Sears Sharpening Machine

[woodenleg]

Some time back we had quite a discussion about the sharpening machine that Sears sells. I know this is not the place for commercials, but for any of you that would like to pick one up, they are on sale at Sears for $17.xx. (Slow moving wheel that goes through water.)

[Kenny_S]

Re: Sears Sharpening Machine

Thanks you for the info.

Ken

[Captain_Bandaid]

Re: Sears Sharpening Machine

Commercial or not, the machine works fairly well. I bought one (not on sale!) and use it to shape the blades of the carving knives I make. I strongly recommend you follow the directions to flush it out after each use. The filings will accumulate, rust together and lock the wheel in place if you don't. Don't ask how I know this. :

[Kenny_S]

Re: Sears Sharpening Machine

Thanks Capt for that information. I find the university of hard knock gives better lessons than any other university and it is more costly. So we tend to learn from our own and other's mistake.
I take it you still have to strop the blade. For someone to make a device to automaticly strop the knife after sharpening.

A device other than our selves I mean.

[Captain_Bandaid]

Re: Sears Sharpening Machine

Kenny, the wheel on the grinder is quite coarse. I shape the blade on the wheel, then do the final sharpening on a soft Arkansas stone or an 800 grit waterstone. Yes, you still have to strop it but if you use a 4000 grit waterstone after the Arkansas or 800 grit stone, you may not have to strop. I have found that power stropping is a waste of time. I can do it faster by hand.

[Mr._Munchkin]

Re: Sears Sharpening Machine

Personally I use a TORMEK sharpening system. After using it, all the other systems seem inferior. Between the 2 grit grinding wheel and the power strop, I can put a top notch edge on practically anything ( I am having a problem sharpening my drawknife, oh well nothings perfect...). All in under 10 minutes!

[Captain_Bandaid]

Re: Sears Sharpening Machine

Munchkin, well, you have the best of the best sharpening systems and I am not surprised you can do it in 10 minutes. I just don't need to go to a grinding wheel enough to justify the $500-600 for the unit. I can re-sharpen a totally dull blade using my waterstones and a hand strop in about 15 minutes. I have about $25 invested in my poorman's system. My only concern about using a coarse grinding wheel to sharpen my tools is that the stone is wearing away my tool! The more you sharpen, the faster your tool disappears. Frequent stropping and occasional stoning will keep your tools around a long time.

[Mr._Munchkin]

Re: Sears Sharpening Machine

I'm a meat processor, and butchers' knives need to be sharp. Thats why I have the machine. I personally have it because those butchers have destroyed all the machines they've used in the past. Don't ask me how.
Has anyone tried to use a steel on carving tools. I'll often use one on my other knives, but it hasn't worked very well on my tools.

[woodenleg]

Re: Sears Sharpening Machine

I will say that even though the stone feels somewhat rough, it puts on a reasonably smooth edge and works very well once the 'stroppable edge' wears off a tool. However, I certainly don't use mine very often.

PS: My wife loves it too, for obvious reasons. Even the edge on our countertops is sharp.

[icarve2003]

Re: Sears Sharpening Machine

How about a power strop? Does anybody use them and are they worth the money? ???

Chris

[Captain_Bandaid]

Re: Sears Sharpening Machine

Chris, a power strop is very useful if you know how to use it and are very careful. A power strop can very quickly roll a sharp edge and send you back to the sharpening stone. The leather ones seem to work best, I think ,because they do not give as much and thus do not tend to fold under the edge and dull it. The one I have is made for a 1/4' drill and will not turn all that fast. I keep several strops on my carving table and strop frequently by hand so using a power strop is a very seldom event for me.

[plain_ol_ed]

Re: Sears Sharpening Machine

I use a 7' cotton buffing wheel on an electric motor with buffing compound. Like the good Captain, I use it infrequently, doing most of my stropping by hand on leather strops with yellow stone compound.