Question: If equal angles are so important, then why are there no sharpeners who can consistently create precision equal angles (one degree total blade angle, or less)?
Answer:
This issue is so important, I have decided to explain this in more detail. It is only through the creation of precise equal angles that the sharpest possible edge can be obtained. Sounds simple, but in real life, it is very hard to achieve. It comes down to the simple fact that the vast majority of sharpening machines or hand methods have no accurate way of determining the angle precision anywhere close to 2 or 3 degrees total blade angle. Optical and C.A.T.R.A. testing can determine this angle after a blade has been sharpened, but precision sharpening equipment has not been developed (until now) that will consistently deliver one degree total blade angle precision or better. A large part of this problem is that all sorts of “precision holding equipment” (a handle or gripping device of some sort) has been developed, but all of them lack the flexibility to be able to operate smoothly and accurately over the entire range of all of the different-shaped knife blades that exist. The answer is that the development of a machine and holding device that combines consistent precision only capable with a machine, with the precision and total flexibility of operator movement and observation has been lacking until about 2004. This is known as the SharpStuff knife sharpening system (copyrighted/patent pending).