Most people do not have the time or inclination to learn how to expertly sharpen knives. They just want the knife to do its job when the time comes.
Sharpening a dull knife when the time comes must be efficient, easy and quick. In my experience, this is where the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker stands head and shoulders above the home knife sharpening market.
Its basic components are a black plastic case, two medium grit ceramic stones, two fine stones and two brass safety rods. The kit may also come with an instructional video.
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The case also serves as a work base with guides for the stones to be used flat or angled at 12.5, 15 and 20 degrees.
The stones are triangular, which allows them to be used for sharpening both plain and serrated knife edges. Each has one grooved face, which may be used to sharpen small pointy objects such as fishhooks and dart tips.
The brass safety rods are used in certain sharpening positions to protect hands from being accidentally cut.
The two most commonly used angles are the 15 and 20 degree positions. This produces a 30 or 40 degree edge with bevels on both sides of the blades.
A 30 degree blade edge is fine but weak and should be used for cutting soft material or slicing meat. A 40 degree blade edge cuts well and retains strength, which is typical for most western cooking and outdoor knives.
The 12.5 degree setting may be used for sharpening scissors.
The stones may also be laid flat to act like a traditional sharpening stone for freehand use.
The user selects the appropriate stones, places them in the required angles marked on the base and positions the brass safety rods. The medium grit stones should be used to set a knife edge and the fine ones can be used to hone it.
Set the heal of the knife edge on the stone with the spine straight up and slide the blade down and across the length of the stone to the blade tip. This should then be repeated on the opposite stone on the other blade side.
Most people can keep the knife spine straight up using this method to maintain good repeatability through each stroke, which is important in sharpening a knife. The video clearly illustrates the simple and easy to remember technique.
Anyone can get a dull knife back into sharp form with only a minimal amount of practice with the Sharpmaker system. It takes a little longer than electric or pull-through units, but the results are generally better and last longer.
It takes little time to set up the Sharpmaker, recondition dull knives and put it away.
When packed down, the 7.5 by three by one inch case easily fits in a kitchen or shop drawer.
Spyderco offers additional coarse or fine stones that are compatible with the basic kit, depending on what grit is desired.
Cheaper and simpler knife sharpeners are available on the market, bit they cannot beat the effectiveness and efficiency of the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker for its $60 value. The average person almost cannot go wrong using it to maintain their kitchen and outdoor knives.
Kim Quintin is a Saskatoon outdoor enthusiast and knife maker. He can be reached for column content suggestions at kim.quintin@producer.com or 306-665-9687.
