I need a recommendation on a knife sharpener. Something that doesn't take a lot of technique or time. We've got a handful of S30V knives around the house if that makes a difference.
Wandering around Bass Pro I found the Chef's Choice and Work Sharp type stuff. Is any of that any good?
Be very careful with the portable belt sanders. They can burn the temper right out of a blade. I know if very few of us knifemaker's that actually use them.
There is a learning curve with every system. I use the Edge Pro for most knives, but the Work Sharp for kitchen and fillet knives.
The Original Work Sharp has made a lot of owners able to sharpen knives that could not do that before. The Ken Onion model is only necessary for those who feel the need and the newer model does little for me.
With any system you must learn to roll a small burr before moving on. Make complete and even strokes. Apply an appropriate amount of pressure. Keep your abrasives sharp, and wet if appropriate. Use a good strop to finish the edge.
Be very careful with the portable belt sanders. They can burn the temper right out of a blade. I know if very few of us knifemaker's that actually use them.
Spot on. But you can lead horses to water, but you can't make a jackass drink.
I used to have a steady enough hand I could get a shaving edge using a stone free hand and then stropping but not any more. I've been using the Gatco for quite a few years now with good results. I still need to come up with something for the longer blades on kitchen knives.
I'm pretty happy with my WorkSharp. Pay close attention to the instructions, if not you are apt to ruin the temper. They work great on those flexible kitchen knives.
As you set up wheels and belts and adjust clamps and jigs and fret about angles, a flat, hard stone sleeps unused, and you know that on a deep level of your soul, where the old and true things are kept, you are not a man.
Doesn't take a lot of technique or time = Spyderco Sharpmaker.
I really like my Sharpmaker. I bought a set of the diamond sticks for it to make edge corrections go a little faster especially with hard steels like D2.
Be very careful with the portable belt sanders. They can burn the temper right out of a blade. I know if very few of us knifemaker's that actually use them.
Spot on. But you can lead horses to water, but you can't make a jackass drink.
I had one of the electric sharpeners from Chefs choice. It didnt work on my (thicker) hunting knives. I ended up with an Edge Pro. Works well, and is relatively simple.
IF you burn a blade to the point of losing temper (ie:red metal) you have some combination of these 3 issues: Dull (or tooo fine a grit) abrasive Too much pressure Moving the blade too slow across the abrasive.
Use fresh belt, medium pressure and move on thru it at steady pace.
At least that is my experience having sharpened a thousand or so blades.