An idea for Sal about diamond sharpmaker rods

It's my understanding that the diamond rods aren't out yet because there are problems getting the diamond material to stay in the substrate.

My guess is that the problem lies in the corners of the rods, which we use to sharpen aggressively, sharpen recurves, and sharpen serrations. If this is the case, couldn't you just make diamond rods that are either cylinders or rectangles (with a triangle bottom to fit in the base)? You wouldn't really want to use an aggressive diamond rod on serrations (it'd erase their profile). A round rod would still handle recurves. And a rectangular rod (very similar to what's out there already, but made to fit in the 204) would still handle most tasks.

Just a thought.
 
Sal Glesser

Sal Glesser

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Hi Shmackey. thanx for the input. Actually, the problem is in finding a diamond plater that can put diamonds on that stay on at a resonabale price. The stay on part is not just on the corners. We use pretty tough steels. They're hard on diamonds. We'd prefer a monocrystalin diamond.

We've tried many of the available platers, we'll just keep on looking.

sal
 
Diamond shmimond. The point of the diamond rods is to have an x-coarse aggressive cutter. Since diamonds are such a problem, wouldn't a coarser ceramic hone solve the same problem, in a less-expensive and more-durable way?

Sal, I've been assuming for years that you've already looked into this, and that there's some kind of problem with coarser ceramics. But out of curiosity, do you have any comments on viability of coarser ceramic hones for the Sharpmaker?
 
I have to agree with Joe (the sharpening guru that he is, second only to Mr. Glesser) Anyway, IMO the idea behind using diamonds is to just cut metal faster, so if an extra coarse stone would work in that capacity, then I'm all for it. My only concern with an extra coarse stone would be the loading problem. I find that my sharpmaker stones get loaded with metal fairly quickly and I have to wash them often. I'd be concerned that an extra coarse stone would have similar, if not worse, problems...

--Matt
 
Hi Joe, Matt. Yeah, it would seem that way...so I thought also.

We started the chase for a faster cutting ceramic in 1980. After many years of testing many types of material as well as different surface forms (grits), The current gray (brown) stone was the best we could do in ceramic. Once the surface is broken on the gray stone, it cuts fairly quickly...but not as fast as a 300-400 mesh diamond. it also wears fster than I like.

sal
 
I take it you have looked at the type of Diamond that DMT use? Perhaps you could colaberate with them to offer an add on for the Sharpmaker? Splitting the profits to get a reasonably priced product? I know this is probably nieve of me, but is that possible? Also just how expensive would a Mono Crystaline Diamond stick cost? Or rather for the pair? The DMT stones are well worth it IMHO but they are a bear to place on the Sharpmaker. How about a gadget that we can place in the hole and place the benchstones from yourself on? Like a 'shelf'. Kind of like the base that holds the benchstones, but with an attachment that we can place into the hole on the Sharpmaker base? This would let me more easily use my Ultra Fine stone and the DMT series stones.

THanks!

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Wayne.
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DMT used to make 5/16" diameter diamond coated hollow metal rods that fit "crock" stick type sharpeners. I bought a set some years back. Only half way around the rod is coated. You do pull out the diamond and it seems to have got finer over time. I am quite sure they no longer sell them for whate ever reason. I don't use them often. I have been using the Skarb to set bevels and the Sharpmaker to stay honed.

I think DMT benchstone type substrate cold be adapted to the Sharpmaker. It would only yield a flat surface with out corners. Would it not just be a matter of laminating it to a triangle to fit the base? I think they make some 1" wide "benchstone" that would work if they are long enough.

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Roger Blake
 
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