Recommendation? Ceramic stone question

[RadialBladeworks]

Hello all. I have been getting into some free hand sharpening and I have had and been using some diamond plates. I have course, medium, fine and super fine diamond plates. I find that even the super fine stone leaves a super toothy edge.

I have been looking at the Spyderco 302 series stones and I am wondering if it is worth getting the medium ceramic stone or just go for the fine and maybe ultra fine stone with what I already have? Any recommendations?

I don’t think the Medium is worth it. I think sintered ceramic stones are good finishers, but the Medium ceramic fails to do the work I ask of my stones in that “grit range”

But the Fine and Ultra Fine are so great for the roles I employ them in that I have literally purchased two of each

 

[Backyard]

Also as a follow up question to those who suggested just using a strop after the dmt what micron do you recommend for that?

I use green compound which is chromium oxide at ~0.5 micron

It doesn't seem to do to much to my S90V and S110V but seems to work great for anything less. I use it on paper for stropping.

I've tried 1 micron diamond paste and it seemed to work OK for the super steels but the edge didn't seem to last any longer and was much more work the it was worth. I just leave those steels as is off the DMT

 

[ktataragasi]

I use green compound which is chromium oxide at ~0.5 micron

It doesn't seem to do to much to my S90V and S110V but seems to work great for anything less. I use it on paper for stropping.

I've tried 1 micron diamond paste and it seemed to work OK for the super steels but the edge didn't seem to last any longer and was much more work the it was worth. I just leave those steels as is off the DMT

Sorry if this is dumb to ask but I'm assuming you have the paper sitting on a hard surface and the compound on the paper? Is there a reason you do it this way over a leather strop or wood as some others do?

 

[ktataragasi]

I don’t think the Medium is worth it. I think sintered ceramic stones are good finishers, but the Medium ceramic fails to do the work I ask of my stones in that “grit range”

But the Fine and Ultra Fine are so great for the roles I employ them in that I have literally purchased two of each

What roles do you use the fine and ultra fine ceramics?

I also picked up a dmt extra extra fine pocket stone to try out as it was fairly cheap... I'm going to give that a shot for now.

 

[Backyard]

Sorry if this is dumb to ask but I'm assuming you have the paper sitting on a hard surface and the compound on the paper? Is there a reason you do it this way over a leather strop or wood as some others do?

I've tried leather and it's good and all but has too much give in my opinion. I like paper because it's cheap, disposable and has just enough give to strop just the bevel where I want it.

I lay the paper down on a hard smooth flat surface like may coffee table when I'm stropping. Other times I pit a piece over my DMT stone and use that

 

[RadialBladeworks]

What roles do you use the fine and ultra fine ceramics?

I also picked up a dmt extra extra fine pocket stone to try out as it was fairly cheap... I'm going to give that a shot for now.

The Fine makes a great maintenance stone. Use a blade semi moderately through the day? Slap it on the Fine and UF to bring back extreme sharpness. They are easy, instant-use stones that you can utilize quickly and carry on with your day. I find other stones more exciting to use, but these offer excellent value in the “daily use pragmatic sharpening” category, if you will. Used with a few drops of WD40 and you can clean your stone, lubricate the sharpening, and oil your knife all at once

 

[ktataragasi]

I've tried leather and it's good and all but has too much give in my opinion. I like paper because it's cheap, disposable and has just enough give to strop just the bevel where I want it.

I lay the paper down on a hard smooth flat surface like may coffee table when I'm stropping. Other times I pit a piece over my DMT stone and use that

The Fine makes a great maintenance stone. Use a blade semi moderately through the day? Slap it on the Fine and UF to bring back extreme sharpness. They are easy, instant-use stones that you can utilize quickly and carry on with your day. I find other stones more exciting to use, but these offer excellent value in the “daily use pragmatic sharpening” category, if you will. Used with a few drops of WD40 and you can clean your stone, lubricate the sharpening, and oil your knife all at once

Cool. Thank you both for the information and the suggestions.