Best Knife Sharpener?

K

Knight88

Joined
Jun 5, 2011
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I know there are many various knife sharpeners out there and I'm curious to find out which ones do you all prefer? I am mostly in the market for something new due to the fact that I grew up using a whetstone to sharpen all my knifes and I would like to know all that is worth looking at out there. Which one would you all use for everything from low to high end pocket and fixed blade knives?
 
Edge Pro is the way to go! Once you get use to it your knives will be RAZOR SHARP! Good Luck! Kevin :D
 
To be completely honest, the best sharpener is....what ever works best for you.

Many like the edge pro, many like wicked edge, many like the ability to maintain their edge on a sharpmaker.

For me if you can freehand sharpen (the biggest learning curve is keeping a constant angle, but it is a learning curve requiring patients that many dont have) on benchstones DMT benchstones is the best option. You can reprofile, maintain an edge much faster then most systems.

Other then that if you are looking for a powered system. Paper wheels.
 
I use DMT bench stones almost exclusively. I will touch up a blade with a ceramic rod V sharpener.
 
I'm a bit of a sharp-schmuck, apparently. I have the Sharpmaker, a Smith's guided set, some DMT plates, EP and a Kalamazoo belt, with a WEPS on the way.

I think the biggest thing I can think of when trying to define "best" would be that it depends on exactly what you want to accomplish, and what you will be using it for. Just your knives? Your knives and some of your buddies? Semi-pro or pro-level sharpening? Every requirement has it's own definition of 'best'. I tend to use my belt more than anything else, simply because it is so fast, and puts on a terrific convex edge. For more polished finishes or if you really like V-bevels, the WEPS or EP is going to be a good choice.

A lot of it depends on your budget as well, decent systems range from $30 or so for a good double-waterstone or a Lansky guided system, up to $4k or so for a top-of-the-line Baldor knife-maker's grinder. If I had to keep just one, it would probably be the belt for it's massive versatility.
 
If I could only keep one sharpener, it would be the Spyderco Sharpmaker. That way I could still sharpen no matter where I am. No electricity required and very portable. I admit I would really miss the spead of the Grizzly Knifemakers 2x72" belt grinder, Paper wheels on the Grizzly buffer, Grizzly 1x30" belt sander. I would also miss DMT stones, and lots of sandpaper. :)
 
My $0.02,
Sharpening is 90% technique and 10% equipment so whatever you use, learn to use it well. There is no "right" way to sharpen a knife, (but there are a lot of wrong ways).

My Preference,
I like a set of stones, but I avoid any type of blade guide. I like to "feel" the edges of my blades. I finish my edges with a plain leather strop (very plain, I glued a piece of belt-blank to a block of wood "smooth" side up) and I use a steel between sharpenings to keep the edge true. That being said, I spend much longer sharpening a knife than someone who uses an edge pro or similar tool, but I find sharpening knives oddly relaxing. Also, the faster anything can make an edge, the faster it can ruin one.
 
i have been sharpening knives longer than most guys here in the forum and i have used anything from sandpaper on glass to ceramic sticks. for the last 20 years i have been using paper wheels to sharpen with and i'll never go back to anything else.

here is a post in my paper wheel thread by a member from australia that sent me a knife to sharpen. he liked the results so much he bought a set of the wheels. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9207988&postcount=710

i have knives sent to me from all over the world to get sharpened and most are repeat customers.

i sharpened 241 folders for a maker and here is a thread he started. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=651061

this guy was scared of his knife after he got it back http://www.scrapyardknives.com/ubbt...ords=+mrcweiler&topic=&Search=true#Post485808

if you want to learn more about them send me an email.
 
I'm new at this but I'm having success with sandpaper and cardboard stropping. Not much $$.
 
Back in November of last year I found a small smith's brand pull through knife sharpener. yha these sometimes stink but I picked it up real cheap and tested it so far I like it it wont work with a knife with a poor relief edge it has a coarse and a fine sharpening edge. i think the fine edge is crapy. and its real easy to work no skill needed.

----------------------------
kockknivar
 
I am quite fond of my Edge-Pro. It puts razor-blade sharp edges on all of my knives with little effort, and since it isn't a powered machine, the possibility of ruining an edge is somewhat remote.
 
The best so far for me is a combination of the Edgepro, Pro model and the Worksharp WSKTS. I also see a Kalamazoo belt grinder in the future. I use the Edgepro for more precise sharpening and I use the Worksharp for bigger blades like machetes and thicker outdoor blades and sometimes kitchen knives.

I started off with the Spyderco Sharpmaker using it freehand and then moved on to DMT Diafolds. I still use all these sharpening systems for different reasons. The EP and WS for reprofiling and sharpening as my main sharpening system, Sharpmaker for touch ups, DMT Diafolds for freehand reprofiling and touch ups out in the field such as camping, etc.
 
The best so far for me is a combination of the Edgepro, Pro model and the Worksharp WSKTS. I also see a Kalamazoo belt grinder in the future. I use the Edgepro for more precise sharpening and I use the Worksharp for bigger blades like machetes and thicker outdoor blades and sometimes kitchen knives.

I started off with the Spyderco Sharpmaker using it freehand and then moved on to DMT Diafolds. I still use all these sharpening systems for different reasons. The EP and WS for reprofiling and sharpening as my main sharpening system, Sharpmaker for touch ups, DMT Diafolds for freehand reprofiling and touch ups out in the field such as camping, etc.
 
in the last 20 years or more I've used just about every system there is. Guess what? They all work and all have their problems. The best is to learn how to sharpen and what to look for as your sharpening. The burr method is probably the best way to learn how to sharpen and you can get a burr with just about any system or method. Personally I think holding a angle to get a sharp edge is way over blown. A convex edge can get as sharp as any flat edge and no need to hold to a angle at all to convex. When learning to sharpen one of the angle gide systems are helpfull though. I really learned on a Lansky. Now I really prefer a belt grinder, so much so I bought a nicer one right after my HF 1x30 crapped out. For unpowered DMT hones for coarse grinding and Spyderco Hones for the finer finishing of edges. As for gided systems I'd say the EP is still the king, and for pull through types the Sharpmaker. For all round usefullness my Viel 1x42 Belt grinder has to be my overall favorite. The best way to learn to sharpen is this forum and just start grinding in a edge on a knife. You'll be surpirsed how easy it really is.
 
Edge Pro.
Why?
I like even, mirror polished bevels, it cuts better.

More angles than the WEPS.

Aftermarket stones, and custom strops: I haven't used them yet, but I will in the near future.
Excellent resell value
 
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