Recommendation? Do I need a set of stones?

I just figured out what your measurement was. As far as I understand, you checked the flat of the knife and your phone read -18, then you set -8 (only 10 degrees up). That would be an insanely low 10 degree sharpening per side. If you wanted a 20 degree per side edge, you would have needed to go to +2 degrees on your phone reading. You eventually sharpened at -2, which according to what I reckon, was 16 degrees per side...a very ambitious angle for a big blade like that, which probably has about a 25 degree factory angle.

But again, try measuring by zeroing first on the clamp holder and then measuring on the stone holder. If you can zero your phone.

And remember, a 20 degree edge we normally talk about, is 20 degrees per side (so that would be 40 degrees INCLUSIVE). I think you tried 20 degrees inclusive, which is a 10 degree sharpening angle.
 
I know it is easy / easier to just buy diamonds, inexpensive or quality, but...
I keep reading about the utility of non-diamond stones, which may run from pre-history tool users, without language- the big "leap"... in the Oldawan period, and certainly after the fall from Genesis 4:20 on, which reports our human enterprises.
Non-diamond stone utility is still expressed several ways, interestingly by a RPSH kit from Ron at KME, and set of stones recommended to me by
by Ben- Baryonyx Knife, for my older kids.
Ron's "RPSH" = REPAIR PROFILE SHARPEN HONE kit = XXC diamond, ceramic-ALO and HARD Arkansas stones;
Ben's recommended set for me: EC-Manticore-SIC, MC-American Mut -MIX, MF-Arctic Fox-ALO, and Black Magic Plate- sintered SIC.
 
A BKF scrub and properly setting the angle led to a definite change in feel. The 200 grit still does not seem as aggressive as it should be, but I got a burr. I’ll do some more testing. For tonight, I have some basketball to watch.
 
The first full test, post-BKF-cleaning of the stones is complete. I took one of my yard sale finds, a kitchen knife made of some indeterminate grade of stainless, sawed at a brick until it would no longer cut paper, and went to work. I used a 20* (40* inclusive) angle. My stones may be worn, but they're not ruined. I had already ordered some replacement stones, including an 80 grit ruby stone and a couple of Borides. I'll probably keep the ruby stone, just out of curiosity, but I may well return the others. This Hapstone thing is no joke. I went slowly, so it took about an hour, but it's well into "usefully sharp" territory, Slicing paper is easy, and almost silent. As far as "shaving sharp," it's there, but just barely, to be honest.
 
Spats McGee said:
The first full test, post-BKF-cleaning of the stones is complete. I took one of my yard sale finds, a kitchen knife made of some indeterminate grade of stainless, sawed at a brick until it would no longer cut paper, and went to work. I used a 20* (40* inclusive) angle. My stones may be worn, but they're not ruined. I had already ordered some replacement stones, including an 80 grit ruby stone and a couple of Borides. I'll probably keep the ruby stone, just out of curiosity, but I may well return the others. This Hapstone thing is no joke. I went slowly, so it took about an hour, but it's well into "usefully sharp" territory, Slicing paper is easy, and almost silent. As far as "shaving sharp," it's there, but just barely, to be honest.
Click to expand...
Excellent. That slow progress is very much the sign of a worn-out diamond plate. Sorry for sending you down a wrong path before, BTW. I had not imagined that you had plates rather than stones. Also, "shaving sharp" is especially difficult with plates, which tend to make deepish scratches. Nice for toothy knife edges that will cut things, not so nice for the sort of smooth, clean edge you want on a razor.

Don't toss those plates when the replacements come. Worn-out diamond plates are wonderful for surface conditioning and flattening of stones, and for making slurry if you want slurry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top