Ready to Purchase a Quality Knife Sharpener; Which One?

BladeOwner72

BladeOwner72

Joined
Mar 7, 2021
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85
So I need input on which Sharpener should I invest in to always get the best edge every time.
My collection and trading consist of mainly Folding Pocket Knives, Small Fixed Blades and our on use of Kitchen Knives. Case, Benchmade, Spiderco, etc...
1) I have my eye on the Wicked Edge WE120 but is that the right choice for what I have?
2) What would you recommend and what makes you want what you have?

Thank you in advance; look forward to learning what's out there.....
 
I originally bought the Spyderco sharpmaker because it seems to be a popular choice. I’m really not impressed with it. I then picked up a worksharp guided sharpener, the one where the stone platform pivots to follow the edge of your curved blades. I’m still on a bit of a learning curve, but so far I’m loving this sharpener. Good angle control (it is manual but uses a nice guide system) and includes some nice stuff. There is an upgrade kit available that includes extra fine and extra course stones, in addition to a leather strop. The “stones” are steal
plates with abrasives, using diamond. The course stones are great for significant corrections or reprofiling. Like I said, I’m a total newb but really like this system so far.
 
I used to sharpen my knives on DMT diamond stones. I was pretty good at it and sharpened a lot of others' knives on my boat. Then I stopped for a long time and when I tried again, I was not any good. Probably just getting in my own head and need to to spend more time.

I got a Spyderco Sharpmaker first. Pretty good with it. Even brought back totally abused blades back to shaving sharp for a few friends. It is a good system.

I next purchased a Work Sharp guided system. I think it was the WSGSS. I don't remember because I didn't really like it and haven't used it in a long time. It's still in its box somewhere in another box somewhere in the garage or basement. It definitely has a learning curve and I didn't spend a lot of time learning with it, unfortunately.

I then purchased an Edge Pro Apex. I bought the full kit with the water stones and polish tapes and everything. I don't really like the stones and I never felt like it was very stable. The suction cup just didn't cut it and I never got proficient enough to achieve repeatable or consistent results. I still got a few knives sharpened satisfactorily and I do think it's a good design.

Most recently, I've purchased the KME Precision Knife Sharpening System. I have all of the diamond stones and a couple of the strops and CBN emulsions. I bought some various attachments: pen knife jaws, Hewlett JewelStik, and convexing guide rod.

I found the KME sharpener very easy to use after practicing on a few Chinese CRKT and Kershaws. Once I was comfortable with my results, I sharpened some much more expensive knives and have continued to be very pleased. I haven't tried a larger fixed or recurved blades yet but everything from the Keating Hornet to the XM-24 in size has sharpened up nicely. I expect to only get better with it.

From my experience, I would recommend the KME sharpening system. I did not find that it had a steep learning curve and I love the results. I look forward to sharpening some of my fixed blades and other knives.

Good luck!
 
josiahg52 said:
I used to sharpen my knives on DMT diamond stones. I was pretty good at it and sharpened a lot of others' knives on my boat. Then I stopped for a long time and when I tried again, I was not any good. Probably just getting in my own head and need to to spend more time.

I got a Spyderco Sharpmaker first. Pretty good with it. Even brought back totally abused blades back to shaving sharp for a few friends. It is a good system.

I next purchased a Work Sharp guided system. I think it was the WSGSS. I don't remember because I didn't really like it and haven't used it in a long time. It's still in its box somewhere in another box somewhere in the garage or basement. It definitely has a learning curve and I didn't spend a lot of time learning with it, unfortunately.

I then purchased an Edge Pro Apex. I bought the full kit with the water stones and polish tapes and everything. I don't really like the stones and I never felt like it was very stable. The suction cup just didn't cut it and I never got proficient enough to achieve repeatable or consistent results. I still got a few knives sharpened satisfactorily and I do think it's a good design.

