Ever used the Strikemaster blade sharpener?

[hoggs222]

I just noticed that they sell a blade sharpener that you run across the blades to keep them sharp. It's angled for the correct angle on the blades. I think it's for the Lazer blades. It says that it doesn't bring back dull blades, but keeps blades sharp. It's only $10 or so at FF. Is it worth it?

[buckhunter21]

I bought one a couple years ago but I cant remember if it was an actual Strikemaster brand but I used it on a strikemaster auger. Anyway i got the blades razor sharp to where I could cut paper with them so I took it out the next day to see how much better it cut and it was even worse than before. You would think if you get them that sharp they would cut like butter but it must not take much at all to change the angle on the blade and make it so it wont bite. It was worth a shot but I dont think I will ever try sharpening my own blades again but Im sure theres maybe a good product out there for it somewhere.

[Dave]

Does it state on the package it's for hand augers only? I thought I remember seeing that once.

[Surface Tension]

Those hand sharpeners have one side that cuts unlike a knife sharpener that have two cutting edges. So you have to make sure your taking material off the correct side of the blade.

Could you sharpen a blade with them? It will take some practice, a steady hand and a good pair of eyes to do an OK job. More times then not you'll make matters worse.

I look at those sharpeners as emergency use only.

It takes only one burr to stop a blade from cutting. Find that one defect and correct only that. Of coarse a dual blade system often will have a matching nick on the other blade unless the nick is from being banged.

Then there is the burr removal. When you sharpen one side only you will have a burr to remove. The hand sharpeners will do that but it they are limited to how well they can do that.

[MNice]

I have one, it works to maintain, if they are nicked badly, it will not do the job.

[deadeye]

I have one, it works to maintain, if they are nicked badly, it will not do the job.

Pretty much the same here.

It only does work one way. You could damage the blades as mentioned if you don't do it right.

Since I have had this I haven't changed my blades on my hand lazer at all and I do use it on my power lazer and it works ok too. I don't think your supposed to use it for the power auger but I tried it and it worked good for me. I used to do the blade exchange every year but they both cut great since I started touching them up now and then.

[Ed Carlson]

I bought one a couple years ago but I cant remember if it was an actual Strikemaster brand but I used it on a strikemaster auger. Anyway i got the blades razor sharp to where I could cut paper with them so I took it out the next day to see how much better it cut and it was even worse than before. You would think if you get them that sharp they would cut like butter but it must not take much at all to change the angle on the blade and make it so it wont bite. It was worth a shot but I don't think I will ever try sharpening my own blades again but I'm sure theirs maybe a good product out there for it somewhere.

Dito...same experiences for me with the draw V style knife sharpeners used on swept ice auger blades....I'll buy new blades and save my time..next time.

[McGurk]

I may not know much, but I know that SM doesn't want you to sharpen the "bottom" of the blade. The little blue sharpener that they sell is meant to only sharpen the "top" of the blade and ride along the bottom. As was stated, they can maintain, but I don't think they can put an edge back on. They are pretty finicky, but when they are sharp MAN DO THEY CUT!!! There is a blade exchange program that SM does if you don't want to just buy new blades.