DMT Sharpening stones for a noob?

J

joepa150

Joined
Mar 15, 2010
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350
I am on the edge about either getting a Spyderco Sharpmaker or a few benchstones. I like the ease of the Sharpmaker BUT I feel that in the long run, benchstones will be more versatile.

I don't know if sticking to one manufacturer is preferred but I was thinking of mixing and matching. Maybe get a Coarse DMT stone and then a finer wet stone from Naniwa or Norton.

What model of DMT Stone is preferred?

How do Naniwa Stones compare to Norton?

Any recommended combinations of stones for a noob to start out with?

Also do DMT Stones wear out fast or loose particles?
 
I've heard you can use the Sharpmaker as a benchstone by sticking the rods in the bottom. I'm sure someone else will chime in and help me out with my description, I've never used one, and I can't think of the words right now.
 
Moved to the proper forum for sharpening questions.

Yes, you can turn the Sharpmaker base upside down and lay the rods in the two grooves there to make a benchstone.
 
I personally use a coarse DMT, a med. Spyderco alumina ceramic, and a fine Spyderco alumina ceramic. I have been freehand sharpening for 25 years, and after several years of trying to find the perfect combo this is what I came up with. I know there are several others here who use the same set-up too. Hope this helps.
 
DMT Sharpening stones for a noob?

I would suggest you research this Maintenance forum, and in doing so you'll come across several threads/discussions that will be helpful to you.

Your question, or very similar to it, is asked on ave. of once a week here, or so it seems. You'll find no shortage of opinions, recommendations, and as to be expected, some peeing contests....some very entertaining.

But you'll also learn alot along the way too:thumbup:
 
i bought the 3 piece set of 6x2 DiaSharps, stropping compound, strop, and kurobara camellia oil w/applicator for a decent price at Craftsman Studio...the first stones i've ever bought and so far i've been very happy with them. Between the stones and the strop my bases are covered...although for heavy re-profiling i would pick up an extra course stone.
 
I would suggest you get one of the large DMT stones that has medium and fine sides. I have a (Smith I think?) coarse one also that I use primarily for things like axes, machetes, and similar kinds of things. It is more portable for long or unusual shapes.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
Yes, you can turn the Sharpmaker base upside down and lay the rods in the two grooves there to make a benchstone.
Click to expand...

This is true you *CAN*, but I would not buy the Sharpmaker expecting to do this and have it work very well for all knives. This is mainly because the rods lay near the center of the base instead of near its edges.

To clarify, it will work fine for large knives with large ricassos or knives with an offset handle, but knives with a smaller ricasso and a handle in line with the edge (like every folder I own) the handle will contact the plastic base and prevent you from sharpening the inner portion of the blade because the stones rest in the *middle* of the inverted Shaprmaker base.

For this reason I never use the Sharpmaker base inverted...I find it easier to hole the rod in one hand and sharpen freehand, if you can believe that.

Sharpmaker is very nice for touchups and maintenance sharpening.
 
I think I am going to buy 2 stones to start. Which one of these should I get?

1) DMT coarse dia-sharp/Spyderco fine
2) DMT coarse dia-sharp/DMT extra fine
3) DMT coarse dia-sharp/DMT fine
4) DMT fine dia-sharp/DMT exra fine
 
joepa150 said:
I think I am going to buy 2 stones to start. Which one of these should I get?

1) DMT coarse dia-sharp/Spyderco fine
2) DMT coarse dia-sharp/DMT extra fine
3) DMT coarse dia-sharp/DMT fine
4) DMT fine dia-sharp/DMT exra fine
Click to expand...
If you truly want to go out with diamonds free handing, at the littles cost.
GO with this.
http://theconsumerlink.com/DiamondMachiningTechnology/detail/TCL+WM8FC/0
Heres the cheapest I found it without the base
http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store_detail.html?s=DMTWM8FC
With the base
http://www.amazon.com/DMT-WM8FC-8-Inch-DuoSharpplus-without/dp/B0001408UC
 
stephen g said:
I've heard you can use the Sharpmaker as a benchstone by sticking the rods in the bottom. I'm sure someone else will chime in and help me out with my description, I've never used one, and I can't think of the words right now.
Click to expand...

It doesn't work too well for some knives. There is barely a few mm of clearance between the surface of the stones and the base of the Sharpmaker when you do that, so you won't be able to sharpen the edge toward the kick of... I think most Spyderco knives.

Get yourself some 11.5" x 2.5" DMT Diasharp stones once and be done with it. Then if you want the Sharpmaker for touch-ups or something, get that too.
 
The 8in Duo Sharp would give you a longer draw which is more noob friendly, and it requires less cleaning as it uses an intrerupted surface meaning it'll cut faster longer :P.
The Duo sharp is 2 5/8 inches wide meaning you can sharpen larger knives.
The dia sharp is 2 inches wide.
If you want to sharpen recurves forgot about all of these, and get a lansky or a DMT wave.
Or get all of them ;)
 
What exactly are you going to be doing with the stones....are you going to be doing a lot of re-profiling, or are they going to be used to simply touch up your blades after they're used?
 
britchcock said:
What exactly are you going to be doing with the stones....are you going to be doing a lot of re-profiling, or are they going to be used to simply touch up your blades after they're used?
Click to expand...

Just retouching mostly. I do have a couple of really dull kitchen knives I may need something coarse for. When looking at the kitchen blades closely, they seem to have chips out of them (look like a saw up close). They are the high end Henckels. That is why I was thinking of the DMT Coarse.
 
Naniwa and Norton don't occupy the same galaxy. Naniwa's Chocera stones are like a Koenigsegg CCXR vs the Norton stone's Ford Focus. Synthetic stones don't get much better than the Choceras, and from what I've been told the Superstones aren't far behind (note: I've only used the Choceras).
 
Rob Babcock said:
Naniwa and Norton don't occupy the same galaxy. Naniwa's Chocera stones are like a Koenigsegg CCXR vs the Norton stone's Ford Focus. Synthetic stones don't get much better than the Choceras, and from what I've been told the Superstones aren't far behind (note: I've only used the Choceras).
Click to expand...

Have you heard much about the standard Naniwa stones?
 
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