I don't know about this. I am sure that it works well in the hands of someone who already had the understanding and skill to make a sustainably sharp edge. My stance is this, learning to put an edge on a knife using a wet stone is a good exercise not just because of what it can produce but because the patience involved can be applied to other things. It is much like teaching a youngster how to spell and write. Sure, a computer can do a great job and much faster, and you can go right to a computer, but people end up with poorly written work that still has flaws because they never learn the basics. Kids today think that text messaging is all they need and have no idea how to write a complete sentence. Start with the basics and you will have all the rest of your life to cut time and effort with gadgets and still have that basic foundation. Jump right to the easy stuff and you will be sitting with your thumbs up your you know what when the power goes out or you are out in the woods. Personally, I like to keep my knives sharp and then can just carry a little ceramic sharpener in the field if needed (those days when I end up cleaning three or four deer). No electricity and no belts needed.

Hello -I'm a retired machinist, so I'm able to grind a cutting edge to resharpen it. That said, I can't seem to get the hunting knives "shaving sharp", on whetstones (oil or water based). I even bought strops and rough, medium and fine compounds. If you want to see a real pro put an edge on a knife, go to:http://backyardbushman.com/?page_id=68 He not only uses sanding belts, but leather stropping belts. He can do a convex cutting edge on a damaged knife in just a few passes. I believe this is the best way to establish the edge at home, and then just carry a ceramic or stone when hunting, for field sharpening. Sincerely, t. pauley

I'm not crazy about "shaving sharp" field knives (too sharp and the edge is vulnerable to bone, bullet fragments, and even dropping in the rocks), but I do like them sharp. One of the most dangerous things in the woods is a dull knife.

One of the guys I guide with sometimes is a machinist and he's just started making sharpening machines. I'd love to compare this to some of the stuff he's building.

To All: Take a closer look. There are guides on either side of the belt that keep a constant 20-degree angle. All you do is keep the blade pressed against the outer side of the guide as you draw it through and a constant angle is guaranteed. Trust me.

It looks like a mini belt-sander. If it was mounted to a table and included a guide to maintain the correct angle for the knife I might consider it.

Dave..don't you watch Man vs Wild? Bear G. used a wet stick with pulverized stone on it to sharpen his knife!
Now THAT'S a real mountain man!

How often do you need to change the belts and how expensive are they? Hopefully this isn't a case of "giving away the razor" and charging us for razor blades.

I think this is the first belt sharpener I seen on the market in that size and price range. (Belt sanders with fine grit metal belts don't count right?) I have a Lansky crok stix shapener that cost me $13 at academy and a smiths dimond stone for the feild for I think $15. But this would be great for the work bench and really dull knives. But be carful if your budys find out you have this you'll be shapening their knives and their friends knivve and on and on and..... well you get the idea.

Since I have bought every knife sharpening sytem known to man, I might as well buy this one and see if it works and put the others on eBay!

Got mine yesterday. Darn fine piece of plunder and by far the best gadget I've ever bought. The thing will bestow a polished edge on a knife that looks like it has been done on a stone by someone of experience. it is quick. I took a dull kitchen knife to shaving sharp in 3 minutes including changing belts. It does not pull too much metal off the blade like other electric sharpeners. The honing belt will leave you with a mirror edge and does a good job with gut hooks as well. See the directions on how to do this. The village idiot can indeed sharpen a knife perfectly with it. It will even do serrated blades, scissors, hatchets and garden hoes. I even sharpened my wifes pen knife to shaving sharp. I'll tell you folks buy the extra belt kit. When you get your sharpener you'll go on a sharpening frenzy!

I have a small pocket sized diamond sharpener that is about 25 years old and still only a few light strokes will bring my Buck pocket knife back to shaving sharp.
Then again I would like to have one of those. Knew a kife maker in Alaska and he used a grinding wheel to sharpen blades. One side had grit the other was all cloth enbedded with some sort of grinding rouge. A quick pass on each wheel with each side of the blade and you could shave with one of his knives.

Like most, I have bought and tried most every new knife sharpening gimmick that has come along, always looking for the "one". I have used a "moon stone" for really sharp edges. Ceramic sticks work great for the finish. A ceramic bulb out of a high intensity light works great too. All of these are good for a finish. The best quick sharpening tool I have found is made by Rada Mfg. Co. Does a great job especially on kitchen and pocket knives. Very little to no finish sharpening needed.

