Advantage of a small stone!

J

J-P SAN

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Apr 23, 2013
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Just a self observation I made recently; by having a light stone on the left hand and knife on the right I'm able to create unbeliavably gentle pressure. With small 900-1000 grit white 4$ Ceramic rod I am able to create extremely crisp and keen edges on my knives, thanks to the attained low pressure. I have done this with a 12" carbon steel leuku, which is quite a trick with a 3 1/2" ceramic rod.

Do you often use small stones? Even if you are home with your bench stones?
 
Small stones are all that have used for most of my life. Since I learned to sharpen a pocket knife way back when I was in the boy scouts, free hand on a small stone was the only way it was done. There was no gizmos or gadgets back then. We also used the small circle method, so it was easier to learn to hold a consistent angle on the blade on each side. This method also works for nay small stone you pick up out of a creek or piece of brick you find.

Here's the stone I used in the boy scouts a lifetime ago, found it in a box of old stuff in the attic. Still puts a shaving sharp edge on a blade.
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A cut down Eze-Lap model L diamond hone I carry in my wallet. I cut off most of the plastic handle to fit in the zipper compartment.
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J-P SAN said:
Just a self observation I made recently; by having a light stone on the left hand and knife on the right I'm able to create unbeliavably gentle pressure. With small 900-1000 grit white 4$ Ceramic rod I am able to create extremely crisp and keen edges on my knives, thanks to the attained low pressure. I have done this with a 12" carbon steel leuku, which is quite a trick with a 3 1/2" ceramic rod.

Do you often use small stones? Even if you are home with your bench stones?
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I'm convinced in the truth of this. My own habits were formed around using small hones held like this (I started with a Spyderco DoubleStuff). I've made very good use of my DMT 'credit card' hones in recent months. Everyone eventually trains their hands to a given method, and when the feel develops for it, good or great results can be had. I still tend to use hones this way, all the way up to 6" - 8" 'bench' hones, in spite of not actually using them on the bench (most of the time).

I also believe the 'feedback' from the blade-on-hone is better (for me), when I'm feeling small variations in angle with both hands from opposite sides, and simultaneously making adjustments in the same manner.

The one time I might be more inclined to use a hone on the bench, is when there's some very heavy grinding to do on a large blade. Those tasks are better-suited to 'leaning into it' a little more, and the bench-backed hone makes that easier, and the hands don't get as fatigued.

BTW, my most recent sharpening gear purchase was a 3" x 7/8" AlOx pocket stone at Sears (for a whopping $2.50), if that sheds any light on my own preferences and tendencies. :D


David
 
I will buy into this theory as well when it comes to simple sharpening and touch ups. I more frequently use a small pocket stone and strop than I do their larger counterparts and the combination of increased muscle memory, feedback sensitivity and light touch used with the smaller sharpeners make me more efficient at producing a fine edge.
 
I started with some of the small DMT Aligners stones using them with the Aligner and free hand, than eventually moved to the 6in and 8in norton economy stones (silicon carbide and aluminum oxide). Small stones work but I find a 6in stone just feels natural to me.
 
This is a great topic!

I have really come to appreciate small stones. Especially the beautiful natural stones used for honing, but the more coarse artificial stones are very useful as well.

I think their best feature is that they can be tucked and stored just about anywhere, making the occasional sharpening task much less of a process. Especially if you are on the go, you can just slip one in your pocket. All of my larger stones are stored in a tool box with leather, sand paper, flitz, diamond spray, and all of that kind of stuff. That tool box only comes out when I am doing a serious amount of sharpening. Otherwise, the little stones are more convenient. I keep one by the computer for sharpening during long bladeforums sessions.:D

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Obsessed with Edges said:
I also believe the 'feedback' from the blade-on-hone is better (for me), when I'm feeling small variations in angle with both hands from opposite sides, and simultaneously making adjustments in the same manner.

David
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Great topic. I've really come to like a "two hands" technique, for the reason stated above and because it automatically results in less pressure as the hand holding the media naturally gives way to the knife as it's stroked. I've had good success with a variety of paint stick strops held in the left hand as my right hand strokes away with the knife, and have had better results with this than with stropping on a hone lying flat on a bench/table.

BTW, David, I am likewise a sucker for a bargain and your Sears alox pocket stone (if I've zeroed in on the right one) is now on sale for the princely sum of $1.79 with free in-store pickup. :)

Andrew
 
I've had excellent results using the DMT diafold:-- Extra fine on one side and Extra Extra fine on the other. The diamond plate measures 1" X 4 1/4". The extra length of the handles helps in keeping the angle constant.
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I hold the knife in my left hand and stroke the diamond plate toward the edge with my right hand, exerting very little pressure. Practice has taught me to 'find the edge' and continue using that angle. I know I'm not holding the angle perfectly all the time, but I get very sharp edges this way. A bonus is, you can do it while seated without a workbench or table.
 
AFAustin said:
Great topic. I've really come to like a "two hands" technique, for the reason stated above and because it automatically results in less pressure as the hand holding the media naturally gives way to the knife as it's stroked. I've had good success with a variety of paint stick strops held in the left hand as my right hand strokes away with the knife, and have had better results with this than with stropping on a hone lying flat on a bench/table.

BTW, David, I am likewise a sucker for a bargain and your Sears alox pocket stone (if I've zeroed in on the right one) is now on sale for the princely sum of $1.79 with free in-store pickup. :)

Andrew
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Interesting thing for me, Andrew, is that I think that stone was also 'on sale' the day I bought mine. I'd noticed a sale tag below the display hook for a price less than the usual ~$2.50 or so, and smiled about that. I think the cashier screwed up when ringing it up, however. I didn't make an issue of it, as it was still 'cheap' as compared to the sharpening gear we often buy. :D

Knowing it's still on sale, I might go and pick up another one. When I bought the first one, I was originally hoping to find the 6" bench-sized stone in the same material, but it was out of stock the day I was there.


David
 
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I don't have much in small stones. A 6" combination is about as small as I go. I do have one 3" combination SiC puck. That I keep in my back pack. That little stone will sharpen any knife and steel I throw at it. To me it's not any faster and I don't hold it. It's just more portable. I can probably get an edge close to those I produce on my 2X8" Norton India. DM
 
Usually when my water stones get used and thin, they usually snap in half and I'll keep one in the car and work bag as backup.
 
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