Spyderco ProFile

[randomlooker]

I've decided to make the effort to get good at freehand sharpening. I'm planning on getting a DMT duosharp in coarse/fine to start with (With a Spyderco Fine and/or UF benchstone to follow once I master the basics and want to aim for hair-whittling), but I need to complement it with something suitable for my serrated blades and hawkbills.

Any opinions on the ProFile stones for this purpose (Possibly backed up with a Duckfoot... I'm not sure how it compares to the medium ceramic -- coarser or about the same?) Or any alternatives?

Thanks.

 

[Blues]

The Spyderco ProFiles come in the same medium (brown) and fine (white) grits as the Sharpmaker, DoubleStuff and bench stones. (All that is missing is the ultra-fine).

They are very good hones, especially when a radius is needed (such as in recurves or serrations) and for deburring. The flat side is (as I recall) about 3/4" wide and suitable for sharpening standard edges.

 

[bgentry]

I use the profiles for regular blades and get pretty good results. I've only used them on serrated blades a few times and a gut hook once.

I found it quite difficult to do the gut hook; I couldn't find the right radius to make it sharp. On the serrations I got them quite a bit sharper, but I also got overly aggressive and put a few "holes" or chips in a few of the scallops. The medium (gray) cuts a lot faster than I thought when using the edge of the profile stone. I'd be more careful on a knife that I actually cared about. This was on a $10 bread knife.

Brian.

 

[orthogonal1]

...

Any opinions on the ProFile stones for this purpose (Possibly backed up with a Duckfoot... I'm not sure how it compares to the medium ceramic -- coarser or about the same?) Or any alternatives?

Thanks.

That is what I keep in the kitchen drawer for basic sharpening of my knives.

Add something rougher, say a carbidium stone, and a leather strope with diamond paste.

It works well enough for most knives.