Are all F.Dick sharpening/honing rods the same HRC?

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Gondvanaz

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Sep 15, 2022
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F. Dick and has several 14" sharpening/honing steels and the only difference between them seems to be the grit. But the coarser ones are cheap (like 90-100 bucks where I live) whereas the smooth ones are quiet more expensive - around 200-210. I went to the store to see if there's any info on the package about the HRC of the steels but there's none and the only difference between them is the grit. Are all of them the same HRC and the differences in price are because of the grit or is it the other way around? I e-mailed them a week ago but they still haven't answered me and I don't think they ever will.
 
I'd bet the difference in cost is more likely due to costs of manufacture, i.e., the polished steels may need a more complex finishing process. In general, F. Dick seems to have a very good reputation for quality. I don't think I'd be worried about any of their honing steels, based only on the difference in price. Even at 'only' $100 or so for the grooved models, that's not exactly low-end for something like this.

The article linked below, in .pdf format, is an interesting read. It does mention that the reputable brands are considerably harder than the knives for which these tools are to be used, at hardness values of 65-67 HRC. They also mention using F. Dick steels in their testing, but don't specifically link hardness values to the brand itself. ALL honing steels of this type are better suited for typical kitchen cutlery in the low-mid-high 50s HRC hardness range. Cutlery steel much harder than that (60s+ HRC) won't behave the same way in response to 'steeling' and therefore won't benefit in the same manner.

 
Gondvanaz said:
F. Dick and has several 14" sharpening/honing steels and the only difference between them seems to be the grit. But the coarser ones are cheap (like 90-100 bucks where I live) whereas the smooth ones are quiet more expensive - around 200-210. I went to the store to see if there's any info on the package about the HRC of the steels but there's none and the only difference between them is the grit. Are all of them the same HRC and the differences in price are because of the grit or is it the other way around? I e-mailed them a week ago but they still haven't answered me and I don't think they ever will.
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They have more than several, and substantial differences that are not HRC. I have a polished oval one, and and oval one that is somehow coarser if you bear down on it, and finer if you let up ("Multicut?" something like that). It's easy to imagine that both are trickier to get right than a basic coarse round.
 
UncleBoots said:
They have more than several, and substantial differences that are not HRC. I have a polished oval one, and and oval one that is somehow coarser if you bear down on it, and finer if you let up ("Multicut?" something like that). It's easy to imagine that both are trickier to get right than a basic coarse round.
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The one you're talking about (MultiCut) is 28 cm/11'' long. Can you send me the pics of those you own? How long are they? Which one of them works best for you? What's the HRC of the knives you hone/sharpen?
 
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Their Titan model, if I remember correctly, is given an extra hard line. Most of the cost is more expensive handles, cross sections, and cuts.
 
Don’t know about the hardness, but on some knives the grooved steels act as sideways file teeth and remove bits of steel from the blade edge. I prefer the smooth ones, which do not.

Also, I typically use only trailing strokes. Some of my antique steels have dents or pitting from prior abuse or neglect, and I want the edge to bounce over that instead of diving in. Takes half again as many strokes sometimes, but I believe it’s gentler on the blade.

Parker
 
The honing rods made by F. Dick have a good reputation. I have read more than once:"Buy a Shapton Pro 1000 / 2000 and a Dick" as a basic setup.
They make several different which differ in length, shape and how fine they are.
I could not find HRC for any rod but the Classic Sapphire is given with >65° and the Micro with 65°.
I guess they are not exactly the same but are more or less the same hardness. They are said to be hard and long lasting.
 
A car or truck valve stem makes a perfect smooth honing rod. You can probably pick a used one up for free from a local machine shop.
 
I’ve used the shank of a long 1/2” drill bit, out on the job. You’re right, it just has to be as hard or harder than the knife steel.

Parker
 
Gondvanaz said:
The one you're talking about (MultiCut) is 28 cm/11'' long. Can you send me the pics of those you own? How long are they? Which one of them works best for you? What's the HRC of the knives you hone/sharpen?
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Ah, I was out of town, just back in the last few hours. Let me see what I can do this week in the way of photos and measurements. In the meantime, I can answer the other questions:

The chrome-looking one, called, um, Dick Polish, is great for a simple straightening of an edge in soft stainless. It's perfect for making my wife's crappy stainless knife last longer between sharpenings.

The Multicut is a miracle for Wusthof-class knives, light touch-up at light pressure, something more serious at heavy pressure. Very highly recommended if you use this type of knife.

For Japanese knives, I do not use steels, ever, even for the $45 Tojiro I got for my wife. Just doesn't seem to fit.
 
Gondvanaz said:
The one you're talking about (MultiCut) is 28 cm/11'' long. Can you send me the pics of those you own? How long are they? Which one of them works best for you? What's the HRC of the knives you hone/sharpen?
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OK, picture with measurements. I'd forgotten how beautiful these tools are until I took them out and really looked at them.
SMALL Steels.JPG
 
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