Best Sharpener for Small Blades for Newbies

[b33tu5]

Got my first 940 and a Para 3 and have been researching sharpeners quite a bit. I'm stumped on the choices. I'm not confident in freehanding and was looking at some different systems out there. KME is currently the front-runner. Wicked Edge seems great but the pricing... and it looks like the wide angle adapter is pretty necessary for smaller blades... and they have baby step increments in their expensive stones.

I bought a few $3 knives to use as practice because I'm definitely not going to learn to sharpen on my nice knives first, but I'm having trouble figuring out which sharpener to get. I'm willing to dump up to $300-$400 on a sharpening system if necessary since I also have a large investment in my kitchen knives (Carbon Bob Kramer and other nice knives).

I'd really like to hear some inputs on the best systems for tiny blades.

 

[Ourorboros]

I don't know "best", but I can tell you that trying to sharpen cheap, non-knife steels can be a PITA. You want to learn on a low cost knife with a decent steel with a good heat treatment. Maybe a Spyderco Byrd. Those really cheap knives aren't made with knife steels.
I have read good things about Wicked Edge and KME. but there is still a learning curve regardless. I doubt you'd go wrong either way, don't let paralysis by analysis get to you - both get good results.
I'd also point out that the best way to get confident doing something - like free hand sharpening - is to just do it. You can get a really nice set of stones for $400.

 

[MtnHawk1]

I'd suggest first reading The Razor Edge Book of Sharpening, by John Juranitch, before you decide that you truly cannot freehand sharpen. The book greatly simplified freehand sharpening for me (lots of photos and drawings to help explain the few basic principles) and I was able to get sharp edges. Once you understand and can apply the basics, there is tons of great info and advice on this forum. Even if you decide not to freehand sharpen at least you'll understand what you are doing and why.

I don't have anything against sharpening guides or machines, but freehand sharpening is considerably less expensive, without equipment to set up and store, you can bring a small abrasive with you to touch up your edges anywhere, and I get a sense of satisfaction from freehand sharpening that I don't get with the guided system I have.

 

[000Robert]

My vote always goes to the Wicked Edge. I have a WE130 and I love it. I don't know much about the less expensive models but they are probably better than most other system types. It always puzzles me that some people have a lot of money invested in their knives but want to cheap out on a sharpening system. LOL! I mean no disrespect to anyone, but I just don't get it.

 

[Danno4017]

I have just ordered one of these.
The price is right and they have a good reputation as a brand.


Work Sharp Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener

 

[c7m2p3]

I have the KME. Right mix of price and functionality. It isnt perfect though. The stones that are native to the KME system are not very big. I went with the diamond stones for the ability to work on high vanadium steels. I know there is some aftermarket stone holder that will work with the larger edge pro stone though I have not really needed to spend the extra money on the holder and the several hundred bucks on edge pro diamond stones.

 

[Working Edge]

I have just ordered one of these.
The price is right and they have a good reputation as a brand.


Work Sharp Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener

You won't be sorry.....!
Awesome value for the money.
I received mine a couple days ago and got excellent results first time outta the box; shaving sharp in minutes flat.
This sharpener has huge potential as issued, let alone the promise of expanded Tri-Brasive grit choices in the future.
Even without more grit options from Work Sharp, one can geek out and adhere various abrasive papers and polishing tapes onto the ceramic side of the Tri-Brasive and have at it...!!
Mark

 

[maximus83]

^You won't be able to get low dps edge angles on small knives, if you care about that. All my smaller knives have thin blade stock and I use acute angles on them. IMHO small blades best case scenario is freehand, but sounds like that's off the table.

For an affordable guided system, Sharpmaker is the best since you won't have any kind of problem getting the full edge to the stone. Many guided system struggle with small blades, as you'll find.

For a more spendy guided system within your budget that can handle small blades reasonably well: Edge Pro Apex.

 

[000Robert]

I have just ordered one of these.
The price is right and they have a good reputation as a brand.


Work Sharp Precision Adjust Knife Sharpener

I hope that it works well for you. That would probably be a good sharpener to take camping and stuff since it is pretty light looking.

 

[c7m2p3]

^You won't be able to get low dps edge angles on small knives, if you care about that. All my smaller knives have thin blade stock and I use acute angles on them. IMHO small blades best case scenario is freehand, but sounds like that's off the table.

For an affordable guided system, Sharpmaker is the best since you won't have any kind of problem getting the full edge to the stone. Many guided system struggle with small blades, as you'll find.

