Another sharpening stone thread for a noob.

N

Nova1

Joined
Jun 26, 2022
Messages
4
Good afternoon all.

Been doing loads of research on sharpening stones and with all the info I’ve read in this forum alone, it’s been pretty overwhelming!

Basically, I’m looking at 2 different setups:

1) The first is 3 waterstones, grits in 220, 1k/1500, and 6k, more or less. Been looking at the naniwa traditional stones for that. Although, I’ve read a lot of good things about naniwa pro/chosera and the shapton line of waterstones in various posts here.

2) The other setup is DMT DuoSharps in extra coarse/coarse and fine/extra fine, complimented by a King 6k stone.

The sharpening would be mainly for folding knives and some Calphalon kitchen knives. I mainly use Gerber, Leatherman, and Case folders (stainless steel and chrome vanadium) but will eventually look for a Benchmade/Spyderco blade.

I’d like a set up that could handle any steel and I have read up that not all waterstones can, but DMT can. I’d prefer waterstones for the zen of sharpening, but I don’t mind DMT.

What are you all’s opinions/recommendations on waterstones and brands that can cut the knives I’ve mentioned? Depending on the advice, I may just get 2 stones to start, then build upon that (stones can get pricey!). Or if there is a better setup I haven’t thought of, I’m open to that too.

Thanks for all the advice everyone, I appreciate it!
 
Nova1 said:
Good afternoon all.

Been doing loads of research on sharpening stones and with all the info I’ve read in this forum alone, it’s been pretty overwhelming!

Basically, I’m looking at 2 different setups:

1) The first is 3 waterstones, grits in 220, 1k/1500, and 6k, more or less. Been looking at the naniwa traditional stones for that. Although, I’ve read a lot of good things about naniwa pro/chosera and the shapton line of waterstones in various posts here.

2) The other setup is DMT DuoSharps in extra coarse/coarse and fine/extra fine, complimented by a King 6k stone.

The sharpening would be mainly for folding knives and some Calphalon kitchen knives. I mainly use Gerber, Leatherman, and Case folders (stainless steel and chrome vanadium) but will eventually look for a Benchmade/Spyderco blade.

I’d like a set up that could handle any steel and I have read up that not all waterstones can, but DMT can. I’d prefer waterstones for the zen of sharpening, but I don’t mind DMT.

What are you all’s opinions/recommendations on waterstones and brands that can cut the knives I’ve mentioned? Depending on the advice, I may just get 2 stones to start, then build upon that (stones can get pricey!). Or if there is a better setup I haven’t thought of, I’m open to that too.

Thanks for all the advice everyone, I appreciate it!
Click to expand...
Although they are not waterstones if your looking for an affordable dmt set up you absolutely can’t go wrong with the Work Sharp Precision Adjust with the elite upgrade kit and a leather strop. I get amazing results no matter what steel I sharpen. It takes some playing around and tinkering to get used to it and how it cuts but to me it’s worth is weight in gold. Others may have a different opinion but that’s my two cents. Hope you are well.
 
Last edited:
Some like waterstones, some diamonds or whatever. Some swear on soaking stones, others may prefer splash and go. Hard to say what the best is. Many sharpeners like Shapton Pro stones. There is a chanel on YouTube, Burrfection. He does not like Shapton Pro because oft a bad tactile feedback.
Naniwa Pro are great, too. But expensive. And they can crack. Using diamonds with too much presure will destroy them. There is more than one King 6000. The cheaper version is a soaking stone and very soft. You can cut into the stone easily. The Kong 6000 KDS (?) is harder and splash and go. But not as hard as Shaptons are.
What do you prefer? Soft or hard? Soaking stone or splash and go? Dimensions? Are you willing to lap (flatten) a stone regularly?
I am very sorry. But there is no "this is the best setup" answer. It is about personal preferences. 9 out of 10 may say "go with Shapton pro, they work great for me". Does not help if you are one of the 1 out of 10 (just an example, don't take this numbers serious). Stones can be very expensive. But the only way is to find out what works for you. If you are unsure, buy a cheaper stone and try if freehand sharpening works for you.
 
Nice set up Smp321, looks like a decent rig. I’ll do some research on it, especially if you’ve gotten some great results.

Papilio, great info. I have no preference on hard/soft, soak/splash and go, dimensions about 8x3, and I don’t mind lapping, as it’s needed for waterstones. I should have clarified that I’m looking for something for a beginner. But you’re right, best to try something on the lower price end and go from there.

I like the Naniwa tradition and super stones as well.
 
Nova1 said:
Nice set up Smp321, looks like a decent rig. I’ll do some research on it, especially if you’ve gotten some great results.

Papilio, great info. I have no preference on hard/soft, soak/splash and go, dimensions about 8x3, and I don’t mind lapping, as it’s needed for waterstones. I should have clarified that I’m looking for something for a beginner. But you’re right, best to try something on the lower price end and go from there.

I like the Naniwa tradition and super stones as well.
Click to expand...
Some people will tell you its not worth it because it’s main components are made of plastic but it is really tough ABS plastic. It’s come apart in 3 pieces and stores quite nicely. I have spent many days with it sharpening multiple sets of kitchen knives for the neighbors and community I live in. Haven’t worn out a stone yet still works just as good as the day I got it. And I just saw you mentioned you wanted something for a beginner. The work sharp system is guided and angle adjustable it’s almost error proof. Eventually if it gets to a point where I want an expensive system I’ll look towards the apex or the wicked edge but that’s later down the rd. The work sharp handles everything I throw at it.
 
