Beginner stones, decided on this 250/1000 waterstone

[csisland]

I've decided on buying the Lee Valley 250/1000 Combo waterstone. Does anyone have any experiences with using these?
They look decent and aren't too expensive.
http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?c=&p=33010&cat=1,43072,43071&ap=1

 

[Jason B.]

If you sharpen simple carbon steels then it will be fine. It should also be noted that it will wear quickly so if a lot of sharpening is planned I would recommend different stones.

The stone you are looking at is the basic of the basic, FYI.

 

[csisland]

It should also be noted that it will wear quickly so if a lot of sharpening is planned I would recommend different stones.

Can you recommend some different stones, maybe not too pricey?

 

[Jason B.]

What types of knives/steels will you be sharpening?

 

[csisland]

What types of knives/steels will you be sharpening?

Buck 420 HC, GEC carbon, PM2 s30v, and maybe a few kitchen knives.

 

[Jason B.]

A coarse/fine DMT diamond plate and a strop with 1 micron diamond compound would be one way to do it. Part of me says that you might be better off with a second stone over the the strop though, something like a nice Arkansas stone for your simpler steels.

 

[csisland]

A coarse/fine DMT diamond plate and a strop with 1 micron diamond compound would be one way to do it. Part of me says that you might be better off with a second stone over the the strop though, something like a nice Arkansas stone for your simpler steels.

Just looked up the Arkansas stone and found a combination soft/hard AK stone in the $40/$50 range. 8 X 2 or 6 X 2 size.

 

[Jason B.]

If your not already, sharpening supplies or dans whet stones would be some places to look. The soft/hard is a good choice.

 

[csisland]

If your not already, sharpening supplies or dans whet stones would be some places to look. The soft/hard is a good choice.

Yes I saw the hard soft on sharpening supplies. It doesn't tell you the grit though.