Benchstone recommendations...

ROCK6

ROCK6

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Feb 8, 2004
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Alright, I've been using the heck out of my Sharpmaker (great for keeping the knives honed), but I've had great results from a small Norton I used to have. I'd like to get a few larger benchstones for the big knives, and would like some recommendations. A stone for reprofiling, a medium and possibly a fine one for honing...I have a strop, but what stones would get me there? What are the grit recommendations? Would a course diamond stone be a great starter and work my way down to a fine Arkansas or Norton? What's a good two-four stone starter list for benchstones?

ROCK6
 
I will answer the question, but first, let me make a recommendation. For the price of a range of bench stones, you can get a small 1x30 belt sander and some 220 or 320 grit belts. Using a sander takes some practice, but so does using bench stones. Get 2 or 3, 5 dollar knives of different sizes to practice on and you should have the movement down pretty quickly. You can use the Sharpmaker for final honing, either by using the bench stone setup, or the normal V setup, depending on how thin you grind with the sander. For reprofiling, a 220 grit belt on a small sander cant be beat, as long as you are able to use it properly. I was able to sharpen 8 knives, including a D2 AFCK, to a razor edge in less than 30 minutes before our July 4th cookout. I also used a 1x30 leather belt with honing compound, but its not neccessary if you already have a Sharpmaker. The different grits are available from woodworker supply stores, or from internet suppliers. I ruined about 3 knives learning to use the sander, which is why I recommend the cheap ones for practice.

If you have to go with stones, Lee Valley Tools sells a shop waterstone in 250/1000 grit combination. You could go straight to the Sharpmaker from there, then to the strop. A Norton Course/Fine India combination stone works too, but the waterstone will cut a little faster, I believe. Also, I find that the Norton Fine stone isnt that fine, so I just skipped it and went to the sharpmaker, unless I want a toothy edge. A full range of 4 DMT stones from 220 (black) to 1200 (green) would be expensive, but they wouldnt have to be flattened for chisels and such, and would cut anything a knife blade is made from. I can't really recommend Arkansas stones. They work, but the one I bought about 6 years ago did not cut nearly as well as the one I used before I went to college. To be honest, it may have been that I just took a step up in knife steels, and the Arkansas stones just couldnt cut the new steels.
 
Take a look at the attached chart. You want high speed and a high quality edge so you want hones that fall up and to the right on the graph. Diamond hones will do it, but they are expensive and subject to rapid wear if you use too high a honing pressure. The water stones are the way to go. I particularly like my 1000 grit Shapton that I got at a discount, but I get good use out of a King combination stone.

If you are going to do a lot of sharpening a belt sander would save a lot of work. I got a 4"x36" belt sander for about $70.00 at Home Depot that has a lot of uses besides sharpening knives. I would still want at least one 1000 grit water stone on in addition to the belt sander.
 

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I agree also with me2 about getting a belt sander. You can get one that won't break the bank. For as often as you would use it , you wouldn't have to spend alot on belts. When I sharpen I start with an 80 grit silicon carbide go to a 320 grit aluminum oxide and finish it up with a strop. To answer your original question, if you want a bench stone, I would highly recommend a Norton fine india. You can get a 6", 8" and I think up to 12" stone. I've used one for years and have never come up against a knife I couldn't get sharp. They are the best choice IMO.
Scott
 
:mad: Well, I've got one big issue. I'm currently in Military Housing, at least for another year (won't make that mistake again :mad: ). So, all my garage stuff, workbench, reloading bench, most major tools, are in "temporary" storage that I can't access until I PCS (move out due to orders). So, #1: I've got a very small outside storage/work area, and #2: I just assemble a 8" grinder I forgot I had...I ordered the paper wheels, but I fear the 3000+ rpm may be way too much for most tempered steels. I'd like to get a belt grinder (and I still might), but I'm really limited on space (thanks Uncle Sam :mad: ).

So, I due have a small workbench, that's why I'm looking at the larger stones. Thanks for the input, and I may be able to rearrange and add a belt sander or get a separate stand like my grinder...

ROCK6
 
Hi, Rock6. Check out the Norton Medium India stone:

http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/...&Product_Code=NO-WIDEOIL.XX&Category_Code=THO

This is a nice, big benchstone, 8" long by 3" wide, and will only cost you $13.95 of that hard-earned military pay (plus S&H, of course.) It ain't no belt grinder, but a medium India stone will handle most of the reprofiling and other tough knife sharpening jobs you're likely to have, and if you need a finer edge, a few quick passes on your Sharpmaker and you'll be good to go. Keep it oiled, and it should last you well into your retirement.

I also can recommend toolsforworkingwood.com as a reputable company. Plus if you like woodworking tools at all, you'll love the catalog they'll send you with your order.

Dave
 
Get yourself a Smith's Tri-Hone!...That'll give you 3 stones (coarse, medium, fine) that are slighty under 6 inches long, and exactly 1.5 inches wide. It comes with a base that the 3 hones (as a unit) sit on.
 
After trying nearly everything, I've settled on an 8" two sided (coarse and fine) DMT bench stone. I actually prefer waterstones since they give a finer edge, but the DMT is much more convenient since you don't have to soak it.
 
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