Best Sharpener for a Beginner?

J

Jalopyy

Joined
Dec 24, 2015
Messages
203
As OP states.

As good for a beginner as beginner gets. I don't need to be able to cut paper from the force of my arm's swing from across the room, just sharp enough to at least be able to bring a dull blade to hair shaving.

I've heard good things about the Spyderco Sharpmaker, $50 on Amazon.
 
If you get the Sharpmaker I would recommend the diamond rods and the ultra-fine rods as well. That will run your cost up to $110 or so.
 
Hm, that's kinda starting to get up there at that point, especially for a novice who has no experience and probably couldn't use the latter two stones you listed to their full potential.
 
Jalopyy said:
Hm, that's kinda starting to get up there at that point, especially for a novice who has no experience and probably couldn't use the latter two stones you listed to their full potential.
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Yes you could use them. I say that because 2 months ago I had never sharpened a knife. I purchased the sharpmaker and diamond stones and can take a butter knife from dull to shaving sharp. If you can't afford the diamond stones just get the sharpmaker and use it for awhile. Then decide later on if you want to add other stones.
 
I am not a fan of the Sharpmaker but a lot of people seem to like it. This is just one of the reasons why I don't like it.

http://www.spyderco.com/forumII/viewtopic.php?t=67414

I would suggest one of the clamping systems, which one would depend on the type of knives you want to sharpen.

The cheapest Smith's SPSK - Standard Precision Knife Sharpening System is less than $30.- It is limited in the number of stones and sharpening angles but it has a good clamp and it will do the job. It can handle traditional folders as well as larger knives. For $39.95 or $59.95 they also have sets with more stones.

For around $20.- to $30.- you can usually find a good used Lansky set on eBay that comes with the old style clamp with the notch for smaller knives. These can also handle traditional folders as well as larger knives. Stay away from the new style clamp with the rubber inserts, they suck.

For around $60,- you can get the DMT Aligner Pro kit. I personally do not like the clamp and it can not handle smaller knives very well but it is good for larger knives and I do like the diamond stones and the stone holder which I use in combination with the clamp from the other systems.

There are many other and better options but any of the above will get you started and give you very sharp and consistent edges.
 
I have a lansky and I love it but I also own some whetstone and to be honest it is way funner to use a stone freehand that also would be pretty cheap if you decide on ceramic stones just buy a really cheap knife and keep practicing until your good at it. Then try your other knives it take patience and practice but after awhile it will become second nature good luck and welcome to bf
 
postoak said:
You may not want to get into power sharpening, but Amazon is selling a 1 x 30 belt sander for 78% off -- just a few. It looks like it sits on rubber pads, so you don't even have to mount it on your bench. These were $221 and are now $48.50 -- less than a Sharpmaker.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004D96ZCG?keywords=1%20x%2030%20belt%20sander&qid=1451159613&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2
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I can't really say that system would be good for a beginner. He'd need at least 3 other cheap knives to practice on first.
 
I recommend the Lansky or Gatco guided systems. Eventually you may want to go on to free hand but they will let you get a very sharp edge with little experience. Knowing how good a good edge can be will let you know if your free hand is progressing.

Also buy an Old Hickory carbon steel knife. They are easy to sharpen and cheap. They are supposedly available cheap at flea markets but I can never find them. But they're cheap new as well. You can learn a lot on them.
 
postoak said:
You may not want to get into power sharpening, but Amazon is selling a 1 x 30 belt sander for 78% off -- just a few. It looks like it sits on rubber pads, so you don't even have to mount it on your bench. These were $221 and are now $48.50 -- less than a Sharpmaker.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004D96ZCG?keywords=1%20x%2030%20belt%20sander&qid=1451159613&ref_=sr_1_2&sr=8-2
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there is a lot of nonsense on amazon :) (78% off is nonsense)
regular price is $70, every week there is a sale for 49.99 ... harborfreight.com/1-in-x-30-in-belt-sander-60543.
 
Yeah, I was looking at youtube videos on them and the guys were saying they were about $35 (but these videos were a few years old), and realized that -- although how anyone, even the Chinese, can make such a complex mechanism for $48.50 is amazing to me.

Anyway, I felt really good about my "steal" for a couple of hours. :)
 
Jalopyy said:
As OP states.

As good for a beginner as beginner gets. I don't need to be able to cut paper from the force of my arm's swing from across the room, just sharp enough to at least be able to bring a dull blade to hair shaving.

I've heard good things about the Spyderco Sharpmaker, $50 on Amazon.
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dull blades will cut paper, shaving sharp is a higher level of sharpness :)

get a cheap stone and just get started
(chances are you already have cheap knife)
it doesn't take much to get some hair shaving

this past august I bought stones at dollar tree (in california, other coast had them in may)
where I also bought my practice knives

home depot ~$7 tax included Norton 6 in. Tool and Knife Sharpener-87933

lionsupermarket has 8x2x1 aluminum oxide stone for under $3 tax included (nicer than dollar tree) next to the meat/bone cleavers , which are also ~$3, maybe $4, a recommended brand whose name I can't recall (kiwi?dexter?)

mitsuwa market has king water stones and some others

reportedly , ranch99 like most asian markets have some kind of stones

for under $40 lowes reportedly has smiths diamond/clamp kit and turnbox...

for under $20 harbor freight has 4 sided diamond , also a 3 stone turnbox and single stones ...

I haven't been to any knife shops but wouldn't be surprised to find sharpmaker for sale at one of those ... call around

basic sharpening, raise a tiny burr, cut it off at elevated angle, shave how to sharpen a knife - Joe Calton
Similar method (three step ) with a one dollar stone ? Cheap sharpening stone - does it work? - stefanwolf88
angle control not critical, but a mini-clothes pin makes a good 10dps wedge/angle reference, you can make them from paper ...

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Midrange-Knife-Sharpening-Jig

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As for the Lansky and similar, it is possible to screw up a blade with them if you're not careful. I don't like any of those systems where the blade is clamped for a number of reasons. It's hard to get yourself into trouble with the Sharpmaker.
 
postoak said:
As for the Lansky and similar, it is possible to screw up a blade with them if you're not careful. I don't like any of those systems where the blade is clamped for a number of reasons. It's hard to get yourself into trouble with the Sharpmaker.
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not really :) you can use every system that exists to "screw up" a blade without trying real hard
 
upland1911 said:
What are thoughts in the worksharp belt sander?
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With a bit of practice and used carefully it can give a clean and sharp convex edge but in general I would not recommend it as it removes a lot of steel very fast and it is very easy to destroy a knife as well.
 
upland1911 said:
What are thoughts in the worksharp belt sander?
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fvdk said:
With a bit of practice and used carefully it can give a clean and sharp convex edge but in general I would not recommend it as it removes a lot of steel very fast and it is very easy to destroy a knife as well.
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Which one? The Ken Onion version is variable speed, so the above isn't an issue.
 
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