For a more spendy guided system within your budget that can handle small blades reasonably well: Edge Pro Apex.

I really like my sharpmaker but as it has been said before, its more of a 'sharpkeeper' than a 'sharpmaker' in that the ceramic rods that come with the sharpmaker are not going to do very much in the way of profiling a blade. So if your blade angle is more obtuse than the provided angles (which I have found happens very often with factory edges) that is going to be an issue. So if you are looking for a single system for your sharpening needs you likely need a coarse bench stone to go along with the sharpmaker in order to set your bevel low enough.

 

[maximus83]

I really like my sharpmaker but as it has been said before, its more of a 'sharpkeeper' than a 'sharpmaker' in that the ceramic rods that come with the sharpmaker are not going to do very much in the way of profiling a blade. So if your blade angle is more obtuse than the provided angles (which I have found happens very often with factory edges) that is going to be an issue. So if you are looking for a single system for your sharpening needs you likely need a coarse bench stone to go along with the sharpmaker in order to set your bevel low enough.

With the retail Sharpmaker system, yes completely agree. However, you can buy coarse (80, 120, 150, etc) add-on silicon carbide rods that cost around $10 a pair, that let you reprofile blades a lot faster than the ceramic. Sharpmaker can work if a user really wants to use it, but you have to upgrade the base model which lately runs around $70, either by adding these SiC rods (Congress Tools Moldmaster stones, the 1/2" x 6" triangle ones) for around $10, or by adding the more spendy Spyderco cbn or diamond rods (around $60 for the pair). Obviously if you're gonna' go that far, you're about $130 into it for Sharpmaker with the Spyderco add-on rods, and that's already about half the cost of an Edge Pro Apex 4 kit with a set of Aluminum oxide stones--which is far more capable than Sharpmaker. But either way, Sharpmaker with some SiC add-ons for around $80 total, or an Edge Pro Apex around $250, OP has 2 solid choices there for dealing with small knives if a guided system is what you're after.

 

[b33tu5]

Wow, thanks everyone. A lot of good information, especially that my practice knife shouldn't be $3 because the crappy steel won't really provide an accurate sharpening experience compared to the knives I'm practicing for.

A lot of good information and as expected, no singular answer but a lot of good answers. I've looked at the sharpmaker which may actually be a great add-on. The work sharp precision adjust looks great for the price, but until it comes out with more options it's not as versatile as I like. Surprisingly the KME is still looking like the overall choice for price/performance with the addition of the Universal Stone mount rod and it also has the pen knife mount for tiny blades. Although I'm still looking at the Hapstones, Apex, etc...

That said, thanks for some book recommendations. I may move into attempting free-hand over time.

 

[Alberta Ed]

I used DMT Diafolds for years before I got their bench stones. They work great on small blades.

 

[b33tu5]

You won't be sorry.....!
Awesome value for the money.
I received mine a couple days ago and got excellent results first time outta the box; shaving sharp in minutes flat.
This sharpener has huge potential as issued, let alone the promise of expanded Tri-Brasive grit choices in the future.
Even without more grit options from Work Sharp, one can geek out and adhere various abrasive papers and polishing tapes onto the ceramic side of the Tri-Brasive and have at it...!!
Mark

I ordered one of these too. Just to have. I'm still looking at the KME sharpener and the Hapstone R2... or the KME with the Hapstone Universal Rod... I dunno. Tons of choices!

Also, just picked up a Benchmade 945BK-1. Love it, but brand new the blade edge isn't so awesome. I can't wait for the green aluminum one coming out in May.

 

[wade7575]

I ordered one of these too. Just to have. I'm still looking at the KME sharpener and the Hapstone R2... or the KME with the Hapstone Universal Rod... I dunno. Tons of choices!

Also, just picked up a Benchmade 945BK-1. Love it, but brand new the blade edge isn't so awesome. I can't wait for the green aluminum one coming out in May.

For sure go with the Hapstone over the KME,I have owned a KME and I have also have a TSProf K03 and you can't beat being able to use 6 inch long stones over the 4 inch KME stones plus there are way more choices in edge pro format stones over the KME stones.

Also if you ever want to use a table you can with the Hapstone.

When you want to get more stones look at getting the Venev stone set in 100% concentration and then get a 1K 3K and 5K Chosera stones for finishing your Bob Kramer knives,I find the Chosera stones work great after you use a Venev 800 or 1200 then move onto the Chosera stones for a great edge.

