod IMO.

Another "weird" thing that works well is the rough base of a ceramic coffee cup.

My pick if I had to choose just one is a diamond stone. I picked one up from Wal-Mart that has a rubberized grip with a 4" or so diamond file that is coarse on one side, fine on the other. When you're done the stone snaps out and stores in the handle. For my honing I use Ruby stones (small round ones are great on serrated blades) since I already had them.

[Flinter]

Well, this is going to cost me some respect points but.........I can't sharpen a knife worth a damn. Axes I do "ok" with. Chainsaws.......dear God, I'd rather just buy a new chain.

So I discovered the Lansky system and never looked back.....a perfect edge every time. Only problem I've ever had is if you start getting into a long blade. You have to move the clamp.

[fffg100grns]

Well you guys may LOL at me but the most effective sharpening system i have found is a hard stone followed by....

gasp....

...the quartz element from a high pressure light bulb. it feels absolutely smooth to your fingers but you can feel it cut when the blade goes over it. the result is a razor sharp, polished edge. the thing that is so great about it is it holds its edge for an unreal amount of time and you never wind up with a wirey edge.

will post a pic if someone is interested in more info.

sean

I get these occasionaly, I find they work ok on some metals.
Its like I cant find two knives made with the same exact metal.
Any how I do keep one of these in the kitchen drawer.
Here is a picture of the light bulbs, they are expensive.
I have a core sample out of a mine shaft that works better.
I can put an edge on that one can shave with, but it wont stay sharp for long.

[fffg100grns]

Well, this is going to cost me some respect points but.........I can't sharpen a knife worth a damn. Axes I do "ok" with. Chainsaws.......dear God, I'd rather just buy a new chain.

So I discovered the Lansky system and never looked back.....a perfect edge every time. Only problem I've ever had is if you start getting into a long blade. You have to move the clamp.


Now I can sharpen most anything but an axe, like I get an edge but they still don't cut good.

[Flinter]

Now I can sharpen most anything but an axe, like I get an edge but they still don't cut good.
An axe has to be sharpened properly so that it "springs the chip".

In other words, when you sink the axe into the wood the wood chip should fly out on it's own.

[spurrit]

The diamond stones from www.Mooremaker.com are EXCELLENT. So are their carbide stones. ABSOLUTELY THE BEST!

[Jorge_Banner]

I'm no sharpening expert, but I can reasonable sharpen most blades with my DMT diamond sharpeners. I have the black, blue, red and green of this (http://www.knivesplus.com/DMT-FWFC.html) model. And the blue, red and green of the conical (http://www.knivesplus.com/DMT-Knife-Sharpener-DMT-FSKC.HTML)rods for the serrations. I also have one of these (http://www.knivesplus.com/DMT-Knife-Sharpener-DMT-F70C.HTML). One of the best things about these DMT sharpeners is that they are so light and small that you can get some into your vest pockets and you could say that you would have to end up naked to be without some good sharpening utensil.

[Old Snort]

I have and use all the above, except the last, depending on time, location (home or field) and particular blade.

[warriorscreed]

i like my lanskey and i wont use anything else. plus lanskey has a choice of diamond or arkansas stones

[Old Snort]

Lansky probably puts the best edge on, but I don't like its bulk and time to set up. You really can't use it in the field when guttting and skinning. For that task I use a flat diamond stone, then back in camp I set up the Lansky if needed. Respectfully.---OS

[gripper]

Any ideas for a soft or cermaic becnh stone system that would be suitable for Cold Steel type edge angles???
I used to stick with th esoft Wa****a stones and oil ; but am willing to try anything simple and effective.BTW ; I made the mistake of dropping off an old Spyderco Endura at a town shop with a "Knives Sharpened " sign.The next day I went to pick it up and the sound of my jaw hitting the floor could be heard at the state line-the guy was an Uber Bubba;he used some kin dof electric grinder and DESTROYED the edge...hell ; he removed almost a half an inch of metal from it and gave me a blank "Whats the Matter" look when he saw MY face:hot::headbang::angry:Oh well ...a lesson learned .:shrugs: