Is there anyone with experience with all 4? Which one do you recommend and why?
Thank you so much!
Steve
I have a Lansky and it works great. I heard alot of great stuff about KME that I may have to try one as well!
Thanks frassettor!
OK, TTT anyone else try two or more of these?
Curve, I've used 3 out of the 4 the gatco and the lansky are about the same thing.
I think KME is by far the best construction and precision, the x-course stone beveled and I replaced it with a diamond stones.
The KME jig is the best.
I just got the KME broadhead sharpener, but I have not mastered the thing yet LOL ( I need wider stones 4" wide )
I have the gatco Steve and like it pretty well seems to work good for me.bowdoc
Not familiar with the Sharpmaker, and not that the Lansky or Gatco are bad, but the KME is much, much better.
I've had my Lansky for a loooong time, works fine for me, never saw the need to look any further.
Only drawback I've seen is that they're pretty useless with a full flat grind blade; nothing for the clamp to grab on to. I suppose it could work, but you'd end up with a pretty funky edge.
I have the Lansky and the KME knife sharpener. The KME is light years better than the Lansky.
I hve used the Gatco and Lansky. They are virtually the same except for one thing. The plastic part that the stone is mounted on on the Gatco is bigger than that on the Lansky and is easier to hold on to.
Bisch
Found KME to be much more precise and provides a tight guide where my Lansky gives wayyyy too much play stroke-to-stroke.
KME is my only choice now...
KME is the "next generation" and more well-designed, all made in America until Norton moved the stone manufacturing to Mexico and lowered the quality.
I'm with Kingwouldbe, get the KME if you cannot file sharpen it's the way to go. Just get some better stones. I'm going to try my KME with some diamondstones this weekend to see how it does.
My files are the sharpest, still...but some folks can't make that work so KME would be my first choice.
after reading everyone's post Steve I was thinking maybe you should buy one of each and make your own sharpening kit.The gatco by far has the best stones and handle set up with the extenable rods.Other units have good features also and you could make your own kit.bd
KME! Nuff' said...haha
QuoteOriginally posted by Recurve50 LBS:
I have the Lansky and the KME knife sharpener. The KME is light years better than the Lansky.
My sentiments exactly...
I own the Lansky and the KME broadhead sharpener. I do most of my sharpening by hand and have for years with file and stone. I mix in the Lansky and have been happy with the results. The KME broadhead is well thought out and you cannot beat their service. I use it on my tough sharpening jobs and it has done quite well. If I could only have one I would buy the KME. :thumbsup:
quote:
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Originally posted by Recurve50 LBS:
I have the Lansky and the KME knife sharpener. The KME is light years better than the Lansky.
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My sentiments exactly...
That guy Ron is kind of freaky, though, eh Beachbowhunter?????
:scared: :bigsmyl: :notworthy: :biglaugh:
We talking the spyderco sharpmaker? And we talking about the KME knife sharpener?
If so I have, and/or had, a generic lansky/gatco/KME type system, a Lansky system and the sparmaker.
Unless you are wanting to modify grizzly heads or rebevel new knives I wouldn't waste time on the Lansky style systems.
I have no experience with the KME
IF you do want to modify heads, sharpen new knives in the <$40 price range [sorry, but most all in the price range need to be rebevelled] or need to remove a lot of material fast the Lansky style shines.
If I was confident in my filing ability I would get rid of my clamp&guide lansky.
Saying all that I think the KME is a much better unit just from looks. I like my Lansky, no regrets. Don't know about the GATCO, and the sharpmaker seems overpriced for what it is but I would buy a replacement ASAP if I lost mine!!!! I've used other "crock-sick" systems...YES the sharpmaker is more/better!
QuoteOriginally posted by Ray Hammond:
quote:
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Originally posted by Recurve50 LBS:
I have the Lansky and the KME knife sharpener. The KME is light years better than the Lansky.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My sentiments exactly...
That guy Ron is kind of freaky, though, eh Beachbowhunter?????
:scared: :bigsmyl: :notworthy: :biglaugh:
yep, especially when he cut himself and honing oil came out.. :eek:
Being from Buffalo, NY, I have a Lansky (the original place of manufacture). It has served me well. I also have recently gotten a KME Broadhead Sharpener, and then a KME Knife Sharpener. The KME units are exceptional. They are truly "the next level". The ability to "fine tune" the angle on the KME Knife sharpener, and the design are really a cut above.
The BH sharpener makes it about as foolproof as you can get.
And with the KME, you get Ron :scared:
BobW
I like the the Gatco with diamond heads. I tried the KME but because I make blades with all sorts of different spine shapes, I've had more problems getting a good hold on some of my blades. The Gotco seems to work on all my knives...Doc
KME for life here! I haven't come across a knife or blade including Silver Flames I couldn't sharpen yet!!! I can even sharpen my wifes 12" Cutco kitchen knives down to the bleeders on a magnus stinger head.
I've also tried out a Lansky, the KME is better suited & my choice!
ElkNut1
QuoteOriginally posted by Kingwouldbe:
Curve, I've used 3 out of the 4 the gatco and the lansky are about the same thing.
I think KME is by far the best construction and precision, the stones are the week link, so after I wore out the stock stones ( they beveled ) I replaced them with higher quality stones.
The KME jig is the best.
I just got the KME broadhead sharpener, but I have not mastered the thing yet LOL ( I need wider stones 4" wide )
Dave,
Which stones bellied out? With the exception of the extra coarse silicon carbide, all our stones are guaranteed for life. (all SC stones cut fast but also wear fairly quickly).
The coarse and medium are aluminum oxide, and the fine is a hard Arkansas. None of these should belly out unless you sharpen 8 hrs a day for years.
Again, the blue/black silicon carbide X-coarse will belly but, its a grinding stone that's basically an "extra" we throw in for occasional use to get
very dull blades started.
I have been using the same coarse, medium, and fine stones for a couple of years and have never been able to belly one even slightly. My brother sharpens knives for people at the shows/shoots we go to and has sharpened close to a thousand knives over the same time period... his are still going strong too with no sign of wear.
Part of the reason that our sharpener costs more than the the others is because we insist that every component is the absolute best quality we can get, including the stones. Everything is American made and unconditionally guaranteed.
Do you still have the original stones? I'd like to see them because, while I have no reason to doubt you, I've never received a single complaint about the stones bellying before.
As for the BH sharpener, heck get it out and give me a call. I'll walk you through sharpening a BH right on the phone.
Ron
Ron, I would really like to see you offer a high quality file that would fit in the stone holder of your knife sharpener.. This would be for either reshaping or reworking broadheads.. What do you say ?
For those of you who say that the KME stones are not the best and that you recommend replacing them, what replacement stones do you recommend and where do you get them?
Allan
QuoteOriginally posted by Sharpster:
QuoteOriginally posted by Kingwouldbe:
Curve, I've used 3 out of the 4 the gatco and the lansky are about the same thing.
I think KME is by far the best construction and precision, the stones are the week link, so after I wore out the stock stones ( they beveled ) I replaced them with higher quality stones.
The KME jig is the best.
I just got the KME broadhead sharpener, but I have not mastered the thing yet LOL ( I need wider stones 4" wide )
Dave,
Which stones bellied out? With the exception of the extra coarse silicon carbide, all our stones are guaranteed for life. (all SC stones cut fast but also wear fairly quickly).
The coarse and medium are aluminum oxide, and the fine is a hard Arkansas. None of these should belly out unless you sharpen 8 hrs a day for years.
Again, the blue/black silicon carbide X-coarse will belly but, its a grinding stone that's basically an "extra" we throw in for occasional use to get very dull blades started.
I have been using the same coarse, medium, and fine stones for a couple of years and have never been able to belly one even slightly. My brother sharpens knives for people at the shows/shoots we go to and has sharpened close to a thousand knives over the same time period... his are still going strong too with no sign of wear.
Part of the reason that our sharpener costs more than the the others is because we insist that every component is the absolute best quality we can get, including the stones. Everything is American made and unconditionally guaranteed.
Do you still have the original stones? I'd like to see them because, while I have no reason to doubt you, I've never received a single complaint about the stones bellying before.
As for the BH sharpener, heck get it out and give me a call. I'll walk you through sharpening a BH right on the phone.
Ron [/b]
As has been said before, the KME comes with RON.
Ron, I believe it was the extra course stone that believed.
I went to diamond for the x course and finish with the hard Arkansas.
Ron I'm sure it was opporator-err
I did mis-speak it was the one stone that beveled, and you still don't have a compliant. I did mis-speak it was the one stone that beveled, and you still don't have a compliant.
I am editing my first post as I mis-spoke and it's not fair to KME to have said what I said.
As I have said:
I think KME is by far the best construction and precision,
QuoteOriginally posted by amar911:
For those of you who say that the KME stones are not the best and that you recommend replacing them, what replacement stones do you recommend and where do you get them?
Allan
Thanks Allan,
I'd like to know that too.
If there are "better" stones available, I'd like to try some myself.
Ron
Thank you so much guys-this was very helpful! That you as well for the PM's. I remember as a scout I needed to master the old flat stone etc. and there are those who will berate me now I suppose for even using a guide, but a knife is just a tool for me at this point and I really just want the ease of a perfect sharpening system.
Thanks again,
Steve
I'm with you Ron!
Allan
My experience is exactly what 'Kingwouldbe'said -except for the KME broadhead sharpener. Have had mine for quite a while, and still haven't mastered it. Know it will work too, just have to give myself more time to work with it.
If you're trying to re-bevel a hard laminated broadhead with Ron's KME Broadhead sharpener, CALL HIM!
I've run across several people who gave up on hard laminated heads like Griz & a few others. It is a tough roe to hoe if you don't get the inside skinny from Ron.
Put on a pot of coffee and call him. He'll get you lined out soon enough. At least he'll get you to where you know WHAT you have to do and how long to do it...so you don't just spin your wheels!
Signed: Chairman/CEO--- International Assn of Sharpening Impaired Persons
Doc (can't sharpen nuttin w/ a file or stone)Nock