Recommendation? 250$ sharpening budget ....advise?

[Jason B.]

I got to handle a knife that you sharpened for a member here. At first, I thought it was one of my old knives that I had sharpened long ago. The edge profiles and finish were very similar. You do great work by the way!

Thank you, it makes me happy to hear comments like that. I chose the name traditional sharpening because that is the exact experience I wanted my customers to have.

 

[flatblackcapo]

I guess paste, compound, spray or whatever are all just substrates for abrasion. Some are finer grit than others. I've never been curious to the spray as the compound on leather, has always worked for me!

Well, ya know what they say, if it ain't broke....
I was wondering about if it was a better match for the + 4% vanadium steel.

One of the most useful waterstones I've picked up has been the Suehiro Rika G8. It a finish polishing-grade waterstone using silicon carbide in a ceramic binder. While it cannot tackle high Vanadium stuff, it does a better job on other high carbide steels and a great job on all others. Notably better than my AlumOx stones on High Speed Steels.

This sort of gets to the heart of what waterstones do best in my opinion - finishing edges. For commercial use I often use this stone for a microbevel following a 125 micron diamond belt and the edges are first rate. I use it often as a finish stone on a lot of my personal sharpening as well.

I could recommend plenty of other waterstones (pretty sure you are close enough to Suzuki Ya to shop the counter, their line of house stones is great!), but if I had to recommend a single waterstone that plays well with all other sharpening media, the G8 would be that one.

I think you told me about Suzuki Ya a year or two ago, it just slipped my mind Berkley is about 2 hours from me, I have to go and just geek out. I need to remember to bring a set amount of cash though!
Is the Suehiro Rika G8 The 8K stone?
How much life do you get out of those diamond belts. Are you using the 3M ? I looked at them a few times but at close to 100$ a belt I just never pulled the trigger.

I would still recommend the Naniwa stones. I would also recommend DMT diamond paste.

What series ( economical , traditional, sharpening , professional or super ) are the Naniwa stones that you recommended in your previous post in. I searched on Sharpening Supplies and got no results, maybe they use a different name?

 

[Jason B.]

EBay is your best bet and Amazon is second best. They are not sold in the US market. Search for Naniwa Gouken.

 

[HeavyHanded]

I think you told me about Suzuki Ya a year or two ago, it just slipped my mind Berkley is about 2 hours from me, I have to go and just geek out. I need to remember to bring a set amount of cash though!
Is the Suehiro Rika G8 The 8K stone?
How much life do you get out of those diamond belts. Are you using the 3M ? I looked at them a few times but at close to 100$ a belt I just never pulled the trigger.

The G8 is one of the Suehiro 8k stones - they also make an AlumOx one.

I have the Suzuki Ya 400, 1k, 2k, 4k 8k - I use the 1, 4, and 8 most often. IDK what the manufacturer is, they aren't saying. Only that they do not have a retail outlet and are not available in the US except through their (S/Y) shop. For carbon steel woodworking tools they are crazy fast and make an incredible edge. They work great on the vast majority of stainless as well, but as the carbide content goes up they predictably begin to lose a bit of effectiveness. If I don't have any idea what steel a knife is, these are the stones I use.

Yes, 3M belts. I only use them for sharpening, no primary regrinds or heavier work, always edge trailing, fairly low FPM. The 125 micron cut real fast and last a looong time in that role. If you get into the 45 and 9 micron they don't hold up as well, but I do all my finishing on stones and Washboard anyway. I've done a couple of convex hair shears using the full progression (125, 45, 9, and leather belt with Washboard compound) - they do a great job.

In my use they are very economical - one of the few advantages of the 1x30 belt grinder w/ variable speed.

 

[flatblackcapo]

EBay is your best bet and Amazon is second best. They are not sold in the US market. Search for Naniwa Gouken.

Thanks, I will look into it.

The G8 is one of the Suehiro 8k stones - they also make an AlumOx one.

I have the Suzuki Ya 400, 1k, 2k, 4k 8k - I use the 1, 4, and 8 most often. IDK what the manufacturer is, they aren't saying. Only that they do not have a retail outlet and are not available in the US except through their (S/Y) shop. For carbon steel woodworking tools they are crazy fast and make an incredible edge. They work great on the vast majority of stainless as well, but as the carbide content goes up they predictably begin to lose a bit of effectiveness. If I don't have any idea what steel a knife is, these are the stones I use.

Yes, 3M belts. I only use them for sharpening, no primary regrinds or heavier work, always edge trailing, fairly low FPM. The 125 micron cut real fast and last a looong time in that role. If you get into the 45 and 9 micron they don't hold up as well, but I do all my finishing on stones and Washboard anyway. I've done a couple of convex hair shears using the full progression (125, 45, 9, and leather belt with Washboard compound) - they do a great job.

In my use they are very economical - one of the few advantages of the 1x30 belt grinder w/ variable speed.

I am going to have to build my sharpening budget back up! haha

Thanks for all the info everyone. Even if it will end up costing me a bunch of money!