diamond sharpening rod source

Mr.BadExample

Mr.BadExample

Joined
Sep 11, 2002
Messages
3,548
I'm looking for diamond sharpening rods. Not the crock stick kind like the Sharpmaker, but a single rod with a handle. I've seen "diamond steels" but I don't want a steel. Anyone know of a source for these?

Thanks,
Thomas
 
I'm looking for one too, preferably semi oval with a flat on one side. need it for my chisel ground blades.
 
Wal-Mart sells diamond sharpening rods by Gerber for around $10. I haven't used one, so I can't comment on quality and performance. I recently purchased a small diamond sharpening stone at Wal-Mart for around $5. It's made by Eze-Lap, and so far I've been very happy with it as a small, durable field sharpener, especially for the price.
--Josh
 
the gerber type is o.k. for short blades as you get only about 3" of dia. It also has a flat, roud and a fish hook groove. Doesnt last very long if you press down too hard on the dia. You got to be gentle. But as a cheap first try, go for it.
 
I've seen lots of reports about the diamonds in flat hones coming loose from the supporting matrix, and the hone wearing out.

A round hone with the resulting pressure amplification due to the reduced contact surface area, will just be that much more fragile, IMO. Get the largest radius available if it is expected to last.
 
Try EZE-Lap, they have a nice brass handled one that alot of people seem pleased with,(I am with mine). Also DMT (www.dmtsharp.com )makes several from pocketable to butcher steel sized, again very good. Also have a "Jewel Stick" 3 sided butchers type "steel" Which has coarse, fine, and ultra fine that works very well on my larger blades. All I believe are monocrystaline formation, not polycrystaline, which is more durable and less likely to wear out as the diamonds do not fragment from the surface while sharpening. Prices for good diamond sharpeners can range from around $10 to nearly $100 or more depending on size... etc, but mine have lasted for years. I even used two DMT diafold type sharpeners in industry sharpening shearing dies several times a week and they are still flat and sharpen knives well.
 
I don't understand what you mean when you say you don't want a diamond steel. Diamond steels never function like ordinary steels. They do not allign edges with pressure they abraid the edges with diamond grit. I like oval ones. The Ultimate Edge brand diamond sharpening steels have helped me with my recurve blade. They are available up to 12" long. I keep 5" model in my office desk. I got a great price at Top of Texas knives.
 
Thanks Jeff, I was worried about the steeling realigning the edge to a thinner profile, as steeling usually does.
cutlery shoppe has the DMT 'fine' 14" for ~$25 I'll probably go with that. But I will check out the oval "Ultimate Edge" ones first.
 
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