Knife sharpening machine wanted...

[Smokey Joe]

Knife Knuts: I'm pretty good at sharpening knives by hand. Have a collection of the usual medium and hard Arkansas stones and an assortment of diamond hones in various grits. 2 different honing oils; a couple of strops. That's not the problem!

The problem is, that I've become somewhat notorious for being able to put an edge on a knife, among my friends & acquaintances, and that's good, too--I sharpen their knives, they track my deer, et cetera.

The REAL problem is anno domini. I've gotten to the age where after sharpening, say, 3 fixed blade sheath knives in a row, my hands hurt. I don't want to stop sharpening guys' knives, though. It's a nice social skill.

The solution as I see it is to get some sort of grinder--it'll have to be at least sort of portable--to do some of the heavy, hard-on-the-thumbs, work for me.

I've read on these fora of several machines that the pros use--are any of these available to the general public, somewhat portable, cost less than an arm and a leg, and not require a PhD in metallurgy to use?

Suggestions, anyone?

 

[7X57chilmau]

Use a belt grinder like the makers do.... And then finish off with a quick polish'n'strop..... It's the re-setting of the edge from butter-knife dull that wears the fingers outta us..... A nice 400 grit belt will do that for ya.

J

 

[JTW Jr.]

Pricey : Tormac

Less pricey : bench grinder with a cardboard wheel set up.

I use my BaderIII ( very pricey @$2400 ) to bring the edge to a burr , then take it to the cardboard wheel loaded with polishing compound.

Others have had good luck using a Delta 1x42 , which I used to use prior to getting the Bader.

 

[Zeke/PA]

Check out the sharpners marketed by The Edgecraft Corp. Avondale, PA.
These sharpners DO work !

 

[hso]

A Chef's Choice 120 will get you started so that you can finish up.

Short of a bench grinder with a wheel and rouge this is the best way to go and still be toteable.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Thanx to the responders!

Appreciate the responses so far! Where do I look for a belt grinder? or a Chefs Choice 120? And, BTW, what is this "Japanese water stone machine" that gets mentioned from time to time.

7x57 Chilmau--

It's the re-setting of the edge from butter-knife dull that wears the fingers outta us.....

MAN, you ain't just a-whistlin' Dixie!

JTW, Jr--

Less pricey : bench grinder with a cardboard wheel set up.

Common ordinary electric bench grinder?? Hey, I've got one of those! What is a "cardboard wheel set up?"

Sorry to sound so naive--I really haven't paid any attention to mechanical sharpeners at all, having been up 'til now very satisfied with my results by hand.

 

[JTW Jr.]

check here: http://www.sharpeningwheels.com/

I use the variable speed bench grinder that Sears sells , works well so far.

 

[Zeke/PA]

Cabela's has a very good selection of Chef's Choice offerings or you may try a more local kitchen and bath oriented shop.

 

[Zeke/PA]

A bench grinder is an ABSOLUTE No- No in knife sharpening!
A belt sander is a much better option provided the operator has developed the certain required "touch" and other cautions are adhered to.
My suggestion is the Spyderco Sharpmaker System which inatially requires some elbow grease but makes subsecuent sharpening tasks MUCH simpler.

 

[JTW Jr.]

A bench grinder with the paper wheels is totally different than a stone wheel. If you have not tried it , you do not know what you are missing. Just as with a belt , you have to be mindful of your heat in the blade , but either is a far better option than a Chefs Choice , which will NEVER be used by me.

For sharpening alot of knives and for other people , the sharpmaker would be my last choice. The Edge Pro would be a better choice .

How many knives on avg are you sharpening a month Smokey Joe ?

 

[rcmodel]

A bench grinder is an ABSOLUTE No- No in knife sharpening!

Oh?

Then how come I have been using one in conjunction with a belt sander to make very sharp knives for about 40 years now?

There is no reason you can't use a bench grinder if you use a lick of common sense and don't over-heat or burn the blade.

The board sharpening wheels, leather faced, and hard felt buffing wheels with proper compound, will put a shaving edge on any knife in nothing flat.

rc

 

[Zeke/PA]

Hi Friends,
I guess it really all boils down to what you mean by a "bench grinder".
In my knife making days I used a home built grinder to hollow grind blades that takes a 2" wide X 152" belt.
This grinder is of course mounted to a BENCH!
I was actually involved in the DEVELOPMENT of the Edgecraft Sharpener and it DOES sharpen knives.
HOWEVER, it ain't perfect and I RARELY use it myself.
Sharpening??
After OVER 50 YEARS in the Toolmaking Trade, I really like to hear about methods but for the most part, I can say, "been there, done that".

 

[JTW Jr.]

You said a bench grinder was a NO in knife sharpening , yet you refer to a bench grinder as a belt grinder.

Do you realize that the majority of custom knifemakers , use the same grinder they make the blade with to sharpen the knife ? If you know how to use the tool correctly there is no risk to ruining the blade. Every knife I have made has been sharpened on this machine.

This is what I use:

 

[Zeke/PA]

JTW,
READ my post!
I stated that it's "What you REALLY mean by a BENCH GRINDER".
To me, a BENCH GRINDER is a device with a 6"TO 8" wheel on the left AND the right side of a motor with which things are CONSTANTLY screwed up from knife blades to mower blades.
I own several BELT GRINDERS/SANDERS and I am totally aware of the difference in my viewpoint.
Regards, Zeke

 

[JTW Jr.]

