Knife Sharpeners

[Moin.]

Any user feedback, reviews, ease of use, advice and more importantly availability of knife sharpeners, (other than the humble carborundum stones available at hardware shops). Does any one have experience of using Rod and Clamp systems like the Lansky’s, expensive one’s like the Edge Pro or Wicked Edge systems or the Crock stick types like the Spyderco Sharp maker. What’s the availabity and the price in Indian market ?

Thank you.

Best Regards
Moin.

[Rajat]

Not available in the Indian market to the best of my knowledge, although Base camp does carry some Victorinox sharpeners.

The Spyderco is a great choice and works on all blade types. See below for pictures of the the Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker:

http://indiansforguns.com/viewtopic.php ... 2&start=30

Have not used any clamp systems yet.

It will have to be imported and you can look up the price on the net and add the shipping charges and applicable duties.

[Subal das]

http://theconsumerlink.com/product_deta ... vStart=116&.

I'm using this kit. Even carved blades cab be sharpened very precise.diamond stones are the best, once in a live time purchase.

Only limitation, you cant fix double edged knife in DMT aligner. after been processed with 3 stones knife perfectly sharp. I sharpened karambit made of S30V steel a year ago and still there is no change in the blade, I'm using it to cut everything, carton boxes, ropes , so it is working knife.

knife made of good steel and good (at least 3 stage) diamond sharpening tool well worth each other. Coarse stone from the kit, I'm using to sharpen kitchen knives too. 5-6 strokes from each side is enough.

[Moin.]

Thank you both Rajat and Subal for the response.

Regards-Moin.

[Mark]

I like the lansky system, it is a little slow but gives a nice edge and is pretty foolproof.

However, if I had to recommend ONE sharpener to buy first, it would be a set of japanese water stones. High end knife stores and woodworking tool stores sell them and they can be spendy, but the exact same stones are sold (at least here in the States) in japanese food stores next to the cutlery. So that is what I'd recommend, and watch some youtube videos on using them, I am sure they must have a bunch of them.

YOu may develop different preferences, but those are mine and will get you started.

[Roland]

I have a Lansky kit and it is good. Improving on it I have built a similar clamp system but use wet o dry paper on glass (scary sharp) in various grits going down to 1000 which makes it razor sharp.
I also have the Tormek pro model jig. Hard to beat this system.
Roland .

[Moin.]

Thank You Mark and Roland, the Lansky seems right due to the ability to maintain a consistent angle during sharpening. Not sure if Japanese wetsones are available, but tried sharpening on a carborundum stone and ruined the edge of a good Nieto.

Roland, any pic of your kit, i too was toying with the idea of trying to fabricate a clamp & rod system locally.

Regards-Moin.

[essdee1972]

@ Moin, I too tried a carborundum on my Nieto. The edge did not get ruined, but I got some scratches on the black coating, hence stopped (JIT, I guess ).

One question to the gurus, do you PUSH the knife (i.e. forward movement of the edge against the stone, like shaving, edge away from yourself, pushing the knife away from you), or PULL the knife (i.e. backward movement, edge away from yourself, pulling towards you). Asking as two different "knife expert" sites gave two different ways. Hence, , as usual!

I actually need to sharpen and restore my grandma's Dah (which was part of her dowry, and has outlived her by about 30 years, so being nearly 100 years old). It can still make short work of any average coconut! Also need keep my showpiece Kuks in good trim. For the Nieto, I am getting a DMT as advised by Subal. Trying to get some of my NRI contacts to carry it along.

Cheers!

EssDee

[eljefe]

If our resident grouch had been here, would have been ideal to answer this question...I'll try.
A grindwell Norton Rough and smooth stone (double sided) should be available from most tool stores where you buy drill bits etc. Should be enough for most sharpening jobs.
I first started using this about 30 years ago, and hopefully they are still in business?
PulL or push? I dunno. Both worked. If you dont have a jig to help maintain the blade at a consistent angle (ideal is about 30 deg) then try to watch an old time carpenter sharpen his chisels on a piece of wood,, he wets it and throws some fine sand on it-that use dto be pretty normal in my childhood, watching all these fascinating guys-the 'kalai wallah' who would plate the cooking vessels with what looked like lead, the DIY carpenter...
make a shallow wood container which encloses the stone AND has a projection which can be clamped to a table- I'll try to make a line drawing later
Next, clamp stone (rough side up) + container on a work surface.
sprinkle water on stone-a small pool, about 1 cm?
hold blade near one corner-corner closest to you, at about a 45 deg angle.
start pushing the blade away, towards the far, opposite corner, as though you were slicing, in a circular fashion, starting from blade closest to handle,progressing, so that when you reach the furthest, opposite angle, the blade tip was getting honed
do this a few times, then change sides and now you'll probably pull towards you? do it. after a couple of dozen practice strokes , change sides -to smooth. repeat. dont try to check on ball of thumb or shave hair from forearm( or elsewhere)
prferably practice this with a kitchen knife. If you get it sharp, Mum/wife will be happy.
Once you are confident, hold knife up yo light, sight along the blade and see if you have been able to maintain a reasonable 'angle of grind' on both sides.
Keep on doin it!