 

[777 Edge]

Wow, thanks everyone. A lot of good information, especially that my practice knife shouldn't be $3 because the crappy steel won't really provide an accurate sharpening experience compared to the knives I'm practicing for.

A lot of good information and as expected, no singular answer but a lot of good answers. I've looked at the sharpmaker which may actually be a great add-on. The work sharp precision adjust looks great for the price, but until it comes out with more options it's not as versatile as I like. Surprisingly the KME is still looking like the overall choice for price/performance with the addition of the Universal Stone mount rod and it also has the pen knife mount for tiny blades. Although I'm still looking at the Hapstones, Apex, etc...

That said, thanks for some book recommendations. I may move into attempting free-hand over time.

For your price range and what you want to do, no doubt just go for a Hapstone R2 standard, or R2 Lite with a set of Venev Centaur stones. Also make sure to buy yourself a fine tuning adapter and an angle cube. The R2 lite clamps work well on small blades, and slightly larger ones. Then you can later upgrade to different modules if you wanted to. It's the best system in the market IMO.

If you have a 3D printer, you can print yourself a fine tuning adapter from my designs. See links below in my signature.

 

[seabil]

Got my first 940 and a Para 3 and have been researching sharpeners quite a bit. I'm stumped on the choices. I'm not confident in freehanding and was looking at some different systems out there. KME is currently the front-runner. Wicked Edge seems great but the pricing... and it looks like the wide angle adapter is pretty necessary for smaller blades... and they have baby step increments in their expensive stones.

I bought a few $3 knives to use as practice because I'm definitely not going to learn to sharpen on my nice knives first, but I'm having trouble figuring out which sharpener to get. I'm willing to dump up to $300-$400 on a sharpening system if necessary since I also have a large investment in my kitchen knives (Carbon Bob Kramer and other nice knives).

I'd really like to hear some inputs on the best systems for tiny blades.

For starting out - a mouse pad and sandpaper! I think there are still videos on the net on how to do it. The late owner of the place with shop in its name had a video that I saw and got me using it for some knives. Works amazingly well for lots of knives with regular steels up through s30v. Gets harder for M390 and other super steels. Then get a DMT or other diamond. With practice you can freehand. Start with the cheap knives for practice on the diamonds it will eat steel!

 

[b33tu5]

For your price range and what you want to do, no doubt just go for a Hapstone R2 standard, or R2 Lite with a set of Venev Centaur stones. Also make sure to buy yourself a fine tuning adapter and an angle cube. The R2 lite clamps work well on small blades, and slightly larger ones. Then you can later upgrade to different modules if you wanted to. It's the best system in the market IMO.

If you have a 3D printer, you can print yourself a fine tuning adapter from my designs. See links below in my signature.

I do have an Ender 3 Pro and saw your stuff. Really awesome of you to make those! I'm hoping someone throws some 3D files up for the Work Sharp Precision Adjust. It'd be great to have an alternate tri-grinding bracket just for lapping sheets. I noticed someone is selling them on ebay now, but no 3D file to be found yet.

 

[777 Edge]

I do have an Ender 3 Pro and saw your stuff. Really awesome of you to make those! I'm hoping someone throws some 3D files up for the Work Sharp Precision Adjust. It'd be great to have an alternate tri-grinding bracket just for lapping sheets. I noticed someone is selling them on ebay now, but no 3D file to be found yet.

The Ender 3 Pro is a good printer. Seeing that you have a printer, you may as well just print yourself one of my LeadingEdge sharpening systems with all of its accessories. It works incredibly well and I think you'll be more than happy with the capability and accuracy my system will give you. With my system you can then sharpen just about anything you want, not just knives.

Pair it up with a set of Venev Centaur or Venev Dog stones and you'll have one of the best all-round sharpening systems available, and all made with your printer.

PM me on Thingiverse or here on Bladeforums if you have any questions.

 

[chalby]

When you want to get more stones look at getting the Venev stone set in 100% concentration and then get a 1K 3K and 5K Chosera stones for finishing your Bob Kramer knives,I find the Chosera stones work great after you use a Venev 800 or 1200 then move onto the Chosera stones for a great edge.

Just a FYI: the Venev diamond stones classify their grit size using the FEPA-F system, which is very different to the Naniwa grit ratings. The Venev 800 is about equivalent to the 2000 grit Chosera, and the 1200 is more like 4000-5000.

IMHO, the Choseras would be redundant in this scenario. Both are great though.