My bad bud.... guess I should have had my 4th cup of coffee before reading...looks like we are on the same page , even if my book is upside down

 

[Zeke/PA]

JTW,
That's great!
Surely it's better to learn from each other than to attempt to create controversy.
Let's swap knife making/ sharpening ideas from here on out.
Respectfully, Zeke

 

[Smokey Joe]

Gee, whiz!

I'm sure glad that Zeke and JTW now understand each other--The last thing in my mind when I started this thread was to create controversy!

To answer JTW's question of how many knives each month, the answer of course is, "It varies." The most are during deer hunting seasons, but I get a small number of requests most of the other months. Not enough in total, to justify a large cash layout.

The hardest to do by hand are the fishing filet knives, with their long, narrow, thin, flexible blades. Well, except for the knives that some person has apparently been chopping rocks with and now wants sharpened--ahem!

Your answers here so far are: I should use a variable speed grinder with cardboard wheels, or, a belt sander with 400 grit, perhaps a Delta 1x42, or a Chefs Choice 120, which I can get from Cabela's for $139.99. Each of these has also garnered a resounding "NO!" from some other sharpener-expert-person!

I could probably justify an outlay of $140 for the Chefs Choice (well, as a "want it," not as a "need it!") but will check out the other options as well.

Thanks and appreciation to all who have been kind enough to respond. I'll keep you posted on the results.

 

[conw]

There's always the harbor freight 1x32 for about $40. Seems to work okay from reviews.

 

[JTW Jr.]

HF 1 x30 , often on sale for $40 , cardboard wheels $40 , get a bench grinder , remove the stones and you are in business....either way you have plenty of options. With a small belt machine and the wheels you can sharpen anything from filet to axes.

 

[A1knifesharpening]

Just what you need!

I have been sharpening knives for most of my life, but I needed a faster way to get the edge I wanted. That is when I discovered The Sharp Shop Machine. The builder of this machine just happened to stop at my house during a yard sale. I noticed he had a sign on his car for professional knife & scissor sharpening. To make a long story short, he showed me his machine and sharpened all my wife's kitchen knives knives, then he proceeded to sharpen my knives, chisels, and other tools. I just knew it was going to take him most of the day. It actually only took him just over an hour. Every blade was razor sharp! It would have taken me at least a day of steady work to sharpen everything. Shortly after that, I got my machine. That was about 4 years ago. I started sharpening professionally at numerous restaurant in my area, then started sharpening at swap meet, farmer's markets, motorcycle rallies and other events. I am now the internet source for the Sharp Shop Machine. I have started to build a website to market The Sharp Shop Machine online to the world.Use this link to find out more.http://sites.google.com/site/thesharpshoponline/
Contact me if you have any questions.

 

[JTW Jr.]

No idea what that costs , but a 1 x 42 laying on its back will give the same results.

 

[hso]

I've seen the sharpshop and it appears to simply be an version of a belt sharpener.
Motor, idler, platen.

One other option I forgot to mention is Fuad Acawi's idea of taking an inexpensive palm sander and clamping it face up so that you can use it for a vibratory grinder/sharpener. Crazy simple idea that we all just stood there with our mouths open thinking, "Well, DUH! Why didn't we see that?!?". Pull the pad off of it, use sticky backed paper on the steel face and you have a handy way to grind and sharpen that's almost disposable.

Lots of ways to skin this cat, if you're sharp enough.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Keen idea...

Hso--

Lots of ways to skin this cat, if you're sharp enough.

I'm beginning to get the feeling that, like may activities, there is no ONE right way to get done what I want, but many ways, each with its own advocates who swear by it and condemn other methods with more or less justification.

Question: With a belt moving at some 3k ft/min, how do you avoid the knife being sharpened jumping up (or down) and biting you severely?? Is there a video somewhere about this?

The Sharp Shop I agree is just another belt sharpener--apparently with a Lansky clamp if that's what I see on the website, in the photo, off to the right. I do like the idea of the belt moving away from the user.

I'm off this afternoon to take a look in at my local Harbor Freight, to see their belt sander, and then mebbe to Cabela's to have a look at the Chefs Choice 120. With luck it'll be on sale.

Have been perusing the Jantz Supply catalogue--what a stunning array of knife blanks and handle materials, to say nothing of the grinding/sharpening machinery!

ETA--The Sharp Shop runs $375 + S&H. Hmmmmm. OTOH, I need an excuse to go to Missouri (where it's made) anyhow. Double Hmmmm.

Bikerdoc--Certainly Wilco. As noted in my OP, I'm something of an old guy myself. When I was young and sassy, I could sharpen 4-5 sheath knives in a row, by hand, no pain. Try that now, ha, ha.

 

[bikerdoc]

Please post what you decide and let us know. Us old guys need all the help we can get!

 

[hso]

Belts and wheels are dangerous for the very reason you surmised. Knifemaker and sharpener injuries occur with the use of this equipment. That's why I like Fuad's idea so well, no force to snatch the knife out of your hand and toss it into tender pink bits.