European sharpening products and retailers in Austria

[malaverdiere]

Hello everybody,

I posted this question in the European Community, but had no reply - perhaps the knifenuts from there don't visit that part of BladeForums?

Anyways, here is the question - I'll be in Southern Austria in a few months and I'll be on the lookout for things that help my knives be/stay sharp. Are there any European products I should be aware of?

So far, I only know of the coticules, Wüstof japanese-like waterstones, and the Dr. Henschke sharpening system. What are your favorites?

Also, do you know any local retailers there that would carry sharpening supplies?

 

[malaverdiere]

Back from my trip...

In Austria, I discovered one local company called Tyrolit that manufactures all sorts of sharpening stones. Their online presence sucks big time, so this is the best link I can share.

I purchased their '89A Kombi' stone. The best information I could find is that it is an Aluminium Oxide 120/320 combination stone. Size: 20 x 5 cm. Coarse side is orange, medium side is white. It feels flat but I also feel like it lost flatness fairly fast after only 2 uses.

The store owner told me to use it dry and wash with water after, but I haven't been impressed by the dry sharpening. It works better wet in my opinion, but it still tends to load (and stays wet seemingly forever).

 

[hein31]

I own a Tyrolit F1200 "Superglanz" 90B. It compares to a J4000 stone. It feels similar to a resin bound naniwa, but you can use any fluid of your choice. If you finish with oil, it compares more to a 6000. In austria, you will have resonably cheap access to german stones. I have several Lapport stones from Ebay in germany, i'm very pleased with a Lapport "Rekord Brocken" F150/F500 in 15x9 cm. The format is very luxurious for bevelsetting of my razors. Buying "Thüringer" finishers on Ebay is of course a gamble. What you get is mostly some kind of unknown slate of uncertain quality. A reasonable choice would be a Thüringer MST, i think the best offer for that stone is the Herbertz "Thüringer" for around 25 € if you find it. Accessories for lapping and trueing of your stones would be the usual, not austrian or region-specific ones like diamondplates or tile and SiC loose grid.