Most recently, I've purchased the KME Precision Knife Sharpening System. I have all of the diamond stones and a couple of the strops and CBN emulsions. I bought some various attachments: pen knife jaws, Hewlett JewelStik, and convexing guide rod.

I found the KME sharpener very easy to use after practicing on a few Chinese CRKT and Kershaws. Once I was comfortable with my results, I sharpened some much more expensive knives and have continued to be very pleased. I haven't tried a larger fixed or recurved blades yet but everything from the Keating Hornet to the XM-24 in size has sharpened up nicely. I expect to only get better with it.

From my experience, I would recommend the KME sharpening system. I did not find that it had a steep learning curve and I love the results. I look forward to sharpening some of my fixed blades and other knives.

Good luck!
Click to expand...
Thank you for sharing your history of each mentioned sharpener; I will definitely give the KME more thoughts based off your experience. This may very well be the one for me to choose.
 
I am on the WE system however is the earlier generation model. The results are repeatable and accurate. WE have a vast amount on accessories and the best way to know what can be achieved, various accessories, issues etc is to join their online forum under the resources tab. For me, I am looking for the polished mirror finish, thus I invested in the 800/1000 diamond stones, 1200/1600 ceramic stones, 5/3.5micron leather strops and 1/0.5micron leather strops. (there are more options nowadays like lapping strips etc). The most essential is an angle cube (magnetic). This is necessary to ensure the left and right side is set at correct angle prior to sharpening. There are also settings posted in the forums to various knives which is a good start and may require fine tuning for your own requirement. What I like about this system is that reprofiling a knife is easy/fast and with care with setting up, minimum steel is wasted. The only downside is that the vice clamp is flat and those knives with unparellel sides (clamping area) may require certain tweaks for best results. Example a full flat grind Spy PM2. As for built quality, the WE system is well made and I have been using mine since 2015 with out any issues except for cosmetic wear and tear due to usage. I have been with the original stones since. Cleaning is also easy with water and little scrubbing. Another downside is this system is somewhat pricey.

I have also a sharpmaker which I started with prior to the WE system. The sharpmaker is great, compact, cheap and easy to use however reprofiling angles is a pain. I still use it for sharpening larger fixed knives and kitchen chopper. All the best.
 
Have had my KME for years, very happy with it. I get good results using sandpaper and the stones. they also have great customer service.

Giddyup

Cosmo
 
BladeOwner72 said:
So I need input on which Sharpener should I invest in to always get the best edge every time.
Click to expand...
How are you keeping everything sharp now, and what deficiencies have you considering guided systems?

I recommend you start with stones if you have never tried, while waiting for that sharpening book you bought to get to you, watching tubes, reading the stickies at the top of this forum, etc. Gritomatic has a nice example of angle guides for stones if you like.
All of us started with stones and leather/cloth strops not so long ago. Very inexpensive way to learn the fundamentals. Today, for all but high vanadium super-steels, I'm looking at gifting those trained and interested, the Well regarded extra coarse BYXCO Mantacore - 260 grit, plus one Well regarded? two sided Silicon carbide stone, in something like 400 / 1000 grit. I would add a Well regarded two sided diamond stone for super steels, like DMT, Venev, etc.

If that zen doesn't give ya yeeha results, after practice, you can use any of the V sharpener systems, really edge maintainers, like the Spyderco Sharpmaker, Worksharp Precision Adjust Diamond, or Idahone's, we have 3 Sharpmakers used for training, and now honing.
Well regarded guided systems like the Lansky Diamond, KME, EdegPro, WE, TSProf, HapStone systems, etc. all have pros and cons, strong points and limits. But most are subtle enough to requiring experience to discern. We standardized on the KME Diamond kit, again for training, and are more the happy with the results and limitations.
Well regarded belt systems like Worksharp Ken Onion Edition WSKO, and wheeled systems: Paper, and Tormek, etc., have proven useful for those rearing kids, climbing careers, and keeping families and mortgages together. One son has never, yes I can hardly believe this myself, ever used anything but a WSKO. He is very busy and very happy with the results. Because of his success, we now also use a WSKO.

