Best Knife Sharpeners

Seadaddy1970

Seadaddy1970

Joined
Dec 3, 2018
Messages
75
Sorry if this subject has been discussed previously, but I currently have a Spyderco Sharpmaker manual sharpener and am interested in upgrading to an electric sharpener to get a faster, better polished edge to my folding knives. Just wondering if any of you may use electric models and which brand/model you might recommend. Thanks.
 
If you are looking at something like Chef Choice I would stay with the Spyderco Sharpmaker. A lot of the electric sharpeners of this type do not get the entire edge especially on a folder.. You never mentioned how much you are planning on spending.
 
Paper wheel mounted on a bench motor is a super easy fast way to get any steel sharp as a razor blade.
 
Also there's a ton of extra physics involved to complicate the process of determining the sharpening angle with media that gives, like a slack belt sander and paper wheels, not to mention overheating the steel.
 
Thanks, Gents, for your feedback. I would spend 200-300 bucks for a better system than my Sharpmaker. Are there any manual sharpeners better than my Sharpmaker?
 
Seadaddy1970 said:
Thanks, Gents, for your feedback. I would spend 200-300 bucks for a better system than my Sharpmaker. Are there any manual sharpeners better than my Sharpmaker?
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By manual, are you referring to non powered?

The sharpmaker is good because the solid sharpening abrasive is at a fixed angle to vertical, and it's fairly easy for anyone to hold a knife blade vertical and get a consistent angle throughout the sharpening stroke, and repeatable. This is a lot more difficult with a stone laying flat and guessing at the angle the knife is at. Also, the sharpmaker has a flat sharpening surface, not the horrid round ones like similar systems.

If I were to get a fixed angle system, both abrasive and blade, it would be a non clamping type, like the edge pro.
 
Imho a Wicked Edge is among the best systems out there. Though it will be near impossible to pick up one for your listed budget.

Back to powered sharpeners. A Ken Onion knife and tool sharpener is a fine piece of equipment. It does have a learning curve but is extremely capable.
 
jpm2 said:
By manual, are you referring to non powered?

The sharpmaker is good because the solid sharpening abrasive is at a fixed angle to vertical, and it's fairly easy for anyone to hold a knife blade vertical and get a consistent angle throughout the sharpening stroke, and repeatable. This is a lot more difficult with a stone laying flat and guessing at the angle the knife is at. Also, the sharpmaker has a flat sharpening surface, not the horrid round ones like similar systems.

If I were to get a fixed angle system, both abrasive and blade, it would be a non clamping type, like the edge pro.
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Yes sir. I’ll take a look at the Edge Pro and Wicked. Thanks.
 
3fifty7 said:
Imho a Wicked Edge is among the best systems out there. Though it will be near impossible to pick up one for your listed budget.

Back to powered sharpeners. A Ken Onion knife and tool sharpener is a fine piece of equipment. It does have a learning curve but is extremely capable.
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Sir, do you have a lot of experience using this machine with folding knives? Will it give a good, consistent mirrored edge? I’ve got a collection of folding knives worth around 6k and I would hate to damage any of them. How long would it take to learn how to use this device before damaging a good knife? Thanks.
 
With the stropping belt and a little paste you can get a nice polished edge, that will be slightly convex due to the nature of a slack belt.
You can become proficient with it with a few hours of practice.

I’ve had one for 3-4 years now and would Not recommend it or Any Powered sharpening machine on a high value knife. Another drawback is difficulty precisely sharpening to the edge of the ricasso, bolsters and thumb studs can be a pain to work around.
 
3fifty7 said:
With the stropping belt and a little paste you can get a nice polished edge, that will be slightly convex due to the nature of a slack belt.
You can become proficient with it with a few hours of practice.

I’ve had one for 3-4 years now and would Not recommend it or Any Powered sharpening machine on a high value knife. Another drawback is difficulty precisely sharpening to the edge of the ricasso, bolsters and thumb studs can be a pain to work around.
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Thank you. After all this feedback, I’m going to continue researching manual sharpeners and not be in a rush to leave my Sharpmaker!
 
I would say sharpening can be broken down into 3 categories

Manual: Stones weather a standard wet stone or an angled stone ie the Sharpmaker this requires you hold the knife at the angle to the stone and move the knife along the stone no guides no power

Guided: Stones are attached to rods with angle guides and a rest or clamp for the blade. You still move the stone but you move the stone which is at a set angle instead of moving the knife.

Powered: A motorized system that allows the edge of the blade to me moved along its length. These can be like the typical kitchen units ie those Chef Choice brand or something more professional like a belt or wheel.

Depending on how comfortable you are with various aspects and what exactly your goal(s) is(are) helps us point you down the right path.

Some examples for the Guided and Powered are listed below

Guided:
KME Sharpening System
Hapstone
Wicked Edge
EdgePro

Powered:
Tormak
Work Sharp

You can find a lot of info on many of these systems and some I left out on these forums here.
 
I just recently ordered a KME for myself mostly as it fit my needs and budget. I need a clamped system as I have tremors so my hands are never to steady so if I want even grinds a clamp is more or less required for me. I haven't really had hands on with them but from my research on them it won out granted in part due to budget as I really liked some other options but they stretched my budget beyond what I wanted to spend.
 
Seadaddy1970 said:
Great info! Which is your favorite, Sir? Thanks.
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Wicked edge is having a sale - never seen them on sale before - wicked edge go is 199. If you are a veteran, you can get we100, 120 and 130 for 25% off. They don't offer the go model with veteran discount.
 
Thanks for all this excellent feedback. Think I’ll start researching the manual options since I don’t trust myself with the motorized sharpeners. Learned a lot from you gentlemen. Thanks for your time.
 
I am scared of the motorized ones as it seems easier to damage the edge in some way I would probably only trust a rig that I don't have the space to keep and use or money to purchase.
 
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