Home Forums Gear Knives and Blades Recommended starter sharpener/sharpening system??

One other question...are any of the accessories for these kits any good? Namely the Universal Mount or the Super C Clamp Mount. The Super C Clamp mount seems like it would be quite a benefit to the kit.

Also, I just looked up the Gatco sharpener mentioned earlier. What do you other guys think about it compared to the Lansky?

That stress thing must be contagious. I just went through the same thing and said/did some really stupid things. I too am past it, but not sure of the damage control efforts yet.
Tim

MRK:

Unfortunately, in a lot of situations, the damage cannot be either controled or taken back.

The good news is that you are over and done with it, and the others, if they can't forget and forgive, then that is their problem, not yours or mine.

There is an old saying about someone who passes judgment, let them walk a mile in my shoes.

I feel much better about it, and that is what is important to me.

Funny thing, for the past 16 months, I thought about it every single day, and sometimes all day or several times a day.

Now, if I want to think about it, I have to put some effort into it. Now, it is like a vague memory of something that happened in the distant past.

1234567
This last issue was just current stuff and I can now live with it. Just wish I hadn't gone out of control when I did. Nothing like the 10 years it took to get past VietNam.

Back to the topic of the thread.
The discussions here are great medicine. A Sharpener System is one of my current dilemmas also. I still love my bench stones, but customer expectation keeps getting more and more demanding -- and a fixture system is pretty tough to beat by hand.

Someone here once offered to send me his Edge Pro system to try out----wish I had taken him up on that.
My nephew has a Lansky and does a fabulous job with it----but then I can't be doing the same thing as he is, now can I.

I think that one of the problems with sharpness and new knives is that the customer will not usually be sharpening the same as the maker did. Until the user gets the cutting edge in sync with his system, he will probably be dissatisfied with the resharpened edge. When the steels and heat treat was such that an Arkansas stone and some spit was all that was needed almost anyone could be happy with their sharpening job. The high performance blades require better stones and methods.
JMHO.

Tim

I somehow missed this thread until after posting my suggestion on the waterstone thread. Anyway, my STRONG recommendation would be the Edge Pro Apex. Pricey, but well worth it IMO.

http://www.edgeproinc.com

222Rem, thanks and I have considered that sharpener for a future purchase. The system I want needs to be under the $50 mark since it is a gift from my fiance's dad.

Probably wind up getting the Lansky since there are more hones available for it compared to the Gatco. However, I wonder if a Gatco hone will work with the holding device made by Lansky? They both look the same except for the fact the Gatco has different degree settings than the Lansky.

I've got a couple buddys who love their Lansky systems. I can't remember the subtle differences between the Lansky and Gatco, but if you can find a stores that carries them, I'd suggest comparing the two. I did that a few years back, and if memory serves, I liked something about the Gatco better. Larger stones maybe? Guys seem to love 'em both, so I doubt you'd go wrong with either one.

Another vote for either one of the Edge Pro Systems.....blows any other system completely out of the water and I own most of them. I have both of their models and they are COMPLETELY fool proof.

Craig,
The Gatco and Lansky will not interchange.

I dunno ...

But, for me, I have found that often when my knives become dull, I don't NEED the 'sharpening stones' to restore the edge.

If the blade isn't damaged, I dont need to REMOVE the blades metal by grinding away on the blades edge. Under a microscope a sharp knife's edge shows a uniform row of small aligned "teeth". When the blade becomes dull, these teeth are bent over and only need to be realigned, with a Knife Sharpening "Steel".

I'll first hold the knife upside down and Back-Steel the edge on both sides, which straightens the teeth upright.

Then, holding the knife in the normal position, I will then sharpen or "align" the edge with a pyramid system of down strokes, (4 on one side then 4 on the other side - then alternately 3 on each side, 2 ... 1 ... 0), That restores a perfect edge, and my blade is perfectly sharp. With just a "Steel".

If I feel I DO need something more 'abrasive', I just use Ceramic-Crock Cross Sticks, also in a decending number of pyramiding down-strokes alternately on each side.

The cross-sticks hold a fixed angle, and if I need to change that angle I just turn the knife blade closer to the stick on each downstroke, instead of straight up and down.

The ceramic sticks last forever, but can become less effective when blackened by metal residue, but will clean as new with Ajax and those green synthetic scouring pads.

I know I am NO knife sharpening expert ... and some friends who ARE, hate those "Damn worthless ceramic things" ...

But, a good Steel and My Ceramic Sticks have served me well for decades. I have borrowed a fillet knife or a hunting knife to a friend when necessary, and apologised for the blade probably being 'dull'.

Their response was, "What are you talking about, This blade is NOT dull, It's perfect ... YOU didn't sharpen this knife yourself ... Did you?"

i use the edgemaker sharpeners . if you start out useing one of these and use nothing but it and don't nick your blade up trying to cut bone your knife will last forever. they work great on regular blades ,serarated blades and even scissors. i've owned one for 20 yrs or so.

there on sale http://www.knivesplus.com/EDGEMAKER.HTML

My 14 yr old boy mastered a Lansky he got last Xmas. I've used it and works like a charm.

The lansky is nice but the stones are very narrow and aren't very long. This thread renewed my interest in replacing my Lansky with a Gatco or DMT system that uses bigger stones. It isn't a big deal when sharpening a 3" blade but when you are doing a larger knife and you have to reposition the clamp for every 3" of blade you want to sharpen with each stone it can take a long time with the small Lansky stones.

I went ahead and ordered the basic Gatco 3 stone set and added the extra and ultra fine stones for it. The Edgemaker looked like a nice easy method for doing for my kitchen knives so I got one of those too. I'll probably give my deluxe lansky set to my roommate.

I used to use my buddy's Lansky it worked extremely well. I own the Gatco because I bought into the hype that the Gatco stones being bigger would be better. they're not. It's not that the Gatco doesn't work, it does produce a nice sharp edge but the Lansky will produce a razor sharp edge. I should mention that I've never tried either with the diamond hones.

What grit size did you go down to on the Gatco? It doesn't come with as fine of stones as the Lansky. The Fine of the Gatco is only 300 grit wheras the fine of the Lansky is 600 grit. To match the fine of the Lansky you need to use Gatco's optional extra fine. To match the 1000 grit ultra fine of the Lansky you have to use the 1200 grit ultra fine from Galco. The Galco just doesn't come with the finer grits in their kits. Theoretically you should be able to get a sharper edge with the Galco ultra fine because it is 1200 vs 1000 grit. However, Lansky does have the option sapphire 2000 grit hone.

The Lansky will be cheaper to get a full kit down to 1000grit though. Their Deluxe kit runs like $37 online. I just paid $48 for the basic Gatco with the 2 finer stones added to match the Deluxe Lansky in grit. Obviously I suspect that the larger stones are worth it or I wouldn't have just bought it when I already have the Lansky. I'll try to remember to update this thread when I get it with a comparison.

sharpmaker

I've only used the Lansky system, so I have no idear how they rate against the other systems. I don't know how I went so many years without Lansky. I have the basic 3 stone system. I wouldn't mind an additional extra course for the first sharpening. That one change from the factory angle is always the hard one.

Drew, I've had the Gatco for about 7 years but just recently (over this past summer) added the extra fine and the ultra fine hone. I suspect you're on to something;My friends Lansky may have had the 2000 grit hone, I'll try to remember to ask, next time I see him.
I've never tried them side by side and I'm interested to hear your comparison.

I have a Gatco, dad and bro in law have Lansky's. The only real difference I see is the size of the stones.

Functionally speaking, they both work the same, and with equivalent stones should produce the same edge. Or am I missing something?