Budget/Economy Stones for freehand sharpening?

L

leozinho

Joined
Jan 7, 2005
Messages
143
Hi all,

First, a thanks to all for indulging my questions. I've learned a lot here.

I'm looking for a 'budget' freehand sharpening setup, and I've gotten myself confused/overwhelmed with information searching through old threads.

The stones will be used for a whole range of knives – from my 1095 knives to cheaper kitchen knives to some hard wearing Busse's and such.

I don't need a pro setup by any means, and I'm hesitant to drop too much money, since my previous attempts at freehand sharpening did not go well. But now I want to try again, and have promised myself I'll have more patience this time.

I was thinking maybe a King Combination water stone 800/4000 grit as a base to build off of. http://www.woodcraft.com/product/20...on-waterstone-714-x-212-x-1-8004000-grit.aspx

I suppose I'll need something coarser to reprofile edges and something finer (plus a strop?). Any suggestions?

Or would I be better off just getting the DMT 6" Dia-Sharp Kit for $80.

http://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/DMT-6-Dia-Sharp-Kit-P404C3.aspx

Thanks again. Apologies for bringing up this top yet again.
 
Norton's IB-8 a coarse/ fine India stone. It offers good economy and puts on a great edge. For 24$ delivered to your door. DM
 
When I think budget, I think of Daiso, the Japanese version of the dollar store. Well actually $1.5 for most items. I picked up some 2" x 4" stones there that work just fine. My main stone is a Norton IB8 like David mentioned above. Mine has lasted many, many years and is still in good shape. So my vote goes for the Norton.

I've also sharpened some of my knives that are VG10 and S30V with it. It takes a bit more patience with the super steels.

Be patient with learning how to free hand. For me it is a constant learning process. One thing that helps me quite a bit, was watching a friend sharpen knives in person. It's a very different experience than watching it on YouTube. So when I go to his to house, I had him my EDC and critique my sharpening job.

One of the things that he has gotten me to pay attention to it sounds and feels as it goes across the stone.

You can also get some junker knives at a thrift store or garage sale to practice on.

Ric
 
Agreed, sharpening a blade of S30V will take longer on the IB-8 than say a diamond stone. Still on a budget most anyone can afford the same size Norton stone in SiC twin grit. The JB-8 . I like the higher grit of the India but the JB-8 cuts faster and wears different. So, just strop the blade on newspaper afterward. DM
 
I second the Daisho. They have grit 120 up to 400 (IIRC). I got 320 and 400.

For harder new supersteel, I got DMT credit card 3 in 1 packs (coarse, fine, superfine).

Add some high grit wet/dry sandpaper (1500), metal polish (I use MAAS) on cardboard, you're good to go. Total cost is below 50$.

For practicing, you can get some knives by Sanrenmu or Bee/Enlan (checkout the thread in Review/Testing subforum).

Good luck in one of the best learning experience!
 
My vote has to go to the Norton silicon carbide combination stone. The India is a smoother touch and a good choice too, but the Crystalon or economy stone sold at many hardware stores has better feedback and grinds faster. The silicon carbide stones at my local Ace hardware store look to be good quality too, and claim to be made in USA as a bonus.

Either way, the one combination stone, a bottle of mineral oil, some old newspaper, and some black and white polishing compound (Ryobi, Sears, etc) will cover many many sharpening needs.

I made a video with the economy stone
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1018473-Norton-econo-stone-review-Vid

and another using the India stone
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1020029-Not-another-sharpening-video!

There a plenty of good choices, but these two stones are very reliable across a broad range of steels, not every other choice can make that claim. Having issues with performance of differing abrasives vs different steels is the last thing you need to deal with when starting out.

HH
 
HeavyHanded said:
Having issues with performance of differing abrasives vs different steels is the last thing you need to deal with when starting out.
Click to expand...

+1

Get a stone, start sharpening! 25$ for a Norton combo India stone and a bottle of Lansky honing oil. Even less for an economy stone and a bottle of mineral oil! Read the stickies, watch the vids, start sharpening. Your needs and preferences will develop with experience. And by the way, all sharpening stones will sharpen steel (I think). Some do it faster, some slower, but they all work, from Aluminum Oxide to Diamond and everything in between, those materials are all far, far harder than steel.
 
I'm new to knife collecting, but when I was a kid I made it to journeymen meat cutter. So I learned hoe to put a basic edge on a knife? Getting back to sharpening I decided to buy this kit from the same company you are looking at http://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/Ultimate-Oil-Stone-Kit-P320C100.aspx I have found and I may very well be doing something wrong? but I am getting all of my knifes razor sharp. I don't know if this helps? But it is working for me. Ymmv?
 
Thanks, guys. I have the Norton India stone in my cart for Amazon. I wasn't expecting to get off this cheap. :)

Is there need to add a higher grit stone, as well? (I found one reference that called the fine India stone 320 grit.) Or would the difference be negligible (I can always add it later if when I'm ready to take it up a notch, I suppose.)

Thanks again.
 
Yes, the fine India is a 320 grit. You can always strop it more to take it finer. Plus, the last few passes on the stone make sure they are very light and this will help to refine it as well. Good sharpening. DM
 
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