The contraption seems to have differently angle nests alongside the belt; apparently to achieve required sharpening angle. Countitandone mentioned angle-the most important element. I have a Lansky and a Triangle, as well as field wet-stones. Most of the guys I run into-especially when you're sharpening, they show up, have no idea what angle their knife needs, or used to be at. Their knives are a 'mess.' Anyway, Dave how often does the belt need replacing, and (since I was too lazy to visit the site you so kindly provided) do they sell differently coated belts-both grit and substance?
Quick story. We were sharpening knives around a fire one night, and you know how if you're carrying some stuff, juggle it a bit-how you grab whatever you've dropped before it falls/hits the ground? Well, one fellow wasn't paying much attention and semi-dropped his knife-then reflex-grabbed it, and got the blade nicely into his palm. That's a quick way to end your hunting trip.
Thanks!

I have a belt sharpener for blades that have been abused. It do an excellent job and the blade is firmly supported for angle. It has five speeds for proper grind without burning. It's been in use since 1941. I always finish the knives with a bench mounted diamond stone(DMT) and used the same brand of diamond out in the field(much smaller version) if necessary. My old and very large belt grinder sound like like Dave's test device. To me this new item sounds like an excellent tool!

To those who don't like a razor sharp knife, I disagree. The object of a blade is to cut easily and precisely, not pull and hack.

For those of you who still love a genuine Ouachita stone come lament with me...

I had to turn down a 24" long X 4" wide X 2" thick medium soft stone that the owner, a cutter from the Hot Springs area, didn't want to tote back to Arkansas with him. It was his display "show stone". He was willing take a few boiled peanuts for it. I'd gladly give my left one for it today!

That was at the '82 NRA Show in Dallas. I'm taking orders for anyone who wants to kick me in the butt for that "error in judgment" as the politicos call it.

Say uncle Dave;
What are you doing when you are "groping" a knife ?
sounds dangerous to me.

Dave;
what is that knife lying between the hands. that's a mighty good looking knife, i don't care who you are.

I learned to properly sharpen knives(and axes) in the Boy Scouts many years ago and always prided myself on having a sharp knife. I've used/tried several sharpening products over the years. All worked, some better than others. I now use an electric sharpener that I bought for my Henckel Professional kitchen knives. It not only holds the proper angle but it also has a fine honing stone and can be used on serrated knives as well. Obviously you have to use a bit of judgement with it but what's new? While I may have drifted from the old carburundum stone and oil combo my electric sharpener does every bit as good a job and a whole lot quicker to boot. With that said this latest tool shown by Dave is very interesting.

I may be weird, but I enjoy sharpening a knife on natural stones and a leather strop for finishing. I don't think that I would subject my Puma White Hunter and Puma Plainsman to any powered device, especially a belt sander. I have been using them for approx 35 years and have no way of knowing how many deer have been under them. I just hope that there are a few more yet to skin.

For machete users, here is an example of belt sharpening by Brian Andrews, "The Backyard Bushman":http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=581335
For file sharpening, both scandi and convex:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVHeKNbRXgc
For factory style, very even razor sharp edge:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIOa1bZCMhM&feature=related
This guy is "fixing" an uneven, not really sharp edge done by the knife factory. Awesome stuff!

I use an old leather and it will get blades scary sharp!

I used to use a Washita stone till I got diamond "stones" made by EZlap. Now I know diamonds are a girl's best friend, I like my pocket size 600 grit best, but now I only use diamond sharpeners, especially on stainless blades. I make the occasional knife and my present productions are Damascus steel with antler handles and brass pins and spacers. I also make my own leather sheaths, the folks who have gotten my blades are very happy with 'em. I love Damascus steel and must have a dozen blades of folded steel and all of 'em hair shaving sharp. 'Course I do Iaido, so about half of 'em are Japanese Style Shinken, not suitable for use in the field, but I never go into the woods without a blade of some sort, but then I might be slightly fanatical about sharp pointy things. But diamonds really are a girls best friend, If she has a dull blade...

I can't abide a dull knife. For manual sharpeners, I like the Spyderco Sharpmaker, but the diamond-coated steel rods are a must-have to expedite things with a dull blade. At home or in a camp with electric, I have a Chef's Choice 120. It'll take even a large blade from dull as heck to shaving sharp in a couple minutes. If you're the "knife guy" in your group and end up sharpening other guys' stuff, the time savings with the electric sharpener are worth the machine's weight in gold.

I think what my dad was alluding to, libertyfirst, is the difference between a razor edge and a knife.
A razor has a paper thin edge that can be stropped and honed quickly and easily.
A knife, however, well, you know what I mean.
My pocket and hunting knives will shave the hair off your arm, however, I don't think I have any desire to literally "shave" with any of them! LOL!

Bubba

uncle dave;
with no answer, i surmized that it was not your pic.
is there any way i can find out about that knife ?

wow

I actually saw this on a TV show, Two guys garage, and it looked pretty good. What I thought looked was neat was that you could also use it as a sander and change out the sand belts, Its pretty sweet.

Okay Petzel.......why am I the only one who can`t get a knife to razor sharp with this tool? I`m flaking skin off my arm, but not shaving hair........what gives?