Best >1000 grit sharpener?

[bubblewhip]

So I'm getting a DMT extra extra course and a spyderco sharpmaker to round out my little sharpening hobby. I previously had a 250 grit and 1000 grit stone and I think it does well. But I might want a little bit more out of it, so the question is what kind of stone should I go to achieve a 3000 or 6000 grit finish? DMT has some ultra fine sharpeners but I hear diamond gives an inconsistent scratch pattern, and I don't know what stone to buy for a 3000 or 6000 grit block?

 

[hiwa]

I went with Norton waterstones ( 1000 & 4000). I get better edges with them than any other stones I have. They are big stones , so I get a good sweep with my strokes and therefore more consistent angles. I think they go up to 8000 grit, IINM.

 

[Jason B.]

First, going from a XXC to a sharpmaker is not the best idea. Unless you have the diamond rods for the SM it will take forever and a day to get out the XXC scratches with the brown rods. Diamond stones are very consistent in scratch pattern but unless you plan on buying more I would stick with the waterstones. A norton 4k/8k would be a good step after your 1k, then use the SM for touch up between use of the stones.

 

[bubblewhip]

I also have a 250 grit whetstone that should be a nice step from the 120 grit diamond stone. Then I think I'll move it to the 700 or 800 grit medium rods and then finish it with either a hand honed 1000 grit whet or the 2000-3000 grit supposedly on the sharp maker ceramics. It's not going to be that bad.