I have used nearly all of these over the years. I like the pull carbide ones but they always fuck with the bevel. The electric ones are super fast but chew up the knives. The whetstones do a great job but take a lot of time...
The carbide ones leave an edge that dulls quickly. As long as you don't mind resharpening all the time they are alright. The best ones are the ones that have a swivel.
I have been a professional knife sharpener for almost 15 years. I've played with all the toys. My personal favorite is the spinning wet stone wheel, the bigger the wheel the better. The best sharpener I ever worked with was a large adjustable speed belt sander on a pedestal style stand. I currently also use a diamond grit system from Wicked Edge. Their professional sharpener is about $1000 but it does great work. I can reprofile and sharpen a blunt, chipped up, fugly kitchen knife in 10 minutes or less
Is this something where you can purchase better stone wheels?
What are some things that the average idiot like myself needs to know about knives? What are the ideal steels for cooking and for pocket knives? Best brands for cooking and pocket knives? Yes, I beat the shit out of my knives and they never seem to be sharp, even after sharpening.
Edit- not sure why that link fucked up but it still works. Fyi @system.
Yeah, I have the Tormek brand of that same machine. Does a great job and you can purchase different jigs for sharpening tools and specialty blades for machines like planers. The average idiot needs to know that sharpening starts in the minds eye. You have to practice envisioning the microscopic edge of the blade. If you sharpen free hand, practice makes perfect. If you use the jigs, practice makes perfect but the machine compensates considerably. Steels don't sharpen a dull knife, they keep a sharp knife sharp. As you use a knife the microscopic teeth on the climax of the edge start to bend over. You can actually feel which way it's bending by gently dragging your finger tips crossways on the edge. A steel used properly straightens the edge back out. Hold your knife and steel at 90° from each other, then angle the blade by half (45°), then half again (22°ish), then gently stroke the knife down the steel a few times. Obviously some "steels" have a grit on them for grinding off metal. Those aren't true steals but the process is the same and they do a decent job for a quick touch up, but eventually do more harm then good. There is no best brand since every good brand also sells cheap shitty knives to be competitive. Henkle sells amazing stuff and also sells crap. You have to research the model. German and Japanese steel is strong stuff that generally takes an edge beautifully when sharpening. I hear Taiwan makes knives from old bomb fragments they collect on the beach. If you want to really geek out on knife sharpening I recommend CarterCutlery on jewtube. I knew his brother years ago, their good people.
This is really great info. There are cheap ginders out there for a few hundred bucks, but they all need add ons and come with cheap wheels. It makes me think that the tormek would be worth the 5-600 bucks as I wouldn't need to upgrade the stone and buy guides.
I figure I use enough knives that the price might actually be worth it.
I guess the secret is... there is no secret and you have to put in the work. Sounds about right.
Ha, I have that exact 400/1000 Whetstone Cutlery whetstone! Except you are supposed to submerge it in water for about five minutes instead of just pouring some water on it.
I own the Wicked Edge Pro. I use it to sharpen at farmers markets since it's manual and my electric machines are a pain in the ass in those settings. I have about $1200 invested in it and I've generated that several times over with this contraption. It's great, highly recommend it for the serious knife sharpener
[ + ] Panic
[ - ] Panic 5 points 2.2 yearsApr 22, 2023 00:13:23 ago (+5/-0)
[ + ] MaryXmas
[ - ] MaryXmas [op] 5 points 2.2 yearsApr 21, 2023 22:09:31 ago (+5/-0)
[ + ] Kozel
[ - ] Kozel 0 points 2.2 yearsApr 22, 2023 00:31:47 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] ItsOk2bArian
[ - ] ItsOk2bArian 3 points 2.2 yearsApr 22, 2023 02:07:11 ago (+3/-0)
[ + ] UncleDoug
[ - ] UncleDoug 0 points 2.2 yearsApr 22, 2023 03:02:48 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] MaryXmas
[ - ] MaryXmas [op] 0 points 2.2 yearsApr 22, 2023 08:07:58 ago (+0/-0)*
Is this something where you can purchase better stone wheels?
