Wheelie Sharpener - WOW

[J. Cook]

I'm pretty good with a series of files, diamond hone, and a cardboard strop...but I bought a RADA Wheelie sharpener to use on some Tigersharks I picked up and WOW!!!!  I decided to mess with it more and do some knives and such and is the fastest and most efficient sharpener I've ever seen.  Very impressed.  I'll still file my Zwickey's and Woodsman's because I enjoy it -- but I can't see anyone convincing me that you can put a better edge any quicker than what you can with that wheelie sharpener.  Very surprised, and very impressed. ...oh, and super cheap!!!  Cheaper than 1 good file.

[calgarychef]

Yea they are fast but you'll notice that the edge they produce won't last at all.

[WRV]

I have several of them. Good sharpeners

[MCNSC]

I use one on Zwickey Delta 4 blades. Does a great job on the main blades.

[RedShaft]

Really!? I always thought those wheel sharpeners were junk. What makes this one work so well? Did you guys buy them directly from rada?

[oldbohntr]

Calgary Chef is right.  You're just tearing metal off the bevel and pulling up a forward facing burr.  The burr will cut you and you think it is a good sharp edge.  But, all burrs will soon fall off and you're left with an uneven, unsharpened edge(look with magnification.)   Also, most are unable to keep from damaging the blade profile. As you draw it towards you there will be a divot in the edge where it begins to "sharpen" and typically a "sway back" pattern to the edge at the midpoint of the blade.  

As a professional sharpener, I'd never get away with putting that kind of edge on a professional chef's tools!   Now if you want to try something that is reasonably priced for home and camp use, look at a Spiderco Triangle Sharpmaker.  Still not perfect, but worlds better than any opposing- wheel designs(motor-driven or not.)

[joe skipp]

Started using the RADA last year with great results. Never leaves my fanny pack or Catquiver.

 

[ron w]

Put it on a leather strop after you use it and the edge will last.

[Rob W.]

I have used mine for 12+ yrs. without any damage or divots or sways in any of my blades. Actually the knives I have gotten since switching look better and hold better than any method I used before.

I love stuff that works great and doesn't cost a bunch.

Rob

[skunkhound]

A friend turned me on to the RADA, and I'm impressed. I do strop after sharpening, and I get shaving sharp results. Whether or not it changes the bevel, or doesn't hold, I can't say, but I'm pretty sure it'll go right through a deer.

[southpawshooter]

I found the RADA sharpener to work very well.  For a keener edge use a strop, ceramic rod or butchers steel following the sharpener. Great for in the field sharpening.

[Bear Heart]

Video?

[The Vanilla Gorilla]

Originally posted by calgarychef:
Yea they are fast but you'll notice that the edge they produce won't last at all.

I'm not carving duck decoys with my broadheads..I'm shooting them into one critter at a time.

[pdk25]

Glad you are enjoying the wheelie sharpener.  I love mine and use it all of the time.  They especially shine with the Simmons style heads.  You don't need to take off much metal.  If you play with the angle a little bit, you can use it for lots of things.  If can quickly take a burr off from a single bevel too, if you use only light pressure and the right angle.  For me, apart from a plane bastard file, it is the most versatile piece of sharpening equipment available.  Small enought to stick in almost any size pocket, inexpensive, works great on nearly all 2 blades, and extremely quick to use.  If you hit rocks, you still need to use a file(half round for simmons heads) to take the big nicks out.  Lots of people have killed lots of game with light bows having sharpened the heads with nothing but the RADA wheel.  There are other methods available that put a great edge on, but I haven't found it to be necessary for me.

[pdk25]

As a note, don't forget the trailing edge of the broadhead, which some people think is the most important part.  You will find that in order hit that portion, you need to turn broadhead 180 degrees and pull through from front to back.  I do this, just hitting the rear portion of the blade for awhile and using strokes with decreasing pressure like normal.  Then I go back to back to front strokes to "blend" in the transition area.  Once again, you don't need to take much metal off.

[pseman]

I love mine. Bought 2 for me and gave several to friends and family as well. I am pretty sharpening challenged but with a good file and the RADA sharpener, I can get consistent shaving edges on any two-blade that I have. I wish I had found this tool before selling my Landsharks due to sharpening frustration.

Works awesome on kitchen knives also.

Mark

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I love the rada. started using them on my 3 bladed BH's as well.

[ChuckC]

Try Pulling The Rada Instead Of The Arrow When Sharpening Three Blades.  Hold The Arrow With Head Facing Forward And Pull.
chuckc

[David Mitchell]

I found one of these at my local mom and pop hardware store--pretty impressive so far.  Just started to play with it.

[LongStick64]

Just got mine today, tried on my Simmons TreeSharks, Shaving hair was never so easy !