As Jumpstat pointed out, there is much to learn by joining forums, including Bladeforums:)
 
I have and use the KME system but I am getting more into stones and use stones for maintaining my edges. I like to use my KME only to reprofile my knives and have started just using a stone and strops to keep them sharp.

If you have the time I would say try and learn on stones. I will even add that I very quickly produced some of the sharpest edges I have ever done using my dmt plates. The edge angle may not be perfect but no one is ever going to stop and measure my bevel angle...
 
scottc3 said:
How are you keeping everything sharp now, and what deficiencies have you considering guided systems?

I recommend you start with stones if you have never tried, while waiting for that sharpening book you bought to get to you, watching tubes, reading the stickies at the top of this forum, etc. Gritomatic has a nice example of angle guides for stones if you like.
All of us started with stones and leather/cloth strops not so long ago. Very inexpensive way to learn the fundamentals. Today, for all but high vanadium super-steels, I'm looking at gifting those trained and interested, the Well regarded extra coarse BYXCO Mantacore - 260 grit, plus one Well regarded? two sided Silicon carbide stone, in something like 400 / 1000 grit. I would add a Well regarded two sided diamond stone for super steels, like DMT, Venev, etc.

If that zen doesn't give ya yeeha results, after practice, you can use any of the V sharpener systems, really edge maintainers, like the Spyderco Sharpmaker, Worksharp Precision Adjust Diamond, or Idahone's, we have 3 Sharpmakers used for training, and now honing.
Well regarded guided systems like the Lansky Diamond, KME, EdegPro, WE, TSProf, HapStone systems, etc. all have pros and cons, strong points and limits. But most are subtle enough to requiring experience to discern. We standardized on the KME Diamond kit, again for training, and are more the happy with the results and limitations.
Well regarded belt systems like Worksharp Ken Onion Edition WSKO, and wheeled systems: Paper, and Tormek, etc., have proven useful for those rearing kids, climbing careers, and keeping families and mortgages together. One son has never, yes I can hardly believe this myself, ever used anything but a WSKO. He is very busy and very happy with the results. Because of his success, we now also use a WSKO.

As Jumpstat pointed out, there is much to learn by joining forums, including Bladeforums:)
Click to expand...

I have been using BearMoo and King stones and can do a fairly good job, never had a complain from friends yet. I guess I am ready to see what all the hype is about on these guided systems but I don't want to spend $500 when there is a possibility of some just as good for considerably less money. I really appreciate the time you gave to give me some very good details to think about. Cheers!
 
Seems like your right where you should be, and your sharpening skills are one of the basic life skills, like knots, navigating the planet, riding a horse, hunting, fishing, protecting your loved ones, and in this case using a budget.:thumbsup: We need a set of pass around kits. I have noticed that you can sell kits on the exchange here and elsewhere quickly enough without losing too much money if you find your kits limit frustrates. Enjoy-
 
Lots of good recommendations here. It pretty much all boils down to your budget and how OCD you are about sharpening (do you sit around all day and try to whittle hairs?). I date all the way back to where all you had was some type of whetstone and free-handing. I'm still good at it, but at my age have too much mileage in the rearview to be obsessive about it. Most of the system improvements I've seen in my lifetime had one thing in common...some method of helping the user maintain an edge angle. I've had a Lansky since they came out and 3 stones was all they had. Then upgraded to 5 and then a set of diamond stones and the white/blue ultra-fine. I still have and use it if I have to re-set the bevel (read remove a lot of metal). I don't let stuff get dull and touch up with a standard Spyderco Sharpmaker. I was a bit surprised at how much I liked it, but the advantage is how much easier it is to maintain an edge angle simply eyeballing by having the blade vertical as opposed to horizontal. The KME is an upgrade over the Lansky by virtue of eliminating preset angle holes...it will also be an upgrade to your budget. YMMV.
 
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