What are some things that the average idiot like myself needs to know about knives? What are the ideal steels for cooking and for pocket knives? Best brands for cooking and pocket knives? Yes, I beat the shit out of my knives and they never seem to be sharp, even after sharpening.
Edit- not sure why that link fucked up but it still works. Fyi @system.
[ + ] ItsOk2bArian
[ - ] ItsOk2bArian 1 point 2.2 yearsApr 23, 2023 16:18:02 ago (+1/-0)
The average idiot needs to know that sharpening starts in the minds eye. You have to practice envisioning the microscopic edge of the blade. If you sharpen free hand, practice makes perfect. If you use the jigs, practice makes perfect but the machine compensates considerably.
Steels don't sharpen a dull knife, they keep a sharp knife sharp. As you use a knife the microscopic teeth on the climax of the edge start to bend over. You can actually feel which way it's bending by gently dragging your finger tips crossways on the edge. A steel used properly straightens the edge back out. Hold your knife and steel at 90° from each other, then angle the blade by half (45°), then half again (22°ish), then gently stroke the knife down the steel a few times. Obviously some "steels" have a grit on them for grinding off metal. Those aren't true steals but the process is the same and they do a decent job for a quick touch up, but eventually do more harm then good.
There is no best brand since every good brand also sells cheap shitty knives to be competitive. Henkle sells amazing stuff and also sells crap. You have to research the model. German and Japanese steel is strong stuff that generally takes an edge beautifully when sharpening. I hear Taiwan makes knives from old bomb fragments they collect on the beach.
If you want to really geek out on knife sharpening I recommend CarterCutlery on jewtube. I knew his brother years ago, their good people.
[ + ] MaryXmas
[ - ] MaryXmas [op] 0 points 2.2 yearsApr 23, 2023 16:30:53 ago (+0/-0)
I figure I use enough knives that the price might actually be worth it.
I guess the secret is... there is no secret and you have to put in the work. Sounds about right.
Thanks for your help!
[ + ] Love240
[ - ] Love240 3 points 2.2 yearsApr 21, 2023 22:22:27 ago (+3/-0)
I purchased the Lansky set.
I do have a whet stone also and use it occasionally for something quick.
[ + ] Gigglestick
[ - ] Gigglestick 2 points 2.2 yearsApr 22, 2023 00:22:26 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] GrayDragon
[ - ] GrayDragon 2 points 2.2 yearsApr 22, 2023 02:04:16 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] ItsOk2bArian
[ - ] ItsOk2bArian 1 point 2.2 yearsApr 23, 2023 16:32:37 ago (+1/-0)
I have about $1200 invested in it and I've generated that several times over with this contraption. It's great, highly recommend it for the serious knife sharpener
[ + ] NukeAmerica
[ - ] NukeAmerica 1 point 2.2 yearsApr 22, 2023 04:05:30 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] Deleted
[ - ] deleted 1 point 2.2 yearsApr 22, 2023 08:57:21 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] Thought_Criminal
[ - ] Thought_Criminal 2 points 2.2 yearsApr 21, 2023 23:20:01 ago (+2/-0)
[ + ] Bufordxl
[ - ] Bufordxl 1 point 2.2 yearsApr 22, 2023 01:37:27 ago (+1/-0)
[ + ] WanderingToast
[ - ] WanderingToast 0 points 2.2 yearsApr 22, 2023 09:08:13 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] jigganiggaboo
[ - ] jigganiggaboo 0 points 2.2 yearsApr 22, 2023 07:20:41 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] UncleDoug
[ - ] UncleDoug 0 points 2.2 yearsApr 22, 2023 03:01:19 ago (+0/-0)
316 and 420 marine steel dive knives with aluminium oxide block is adequate.
For high carbon kitchen chef knives use ceramic stones with camelia oil.
[ + ] VitaminSieg
[ - ] VitaminSieg 0 points 2.2 yearsApr 22, 2023 02:05:09 ago (+0/-0)
[ + ] SecretHitler
[ - ] SecretHitler 0 points 2.2 yearsApr 22, 2023 01:10:04 ago (+0/-0)