I abuse knives. I admit it. Guilty as charged. I learned many years ago not to pry with the tip of my valued knives, but have to admit I'll still do it occasionally with some of the utility ones.
I cut things, I screw things, I hack at things, cut wire, metal, basically any task that needs doing.
I also hate dull knives. Dull knives are dangerous. I like my knives sharp, but I don't like to spend hours sharpening.
So what about after all that abuse? Well, I recently upgraded my sharpening kit to include the Worksharp Precision Elite. This is an upgrade to the standard version (available as larger, standalone new kit, or as upgrade kit if you have the previous version.
This new kit includes more sharpening stone grits, a ceramic rod for sharpening serrations, and a leather strop for that finishing touch. Comes in a nice storage/travel case.
Stone Grits included are:
- 220 Diamond Grit - Repair and re-angling
- 320 Diamond Grit - Shaping
- 400 Diamond Grit - Rough Sharpening
- 600 Diamond Grit - Med Sharpening
- 800 Diamond Grit - Fine Sharpening
- Flat Ceramic - Fine Honing
- Ceramic Rod - Working serrations
- Leather Strop - (On a stone type mount) Ultrafine sharp and Polish
The little tri-stone design makes it quick and easy to change between grits. The same for changing rods, they are held in with magnets and just a quick 2 seconds to pop one out and another in.
For those that know or don't know much about sharpening, this kit is ideal. The most important thing about good sharpening no matter what method or tool you use is keeping a consistent angle. This kit makes it super easy. There is even a nice adjustable knob and scale to set different angles for different type knives.
Just clamp the knife in, pop in the stone you want and run it back and forth a few times, then flip the knife and repeat. Start at the Lower grit and work your way up to the finer grit.
There are certainly more expensive and better kits out there. For the price and the quick ease of use, this is the best I've found without spending over 200-500 dollars.
I took my favorite carry knife which was getting dull from use and gave it a quick run-through in under 10 minutes to test it out. Basically just did about 10 strokes on each side, repeated 3 times on each of the stones from 220-Strop.
I was very pleased with the results, papercutting and hair shaving sharp in that time, much better than it came from the factory. It also gave a nice, consistent edge. I'm sure if I spent more time I could get it even sharper, or go for an even better "mirror" edge, but this meets my goals perfectly of wanting to put/restore a good cutting edge in a short period of time.
Love it, and definitely worth the upgrade for those of you that have the original.
Here's a video of the blade and paper action:
No comments about the scratches and such on the rest of the blade, I told you I abuse them! But that edge is nice!
Comments about the Toblerone allowed? 😄
Haha, I wondered if any would notice! It's my favorite and was a birthday present from my son. Yes, it's the giant size! I've been trying not to indulge while on a keto plan. I got hooked on those and the "real" Gummi bears back in High School German class.
I can send you a package 😁. Back in the East German times we received care packages from the West. I could be your
RaisinGummibär bomber 😂Stay away you evil temptress! lol Maybe in a few months, right now I'm avoiding all such temptations. Down 6lbs. on a mission for 20. Love the thought though!
I'll figure out your destination with my Stasi genes and then drop a sugar bomb on your porch 😂. Good job though with the 6lbs, just mentioning that Joy lost 26lbs 😅 🤗
Great to get her healthy! Bet you weren't feeding her gummies!
Love, I'm feeding him love 😍
Nice improvement on the Lansky... 😊
This looks great! I need to get something to put a better edge on my everyday carry knives...it is a real bitch to traditionally sharpen a double edged Microtech OTF.
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One day I'll find enough courage to photograph my knives collection :) (Surprise?) :D
I was going to comment on the choc bar too, but I see... too late :)
lol, never too sharp, just a little less pressure!
I have a similar tool from Lansky. I find it mainly useful for jobs where you dont have a decent edge to begin with, so you can give it certain angle and so on. For knifes that do have a proper edge, but are just a bit dull, I prefer the oldfashioned big stones. Very handy are also the "steels" that you find in butcheries and restaurant kitchens. Those are not so well suited for outdoors of course. But for the kitchen knifes they are perfect. A few strokes before each use of the knife, and its always sharp.
But those are the only sharpeners that work "quickly", and that only if used regulary.
Everything else that promises a fast and easy sharpening, is crap. Especially electric sharpeners. A real good sharpening from scratch always takes some time, if you want to do it properly.
A tipp for the finish: a piece of firm saddle leather glued to a foot piece of 2x2, treated with a very fine polishing paste - it will give the mirror shine edge finish, and you can shave with that knife. If you dare... :)
I've got an old Lansky system buried somewhere. This is similar, but far superior imho due to the multiple variety of grit and the sheer ease of setup and use. That Lansky was a bit of a pain. I do use a steel for quick touchups on the kitchen knives.
Love your idea for the longer leather strop idea. the one in this kit just seems a little small. May try the polishing paste idea on it first though. Thanks!
Yes, the Lansky system has room for improvement. But at least it helps to stay at an set angle. Although - and I guess thats similar with your thingy, it can be difficult if the knife edge has curves. And if it is big. Or both. I had a few patients like that, and I'm not really sure that its easier to use such a guided system, or rather do it with a oldfashioned stone.
For knifes that are used often and frequently, such a steel is great. I have 2 of them, one from "Zwilling" that I got 50 years ago during my apprenticeship as a chef, and one from "Dick" that I bought a few years ago for the super long knifes, its about 14 inch long. The Dick steels are the Rolls-Royce of steels. And a Rolls-Royce has its price.... :)
Well, a leather strop is fairly easy to make yourself in the size you want. If you can find the leather for it, that is. But you live in a rural region, perhaps there are still saddlers or similar shops around there.
There are 2 kinds of strops: the flexible ones, mainly for razors, as you would see in barber shops. And then the rigid ones as I described, thats better for bigger and curved knives. The polishing paste is the same for both, usually containing Cromedioxide or diamond dust. You can find all this on Amazon, too.
I've lately gotten into knives as I have been following this channel called Battlebox and they are basically a giant knife store with some pretty awesome outdoor content.
That's a pretty hardcore sharpening setup you've got there. I'll admit that when I need my knives sharpened I take them to an outdoors shop to do it for me. Maybe I should invest in one of these things because it's not like I don't have the time.
Definitely a thumbs up for me. Doesn't take much to learn how to use it, nor much time unless you've really let one go bad. Could likely sharpen at least one in less time than it takes you to drive to the store!
I have a similar machine for sharpening knives. But I prefer to sharpen with my hands.