Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

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TripleF
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Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by TripleF »

LANSKY Knife Sharpening System Review
Lanksy is a well-known name in the knife sharpening world. No doubt. So, not being an established sharpener I decided to contact the folks in my ol’ hometown area of western NY (Buffalo) and see if they’d be interested in submitting a Lansky Knife Sharpening System to review.

They agreed!
Please note, what you are about to read appears to be an isolated situation.
I’d have a thorough review prepared except I couldn’t adjust the camp to hold my knife without moving. Lansky made a special video for ME providing step-by-step instructions, all to no avail, as I just could not get the knife to hold firmly in the clamp in order to sharpen.
In addition to the instructional video there were a few emails sent back and forth to learn how to use the Lansky Knife Sharpening system. All the communication, instructional video and difficulty getting the knife to hold firmly in the clamp makes me think this isn’t the knife sharpener for me.
Now, I did sharpen a couple knives “free hand” without using the clamp and had very good results. And frankly, I did sharpen more knives holding the selected stone on the palm of my hand, stone facing the sky, swiping the blade across the stone at a smooth consistent angle.

The customer service was excellent. The product is made in the USA!
If I had a recommendation or suggestion I might add some foam or rubber grips to the end of the clamp, because it may help hold the knife in place, and it would prevent scratching the spine of the blade which did happen on the knives I attempted to place in the clamp.

Other than that I can't recommend this product.

Or view on my blog:
http://pocketknivesblog.com/lansky-knif ... em-review/
SCOTT
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basser5
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by basser5 »

Scott,

I have never had a problem with the knife holding the blade...?

Did the model have a thumb screw and a regular screw?

How did you insert the blade?
Just curious ::shrug::

Tim
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by TripleF »

Yup. Yup. and Yup.

Then I received a special instruction video on how to use the system, and a few emails, and still no hold.

Maybe I should've taken the knife out of the box first?
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by basser5 »

:shock: ::rotflol:: ::rotflol::
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by treefarmer »

Scott, bought my 1st Lansky system back in Feb. and it has preformed very well. Sorry you're having trouble with yours :( . Got to be something wrong with the clamps as this thing is pretty straight forward ::shrug:: . I bought the cheap one, 3 stones, just to see if it worked like folks said and I've put the one with the diamond hones on my wish list.
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by TripleF »

I know......I had heard good things about this system as well....and for me, it puts a knice edge on a knife if I don't use the clamp!
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by jmh58 »

I first purchased a Lo-Ray sharpening system back in the late 70s.. This system morphed into the Lansky system some years later.. Over the years Lanskey has made many improvements to this system to todays..

Sorry for going off track there but what I am getting at is in all those years I have never had that problem with any knife.. From the early clamp styles to todays style.. Maybe your clamp was not made correct as I believe they are cast today??

I can get a scary sharp edge with the Lansky system.. ::super_happy:: John :D
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by Cutty »

I've never had a problem with the clamp holding the blade on a knifes spine that fits in the slot but a thicker knife is more difficult. I do agree with the clamp scratching the blade a bit. Probably the way I attach or remove it ? but I have fixed the problem by wrapping the knifes spine with a piece of paper towel, clamping and tearing away any excess towel before sharpening and wallah no scratches ::tu:: .
I dig half stops!!



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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by TripleF »

There was no "slot" in my clamp......
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by basser5 »

The only thing i can think of off hand is...
Were the two clamps pieces totally parallel to each other when tightening them down?



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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by TripleF »

basser5 wrote:The only thing i can think of off hand is...
Were the two clamps pieces totally parallel to each other when tightening them down?



Tim
Yup.
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by jmh58 »

The clamp should have had a notch cut in each clamp across the width of where you clamp it to the knife.. This notch is where clamp it to the spine.. With out the notch the clamp will not grip the spine and want to slide around.. John :D
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by Cutty »

It should have the "slot/recess/cutout" that the blade spine seats squarely into to keep it from rotating during sharpening. If yours doesn't have it then I don't know if it's a dud or a different (newer/older) design. Mine isn't brand new but it was purchased within the last ten years.
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I dig half stops!!



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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by TripleF »

Slot? Here's a pic of my clamp......
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by jmh58 »

Thanks cutty!! ::handshake:: Thats what I was trying to say!! Nothing like great pics to clear it up!! ::tu:: ::tu::

Bad clamp there Scott.. Defective... John :D
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by 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! ::tu::
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by 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***
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by Cutty »

Team work ::handshake::

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 ::nod::
I dig half stops!!



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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by 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. ::shrug::
I dig half stops!!



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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by 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!
SCOTT
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by 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.
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by junebug »

IM LATE TOO............INTERESTING THREAD THIS HAS TURNED INTO....THANKS SCOTTY 8)

I USE "SMITH" ...but yep PARTNER .....you got a DUD CLAMP ::nod::
thanks again for yer REVIEWS BRO ::handshake::
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by 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?
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by 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 ::nod::
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Re: Lansky Kife Sharpening System Review

Post by buck16 »

Ditto, Miller
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