You can make almost anything work for you after you learn how to sharpen by hand. Hence, I have a 1000 and 6000 JIS whetstones from Sharp Pebble and a 220 JIS stone from Norton. They work just fine, although the 6000 gives me fits on harder steels (D2 specifically). I recently re-profiled a D2 blade on the 220. Worked like a charm. Finished on the 1000 and stropped briefly. Got a good D2 edge.
 
With few (very expensive) exceptions, water stones use aluminum oxide, or occasionally SiC. So you won't be able to handle all steels.
That said, Naniwa Pro and Shapton Glass are very nice stones. You should look up the universal grit chart, since Choseras are finer than Shaptons of the same Number rating.

Diamonds can handle everything, though I don't like them on softer steels.
 
Thanks for all the tips gents!

After doing more research, leaning towards DMT xc/c, f/ef, and a leather strop with 3 micron diamond paste. Should give me a decent edge.
 
Thank you for telling us how you have decided. I think DMT is a good choice. But remember: Light pressure or you will destroy the thin diamond coating and are left with nothing more than a bare metal plate. Let the stone do the work.
Diamonds work dry, but you could also try to use water.
I would like to mention that diamond stones need a "break in period" until they work as they should. When new they seem to be quite coarse, even the fine grits.
 
Nova1 said:
Thanks for all the tips gents!

After doing more research, leaning towards DMT xc/c, f/ef, and a leather strop with 3 micron diamond paste. Should give me a decent edge.
Click to expand...
I think that will serve you well.

You're likely to wind up experimenting with several stones, so I'll add this. I have a set of water stones by Sharp Pebble that are pretty inexpensive (~$25 for a combination 400/1000 stone). Despite the low price, I've found them very pleasant to work with on my more forgiving steels, up to and including S30V.
 
It seems like most of your sharpening so far will be on fairly simple steel so I would suggest the water stone route.
The Naniwa Traditional soaking stones are a good value. I only have the 6k but I have heard good things about the other grits.

Most soaking stones have excellent feel and feedback which makes them good for beginners plus they are slower than diamonds which can be extremely helpful for beginners.
The 6 inch DMT plastic plates are an excellent value though and they do cut anything though but I sharpen at the very least once a week and it has been a couple months since I broke out diamond plates.
As long as I don’t need to reprofile I just use other stones.

Another thing you may want to consider is a fine Sharpmaker rod.
They are only 12-15 dollars and it is one of my most used tools in my sharpening arsenal.
They are great for bringing back an edge.
 
Great points Willc. I’ve made up my mind probably on stones at least 5 different times already! I’ve got what a BF member said, “paralysis by analysis”.

I already have an Atoma 400, and am still debating the Naniwa traditional in 220, 1k, and 6k. But after reading a lot of posts by Jason B. And others, thinking of grabbing the Shapton Glass 500 and 2k, with the 6k down the road. Amazon has these fairly priced I believe.

I keep reading how the SG are top notch and can handle most of what you throw at it. I read Jason B. recommend the Atoma 400, SG in 500 and 2k, and if one more stone desired, the 6k. I’m not looking for an extreme mirror polish, just a blade sharp enough to shave arm hair for my edc blades and a few caphalon kitchen knives.

One day I plan on getting an S30v blade, but I’ve read the SG can handle that too.
 
I've got natural stones, all manner of waterstones, Shapton glass ceramics, and diamonds. I have found a few blades that will not respond to anything but the diamonds. Most blades don't need diamonds, but if you want stones that will truly sharpen anything, Atoma or DMT diamond plates are your best choices.

Since the OP used the word zen, I have to add that I love the romance of sharpening with natural stones. I would have to have a set of Arkansas stones around because I love using them and they do a great job on 90% of the blades I see. I turn off the music so I can hear the steel traveling across the stone, spray a little water on an Arkansas stone, and go nuts. They feel so much better than diamond stones, although the diamond stones perform as well.
 
I have a nice water stone, and arks, but diamonds are your friend if you're going to be sharpening more of the modern "super steels".
 
Nova1 said:
Amazon has these fairly priced I believe.
Click to expand...
Check out Lee Valley Tools in Canada for Shapton stones. Make sure you set the site to US dollars.
Also if you don't mind waiting, look at MTC Kitchen, they occasionally have 20% off their stones, including Shapton. They take a while to get stuff out the door.
If you like Naniwa Traditional or Pro, Sharpening Supplies has sales after Thanksgiving. Even during the year they have 10% off if you buy 3.
Chef Knives to Go also has a large selection of waterstones at the same prices as Amazon, along with a forum where people also talk sharpening.

There are other options is what I'm trying to say.
 
dual sided resin bonded diamond stones are very good, effective and relatively cheap (for what they are offering) from gritomatic. I prefer to use Naniwa Choseras for any steel that has softer carbides in it. For the rest I use CBN stones. CBN stones gives better edges on vanadium carbide steels where as Naniwas are great on low allow and soft carbide steels. For choseras, 400-1000-3000 will be a great combination.
 
I’m a dmt fan. I like the diafolds and bench stones. A coarse and fine is all ya need. You can benefit from extra fine if you want an edge refined to shaving sharp, but I rarely use my XF.

Course I also like traditional oil stones.

I’m not a water stone kinda guy (yet).
 
Something to also consider is a backup stone that will fit in your back pocket for those emergency sharpening situations. You have used your EDC and all 3 of your back up knives that you carry on your person and still need to cut stuff. That is when you reach for your emergency sharpening stone!

🙄
😝
 
  • Like
Reactions: JM2
DavidABQ said:
Something to also consider is a backup stone that will fit in your back pocket for those emergency sharpening situations. You have used your EDC and all 3 of your back up knives that you carry on your person and still need to cut stuff. That is when you reach for your emergency sharpening stone!

🙄
😝
Click to expand...
Amen to that. I carry a dmt in my pocket often.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top