Sugguestions on knife sharpening systems

[Blak Smyth]

Originally Posted by shilala

Lansky makes the best knife sharpening kit in the world for hand lapping.
I have a crazy expensive electric glass wheel deal for my chisels and stuff, but I don't touch knives to it. That's what the Lansky is for.
It's a time consuming thing, perfect for while you're watching a movie or whatever.

Gonna have to politely dissagree with you here Scott.
Lansky is very entry level, it is what I use but it is not well built and doesn't have much room for adjustment. If you intend to achieve a mirror edge you must reprofile every blade in the beggining to make the edge match the system instead of the other way around. It takes hours to go from reprofile to mirror finish but it can be done. The Wicked Edge is 10x faster, better built and more adjustable and accurate. Just costs many times more than the Lansky so it comes down to a personal choice of quality & effeciency vs cost.

*Note the WE sharpens both edges at the same time, meaning an edge burr can't form.

[shilala]

You're allowed to disagree, Shane.
I have to disagree with "isn't built well". My set is at least 25 years old and you couldn't tell it from new. Never a problem one. What more could a guy ask for? Heck, the case hinge isn't even broke yet.
I do one knife at a time. I seldom have to change the angle, I match the original. Then I grind until I can shave with whatever I'm sharpening. Yes, it takes time. I can do a whole set of knives while I'm watching football on Sunday. That's a zero loss of time, I wasn't gonna do anything else anyway.
I can do all that for 10x's less than the wicked edge, too.
To me, that's a pretty fine endorsement.
I'm not at all saying Wicked Edge isn't good stuff. It looks nice. But for that kind of money I can buy a glass lapper that is quicker yet and does an excellent job. Or buy attachments to go on my wood tool sharpener that'll take care of knives.
To me, Wicked Edge lies somewhere between the best value and the best machine, but I don't see it as either.
If I was going to take the Lansky up a notch, I'd buy a nice set of ceramic rods with a big base to touch up the blades after they're done on the Lansky.
Neither work for Adam, so it's kinda moot.

I have a Wixey angle gauge like that one you showed. I use it to set angles on my machines. Awesome tool!!!!

Originally Posted by Blak Smyth

Gonna have to politely dissagree with you here Scott.
Lansky is very entry level, it is what I use but it is not well built and doesn't have much room for adjustment. If you intend to achieve a mirror edge you must reprofile every blade in the beggining to make the edge match the system instead of the other way around. It takes hours to go from reprofile to mirror finish but it can be done. The Wicked Edge is 10x faster, better built and more adjustable and accurate. Just costs many times more than the Lansky so it comes down to a personal choice of quality & effeciency vs cost.

*Note the WE sharpens both edges at the same time, meaning an edge burr can't form.