Sharpening Gear >> Non Spyderco?

[JD Spydo]

All of us bonafide citizens of Spyderville already know how great Spyderco's sharpening equipment is and anyone who knows me personally knows that my tool boxes are full of their great sharpening tools ;)

But what I want to know is which Non-Spyderco sharpening tools do you all use to assist with some of your more challenging sharpening jobs? For instance I just posted in a "Hawkbill Sharpening" thread that I was in the market for a couple of diamond impregnated sharpening steels that I can use for reprofiling Hawkbills and other non-standard blades. Unfortunately Spyderco doesn't make anything along those lines so for now I have to search the market for my needs in that sharpening tool sector.

But also I would like to know what other sharpening equipment you all use that doesn't have Spyderco's name on them? For instance I have 2 diamond benchstones that I use for fast and serious reprofiling of very beat up blade edges. I have a diamond Norton Coarse benchstone which is about 220 grit and I also have a 3M diamond benchstone that is rated X-tra coarse. I find those tools quite helpful with many sharpening challenges over the years.

Bottom line: What unique and specialized sharpening tools do you have that you use frequently or on rare occasions that are made by companies other than Spyderco? Hopefully this thread might even give Spyderco some vital feedback as to what their customers want and shed light on the sharpening needs we all encounter. Also it will let us know what else that is on the market that may be helpful in our sharpening endeavors.

[wescobts]

I have a Lansky diamond tapered rod to sharpen the serrations on my Native. It is not great in the fact that the edges are not centered or even, but they do get somewhat of an edge after a little time. I feel it does remove a little more material than I am comfortable with, but until I get something better, it is what it is. I have some japanese water stones that I sharpen my plain blades with, I used to sharpen the planer blades at a cabinet shop I used to work at, and have been using them ever since.

[Peter1960]

You ask for my sharpening equipment, I will show you what I have ...

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/6771/img1102mediumdt6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

most of the time I use the Sharmaker, but for really dull plain edges or for some axes like the Fiskars I prefer the big Tormek a lot (it's a swedish water grinder).

Sharpmaker and Tormek are two totally different sharping systems. Both work well within their field of application, just different :)

[vampyrewolf]

Lets see...

bench grinder (6" medium and fine), belt sander, a couple files, dremel (large and small sanding drums), 3 AO benchstones (200/300, 2x 500/800), 80-2000 grit sandpaper (AO and SiC), handful of dowels for that sandpaper (recurve sharpening made easy), couple foam sanding blocks (for convex edges),and a strop hanging at the bottom of the stairs, and a ceramic stick that was a steel.

and the only thing I haven't used recently has been the belt sander as I don't have the space to make a mess now until next summer.

[bigkahunasix]

Let's see-

Sharpmaker
Waterstones
1x30 belt grinder
Wet grinder
EdgePro
DMT diamond plates
sandpaper & mousepads
strops & polishing compound
huge assortment of stones

And probably more if I dig around.

[Murdoc]

Sharpmaker for all "normal touch-up" chores.

Lansky professional system to get really dull or ruined knives back in shape -> finish with SM
I don't want to miss this system, it works great and is pretty effective.

I do own a 701M ProFile, but didn't use it much until now...

Some cheap grinding stones (unknown brand) float around here, but I don't have use for them either.

I strop my plain knives on my leg (with jeans on me, of course :D), but I plan to add a real leather/chromium oxide strop in the not-too-distant future.


Dennis

[Marion David Poff]

Edge Pro Professional.

Great system.

http://www.edgeproinc.com/

And the owner, Ben Dale, is a really great guy, he will take your calls any day...

I had a less than standard experience....

I bought the system, knowing that it was the best system for my needs.... Knife Aficionado, Sharpener of My Friends Knives, Considering Sharpening for Cash, Dreaming about Making Knives Some Day.

But, once I got the system, I had some difficulty, all of which was my doing....

1) I have a learning disability which makes for real rocky starts when I am building a new capability or starting new things. Basically, ADHD plus Anxiety. Upshot, I tend to miss small things, often times easy things, but things that are crucial.... Basically, the 'It was right there in front of your face' concept.

2) Instead of being smart, see above, I started out on the hardest knives to sharpen, and the weirdest things I had.... Normark Skinning Axe, Scandi Grinds....

3) Being a knife knut, I wanted thin edges, so I was thinning everything out, which was adding to the time factor, making it seem like things weren't working....

So, why did I tell you all this.... Because, even though I was getting OK results, I was not getting GREAT results....

Which is why, without it even being offered, I asked Ben if I could come down, and spend a little time with him, kind of going over things, watching him, having him critique my technique, all that...

And, he immediately said 'Yes'.

I went down there, and it really helped, I walked away with a bunch of knowledge and confidence, and a few new products. : )

Anyway, to summarize.... Great Product, Great Service, Great Guy.

[Shike]

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z312/miguelo_conguero/DSCN0406.jpg

[JD Spydo]

You ask for my sharpening equipment, I will show you what I have ...



most of the time I use the Sharmaker, but for really dull plain edges or for some axes like the Fiskars I prefer the big Tormek a lot (it's a swedish water grinder).

Sharpmaker and Tormek are two totally different sharping systems. Both work well within their field of application, just different :)

Peter I'm glad to see you have a TORMEK . I've had one for some time now. I've found it ideal for sharpening big blades like Bowies and Gurkha Kukri blades.

I also heard another brother say that he had a wet grinder. I'm wondering if there are other brands as good as the TORMEK.

Also I'm interested in some of the older Benchstones; particularly some of the older Arkansas Stones that are no longer available. I've also wondered if any of you all have any ceramic sharpening stones other than Spyderco's. I've heard that the Global Company puts out some fine stones.

[SimpleIsGood229]

My sharpening gear consist of these:

-DMT 6" Fine bench stone
-DMT Coarse/Fine Diafold
-DMT Fine rat tail Diafold
-Lansky Ultra Fine ceramic (supposed to be an attachment for their sharpening system, but I do it all free-handed.)

I plan on adding more Diafolds in order to better cover the range of diamond grits. Anyway, my sharpening gear is pretty simple, but it works.

[Marion David Poff]

Here is a link of an article comparing a Tormek to a Jet.

http://www.joewoodworker.com/tormek.htm

[jzmtl]

A bunch of no name diamond stone ranging from 200 to 600 grits for manual reprofiling. Also have a belt sander (the 4" wide belt type) but never used it for fear of destroying the knife.