I could be drinking..

[Imprezed]

Hey guys this is my first post and a very important one. I just bought an endura half half and I am very very pleased with it. I picked up a sharpmaker a few days ago and when I was watching the dvd the guy claimed that it makes knifes sharper then when they come from the factory. Well needless to say that I suck at using the sharpmaker and now my endura is very dull. For some reason I can't get the sharpmaker to work :confused: . Is there any tips that you guys could give a beginner or the most common mistakes that people make while sharpening? Fortunatly I didn't touch the serrated part so I have a half functional knife. Thanks guys for any help.

[BBRex]

I know the feeling. I've been practicing with my sharpmaker, and I'll be satisifed with the results one time, then make the knife duller the next. I think it just takes some practice to get the technique just right.

My main problem isn't getting dull knives sharper, it doing touchups on my sharper knives. I'm still practicing, though.

[pjrocco]

Imprezed,

Welcome to the Spyderco Forums.

Trust me on this when I say, you just need to be patient and keep practicing. When I first got my Sharpmaker I was in the same boat with you. I was making all my knives duller.

First thing is.... The stones need to "break in" I couldn't get a shaving sharp edge until the stones were broken in... After that, I have been shaving sharp.

Second, make sure the blade stays straight with the base of the Sharpmaker. 90 degrees. Take it slow and steady at first.

Third, wrist action.. The best way I have found is to start at the top and as you bring the blade down start tilting your wrist forward. So it will be like a downwards stroke/slash... Remember keep your hand/blade at 90 degrees.. Straight up and down the whole time..

When working the flat side of the stone, if you are not at 90 degrees you will actually dull the edge..

Just keep at it... Get some old kitchen knives or folder and practice... The more you do it.. the better you will get and the more enjoyable it will become.

This is the style that works for me... Most people find different ways to get it... but it will just click one day.. :)

Good luck..

[Michael Cook]

:spyder: Keep your touch light!! Keep your drawstroke on the stones as light as if you were shaving an inflated baloon. :spyder:

[Jim Malone]

ps the "guy" is the owner of Spyderco, Mr Sal Glesser (Louis according to the patents), he has like a "half god" status inhere

AND BOW ............ :)

[Zwaplat]

ps the "guy" is the owner of Spyderco, Mr Sal Glesser (Louis according to the patents), he has like a "half god" status inhere

AND BOW ............ :)

NO! Don't bow, look at his avatar!

[Gerard Breuker]

Just one more suggestion. Use your sharpmaker standing at the kitchen sink or somewhere else of the same height like on the video/DVD. I find it a lot easier that way then sitting.

[dialex]

Welcome to the Spyderco Forum. While I usually don't have any problems in putting a shaving edge on my knives, I must confess there are days when the knife simply won't get an edge. Of course, there's nothing wrong with the 204, but rather with my technique (and I use the sharpmaker for a couple years) :(
I think the secret is to follow the Syderco instructions and take your time. Don't rush and just enjoy sharpening. The results will show, you'll see. :)

[vampyrewolf]

slow steady strokes will do more than quick mis-aligned strokes... and 1-2kg of pressure is all you need.

for tips, try to stop a 1/4" or so from running your tip off the stones at the bottom, do them afterwards on the flats to avoid rounding it out.

use the full stone. don't try to sharpen with just the top 2", it doesn't do anything as fast as the full stone.

for serrated, you want to hit every serration. if it sounds like running your fingers down a washboard, you're gouing too fast. Should be able to FEEL each tooth hit.

[Slvgx]

At least if you mess it up badly you can send the knife into Spyderco and they'll fix it up best they can for you. Maybe you have super cheap $1 beaters that you can test on at first.

[spydutch]

Welcome to this forum. After 2 months of sharpening, I think I'm finally getting it a little. I go veeeery slowly on the strokes with little pressure. And I stay away from the flat sides, I only use the corners. Just be careful on the point. I tend to make the knife duller with the flat sides. I think I'm doing something wrong as Pjrocco said. With the corners I can get my knives shaving sharp.

[smcfalls13]

Like some of you, I'm still working on getting the hang of it. I'm still inconsistent though. I can keep my sharp knives sharp, as long as they're PE, the SE hasn't clicked with me yet, I still need more practice.

Reprofiling a really dull edge however, continues to elude me. I've spent two hours on an old beater knife, and for some reason I can't seem to actually hit the edge. I tried the permanent marker trick, to see where I was actually sharpening, and I'm missing the last quarter millimeter right at the edge, everything above it is being sharpened, but not the actual edge :o

So I'm in the same boat as you, it works for me sometimes, and sometimes it doesn't. Nothing I can do about it but practice, good luck to everyone who hasn't gotten it right yet. ;)

[Michael Cook]

Reprofiling a really dull edge however, continues to elude me. I've spent two hours on an old beater knife, and for some reason I can't seem to actually hit the edge. I tried the permanent marker trick, to see where I was actually sharpening, and I'm missing the last quarter millimeter right at the edge, everything above it is being sharpened, but not the actual edge :o ;)
:spyder: Re-beveling is needed, switch to the 30 degree angle. :spyder: