Question on Craftsman Utility Sharpener

[jstive]

I rec'd a craftsman utility sharpener for xmas and was wondering if this would be good enough to sharpen my carving knives with? It's a wet/dry stone, low rpm and has a reverse on it. It also has two locking tool rests on it. I used it on one of my cheaper knives and then stropped it a few times and it seemed to work alright. What do you guys think of me using my more expensive knives on it? It's really kind of a nice idea for only 29.99 so had to give it a try. Let me know what everyone thinks. If I should use it for my carving tools or keep it strictly for kitchen knives and scissors. Thanks, Jim

[Plain_Ol_Ed]

I have had one for some time. It's nice for shapeing and rebevelling, but past that???? I prefer a plain old bench grinder or a belt sander, but that's a matter of taste. The major problem with the Sears product for general sharpening is the courseness of the wheel.

[Capt. Bandaid]

I agree with Ed. This is a machine intended to put an edge on things other than woodcarving tools. It will certainly reshape them effectively but I would recommend you use a finer grit to do minor edge repairs and an good strop for polishing the edge. By the way, be sure you drain and flush the water reservoire after each use. If you don't, the metal shavings will rust into a mass that can prevent the wheel from turning. Don't ask me how I know this. Talking

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

anyway of getting fine stones for it? from Sears?

[Capt. Bandaid]

Actually, I have never found ANY replacement stones for it. The local Sears store said they did not carry them because the stones did not wear out. LOL! It has been my experience that using power tools to sharpen very fine cutting edges is not practical for most of us. I use Arkansas Stones or Water Stones, sharpen by hand and take my time. I don't go to the stones very often anyway. My strops get most of the action. The power strop is another invention I question the need for. What, you can't slap the edge on the strop and whip it back and forth a dozen times by hand? If that is too much trouble, carving must really be an imposition! :-)

[Hugh]

LOL, Capt bandaid, I have worked with knives a lot, worked as a butcher, and never could keep a sharp edge. Made a strop to touch up my blade, worked like a demon at it, bought stropping compound, and never did see any results, except a little brighter blade. Grin. Bought a little strop that runs in my drill press after I started looking at knife sharpening tutorials on this site. Now I'm an expert. GRIN. Just kidding, but the new power strop, works Great. I just couldn't get the hang of doing it by hand.

[Capt. Bandaid]

Hugh, We all need to do what works for us! If you shapen on a stone to the point where the wire edge is developed the full length of the blade, you can strop it off in a few strokes. I do not strop for extended periods of time as the polishing of the blade is probably not the most important thing. Thin blade, flat taper, no secondary bevel, stoned and stropped edge. Just my opinion of the order of importance of blade characteristics. BTW, I own one of those leather wheels for stropping using a hand drill. It's around here somewhere.

PS I went to your website and you must be doing something right with your blades. Your work is absolutely fantastic!