favorite diamond steel/rod?

RIP Dequincy Jynxie

RIP Dequincy Jynxie

Joined
Jun 10, 2020
Messages
675
I've been trying to find a nice diamond steeling rod without much success. not looking for a pocket hone or flat stone.

I'd really like something in DMT's medium and fine micron/grit ranges, but most diamond rods I find don't really specify.

well, and I'm particularly looking for an oval steeling rod, although a quality round rod would do. seems like DMT doesn't make an oval steeling rod anymore?! :(

I nearly bought the ruby sintered rod Boker does, but decided to hold off.

what are your favorite diamond steeling (oval) rods?

or any non-diamond steeling rod (not pocket hone) able to bring back a moderately rolled edge and easily touch up something with harder carbides (s90v, 3v, etc) without too much effort?
 
Hard to believe that an F. Dick would not be your best choice here. Although I admit I believe that about any question about steels.

The DICK DIAMANT is oval and looks really nice.
 
DMT does have round rods in Fine (model DS2F - 600 mesh) and EF (model DS2E - 1200 mesh), at least. If you know you already like DMT's products, I'd give those first consideration. I've always preferred DMT over other brands, because they finish more cleanly with minimal burring and little/no additional cleaning up of the edge.

I do have an oval diamond rod from EZE-Lap. It does OK, but as I mentioned above, I've also noticed it tends to burr the edge a bit more than I like. After using it, I almost always take the edge to a DMT hone for finishing up.

I also have an EZE-Lap model M pocket diamond rod (round). It's the two-piece one that unscrews and stores inside it's own brass handle. The one I have was purchased 25-30+ years ago. I don't know if the current generation of the same model performs to same level. I've liked mine a lot, as compared to the oval rod mentioned above.

Edited to add:
Simple light touch-ups with a diamond rod take next to nothing in terms of the number of passes needed. And they always do better at a very, very light touch. If EDC blades are mainly the ones being touched up, even a moderately small one like the EZE-Lap model M I mentioned above can be enough to do the job easily.
 
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look at farrier diamond tools. been using the same ones for 20+ years. or perhaps i should say look for diamond tools that farriers use.
 
my unreasonable preference is for diamond hones that do not involve mesh, so I'll look into the DMT mesh rods again. they do certainly work well for fine control of steel removal

thanks for the tips on eze-lap and farrier diamond tools

anyone have experience with fällkniven's oval/round diamond steeling rods? as an American I'm a sucker for all things Swedish...

I was surprised how well the little pocket hone that came w/ my A1pro worked, although I've heard rumors about the diamond side wearing out quickly?
 
The 'mesh' ratings from DMT are just one way they grade them. To their credit, their ratings also translate to more recognizable values.

Per DMT's own specs:

325 mesh = 'Coarse' = 45 micron
600 mesh = 'Fine' = 25 micron
1200 mesh = 'Extra-Fine' = 9 micron
 
for whatever reason, I've had more luck with something like the fällkniven DC4 than a comparable DMT diafold grit/micron range.

I had chalked it up to the "mesh" surface of the diafold vs the seeming more uniform spread of diamonds on the DC4, but perhaps that isn't why?

it's weird, because the DMT little dia-sharps credit card hones also have produced better results for me than the diafold (again, at the same grit/microns)...

maybe I just suck at using the diafold!!!
 
M B said:
for whatever reason, I've had more luck with something like the fällkniven DC4 than a comparable DMT diafold grit/micron range.

I had chalked it up to the "mesh" surface of the diafold vs the seeming more uniform spread of diamonds on the DC4, but perhaps that isn't why?

it's weird, because the DMT little dia-sharps wallet hones also have produced better results for me than the diafold (again, at the same grit/microns)...

maybe I just suck at using the diafold!!!
Click to expand...

The 'mesh' rating is a reference to something like a sieve or strainer used as a means to segregate different sizes of grit particles. So, the higher the 'mesh' rating, the smaller the gaps in the sieve and therefore the finer the particles (grit) that would fit through it.

The DMT hones with the 'holes' (or 'dots') in the surface are called 'interrupted surface' hones. They do feel different in use, but can work very well once you get used to them. The 'Dia-Sharp' line of hones from DMT are called 'continuous surface' hones, in contrast to the interrupted surface hones.
 
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I need more practice using stones with their interrupted surface business.... DMT hones are thus far my favorite diamonds.

only thing preventing me from getting more fällknivens at the moment is the rumors about their diamond hones wearing out quickly.

but right now I'm finding the steeling rods to be the most practical for edge maintenance. and there is a tormek for those edges that are totally trashed.

just need a diamond steeling rod for dealing with harder carbides

I appreciate everyone's responses!
 
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