How to Sharpen a Knife at Home
We recommend using the Spyderco Triangle Sharpmaker to maintain the edge on all of our folding knives, but it is important to use a method of sharpening where you feel the most comfortable. The following instructions are intended for use with CRK folding knives on the Triangle Sharpmaker.
THREE STEPS TO MAINTAINING YOUR EDGE
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Clean your knife
Remove any debris, goo, or residue using a soft cloth.
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Set the white crock sticks' sharpening angles to 40°
With the Sharpmaker system, the plastic base contains keyed holes that accurately set the sticks’ sharpening angles at a 30° (15° each side) or 40° (20° each side). We sharpen our folding knives to an 18°-20° angle, so the 40° keyed holes will do just fine. Maintain the edge of your blade frequently using the white crock sticks.
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Sharpen with a roll
Beginning at the widest part of the blade and moving toward the tip, make a downward motion, while rolling your hand. The blade should turn away from the crock stick, as you move around the belly toward the tip. It is important not to sharpen with a purely vertical motion as it will eventually decrease the length of the blade, leaving the knife with a thickened tip and unbalanced geometry. Move back and forth between each crock stick, maintaining light, even pressure.
It's important to note that these tips are for maintenance - if you want hair-popping-sharp, it may be time to send it in for a sharpening service instead.