[essdee1972]

Thanks, Eljefe!

I have a rough-and-smooth stone from Carborundum Universal, guess very similar to your Grindwell and Norton (I think G&N have folded up, or merged with some PSU).

So on one stroke, I push/pull the blade from handle to point, simultaneously working along the length of the stone? And I put a small amount of water on the stone (I didn't use water, probably that's why the stone is a bit clogged now).

Err... I used to try to shave hair off my arm, OK, I know it's a bit, uhh, risky, but otherwise how to find out sharpness?

Thanks again!

EssDee

[Rajat]

Great Advice eljefe!

So on one stroke, I push/pull the blade from handle to point, simultaneously working along the length of the stone? And I put a small amount of water on the stone (I didn't use water, probably that's why the stone is a bit clogged now).

Err... I used to try to shave hair off my arm, OK, I know it's a bit, uhh, risky, but otherwise how to find out sharpness?

No need to go to the extremes. You can test the edge by just sliding your thumb ACROSS (not along) the sharpened blade. If it feels "crisp" and well, like a fine edge you have got what you were looking for. Or coming back to the extremes again hold a sheet of paper vertically and try to cut it without holding the other end and if it cuts through without tearing the paper you have got a fine edge!

Sharpen as if though you are trying to slice off a fine layer off the stone and what is important is to maintain the same angle. The smaller the angle the more time it will take and the finer the edge will be but it will be more prone to damage while chopping etc. 30-40 degrees is a good angle.

Water and washing the stone time to time helps.


Actually this is the problem with the Carborundum stones or the flat DMT's . You need to be good at it otherwise you end up with scratches on your knife or do not get a clean edge.

This is the reason why the guided systems are popular and the reason why I use the Spyderco and prefer it over the few sharpeners that I own. The Spyderco uses ceramic sharpeners in two grits and they are fixed on an angle and sharpening is so easy that you get the hang of it in the first time itself and after a couple of times you are already an expert. It works on all blade styles.

See the demo:
[YouTube]Actually this is the problem with the Carborundum stones or the other flat sharpeners. You need to be good at it otherwise you end up with scratches on your knife or do not get a clean edge.

This is the reason why the guided systems are popular and the reason why I use the Spyderco and prefer it over the few sharpeners that I own including the DMT. The Spyderco uses ceramic sharpeners in two grits and they are fixed on an angle and sharpening is so easy that you get the hang of it in the first time itself and after a couple of times you are already an expert. It also works on all blade styles.

See the demo:
[youtube][/youtube]

and
[youtube][/youtube]

[essdee1972]

Thanks, Rajat!

BTW, I tried Spyderco site. There seems to be no provision for shipping to India, apart from the rather boggling USD 90 cost. Do you know any O/L in India?

Thanks again!

Cheers!

EssDee

[Rajat]

There are many online shops offering this at a price of $ 50-60. The other option is to have someone bring it in.

The second option is to try the base camp stores in Mumbai :

MUMBAI
Unit no.17 , Ground Floor,
Grand Galleria , High Street Phoenix ,
Senapati Bapat Marg ,
Lower Parel , Mumbai - 400 013
Phone:+91-22-24948880
Email: [email protected]
Click for Map

Unit No.5 , First Floor ,
Korum Mall,
Off. Eastern Exp Highway,
Thane - 400 606
Phone:+91-22-66097789
Email: [email protected]

for this


in the meantime.

It is not a substitute for the other sharpening systems but is small (size of a big pen) and can be carried easily and may be used until you get the Spyderco or any other. You can call them first to check for availability. It was available some time back.

[Moin.]

eljefe, thank you for the advice.

Rajat, I've seen several video's on the Syderco sharpmaker, but have not quite understood how a consistent angle is maintained when the blade is slid up and down on the ceramic rods. Also does is have the option for adjusting from 30 degrees to less like in the lansky's ?

Best
Moin.

[eljefe]

Until you perfect and fine hone your technique, get yourself a Lansky hand held sharpener. Its red plastic thingy, 10-12 $ , with a soft rubber gripping area and 2 sets of stones, black and white ,opposite each other, at a lovely 30 deg angle. 3-4 passes thru the black, fine hone with another 3-4 on white stones and its enough.Have one lying around in the kitchen cutlery drawer and wife is a bigger user than me-keeps her knives razor sharp.

http://www.lanskysharpeners.com/LCSTC.php


You'll probably use it the most...