Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

[treefarmer]

Scott, you mentioned that your clamps didn't have a slot or notch? Here is what it should look like and a pic of it tightened on a blade. If you don't have the "slot/notch/groove" then Lansky ought to make it right!
Cutty posted some pic as I was ready to respond and then your picture show a clamp without the "grooves". There's your problem!
Treefarmer

[big monk]

I use the Lansky and this Benchmade 3550,gives me a "'FIT"" trying to get it to clamp (because of the center blade rise !!!) __my others are ""No Problem"'__ ""so far**** ::hmm::_____________mine has the slot/spline also***

[Cutty]

Team work

Scott you got a dad gummed DUD. I would contact lansky again and attach this thread or shoot 'em some pictures asking 'em what gives

[Cutty]

Just to add to this. Mine is the base system as far as I know. Just the three stones, coarse, medium and fine.
So it doesn't have to be the deluxe or diamond system to get the slot.

[TripleF]

Thanks boys! I appreciate the help!

I sent an email to my man at Lansky......I'm sure he will get back to me!

[jerryd6818]

I'm a little late to the party but that's never stopped me from jumping on the band wagon. As everyone's said, definitely a defective clamp and that is unconscionable for a company to send out defective product to be reviewed. Makes them look bad all around.

Heads will roll. Well probably not but someone needs to have their butt kicked. Metaphorically of course.

Just one more picture of a good one.

By the by. I have seen it recommended to stick the knife deeper in the clamp for wider blades but you've just proved that to be an unworkable solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

[junebug]

IM LATE TOO............INTERESTING THREAD THIS HAS TURNED INTO....THANKS SCOTTY

I USE "SMITH" ...but yep PARTNER .....you got a DUD CLAMP
thanks again for yer REVIEWS BRO
JUNEBUG

[coffeecup]

I'm not sure if it is a "dud" clamp or not--every one I've seen has had clamps like that, including the one I briefly owned if I remember right. Design change?

[Miller Bro's]

I find the Lansky system cumbersome and time consuming.

About the only thing I like about it is you can set an exact bevel, 17- 30°, if your bevel is way off it does a nice even job. Other than that I get better, faster results freehand on my old sharpening stone

[buck16]

Ditto, Miller

[royal0014]

Funny, the destructions with my diamond set said the 'notch' is for small blades. Though I have had the same trouble getting the clamp to hold thick-spined blades. My solution was to remove the thumbscrew and substitute a longer bolt. The angle(s) of the two clamp pieces must match the angle of the blade from spine to edge.

It is also important to remember how and where you set the clamp for each blade, so you can repeat the angle next time.

I have considered purchasing an additional clamp and have the 'notch' machined farther back, for the larger blades.

Hope this helps

[1967redrider]

My clamp looks like jerryd's and I've sharpened everything from pocket knives to kitchen knives with it, never had a problem. I haven't tried sharpening a knife like big monk has though but I have used it to sharpen tactical knives.

[wazu013]

I was one of Lansky's early customers. I was born in the Buffalo area and grew up there. When Lansky started out I had a little bait shack on the way to the Niagara river and my Brother came in with his kits and sold them more or less on consignment. Back then the kits were 3 stones and a clamp with some honing oil. You could add a bench clamp and a couple more stones. I put one in my garage and used it for the next 20 years or more. It sharpened everything really good but nothing great. I had a comercial sharpening system that was 3 flat Ark stones over an oil bath that I used to get my razor's edge. I'm sure it's totally improved now and can give you a razors edge. Getting back to the clamp it locked down everything I had.

[PigSticker]

Wow I've seen one used by a friend of mine and it did a damn nice job on a half dozen different knives that afternoon but gotta make you wonder how many other people have bought one and not had any luck with it--I've been tempted to buy one more than once--wish Lansky had my address or better yet all my neighbors addy's and both my son's

[jmh58]

Update??? John

[TripleF]

I did receive an email from the Marketing Director who said it appears as though I got a bad clamp. He also let me know he would check out this thread (as I did send him the link) probably after the Blade Show.

[junebug]

well...was goin through a box ...found this JIG with NO NOTCH FOR BLADE SPINE(to keep blade from turning in JIG)

i use the SMITH'S jig on LEFT SIDE to set edges on old users....

the one on RIGHT SIDE i got at the swap meet for a buck i think??? I HAVE NEVER USED IT....

[Cutty]

It would be nice if lansky offered a clamp with a deeper notch for those wider blades.

Josh it looks like your clamp on the right might accept and hold a wider blade or that pivot point (just a guess of what it's for) my be a bit to deep

[TripleF]

UPDATE:


No reply from the marketing department at Lansky.

[junebug]

ANY REPLY SCOTT????




















PARDON ME while i answer ma phone its SMITH'S ,AGAIN.....wonderin if i was able to wreck my unit yet,or any clamp issues...they wont let up........yeeeesh SOME CUSTOMER SERVICE REPS' ..... j/k bro....i'm sure yer NEXT on the TO CALL LIST!

[TripleF]

Nope....no reply.

[pcrcrepaira]

I've never heard of anyone using it and it's not something i'd bother with. It's seems like a bit much to be carrying about in the field.

You should really learn to sharpen with a steel, that's your best bet.

[Lansky1]

I'm on my 3rd Lansky system - love it. No way I could get an edge as sharp freehand ... 100% all in with the Lansky system

[Lansky1]

Follow up ... I recently learned that one inherent fallacy with the Lansky system is that it won't work with blades with a really deep swedge grind (think of those awesome nice thick wharncliffe blades with a big swedge grind on the back side)... wont set up square in the jig.

[jerryd6818]

You're supposed to take those out to the garage and put 'em on the grinder.