Field Sharpening Opinions - DMT Diafold?

I generally carry the red/green DMT Duofold, great for keeping blades sharp. If you're going to dull them down before resharpening (infidel!) you might want the blue/red one.

 

I like to think ahead......

Get the C/F to start and if you need finer get the EF/EEF or you could start in reverse with the finer stones then pick up the coarser.

 

I'd say go for course/fine if you want the duofold.

That gives you the option to touch up a blade after light use or take a small nick out of a blade with the course, and still get it back to a decent sharpness.

If its the same as my dmt's the fine stone will get a blade quite sharp

 

I have taken a C/F dmt diafold with me on my trip to the west highland way.

My take on this: it's way better to go with the C/F. When you really hurt your blade, you can restore it with this one on Coarse and still get it very sharp with the Fine side (shaving). For touchups, Fine is more than enough in the field.

WIth F/EF your options are more limited and you really do not need EF except to satisfy a sick sharpness craving You won't need to do surgery with your scalpel in the field.

so, I totally agree with tatteredmidnight.

 

+1 :thumbup:

In a survival situation (should it come up), you're not going to care if the edge is polished & scalpel-sharp. You're only going to want a blade that works RIGHT NOW. The Coarse/Fine stone will get it there faster, whether it just needs a touch-up (Fine), or to fix a damaged edge (Coarse). Even if you buy both eventually, get the Coarse/Fine FIRST.

 

Not wanting to start another thread but what are your opinions on the Lansky Diamond Paddles? I bought the 'fine' blue one and it is not nearly as fine as I thought so it is a good thing for me as I am going to use it as a field sharpener.

 

+another1
You can definitely get a shaving edge with the fine side, and I can't imagine that's not sharp enough. The coarse side will take out small chips without too much trouble, or fix a rolled edge in a hurry.

 

I carry a pair in my back pocket all the time (my work is really hard on my knives), a XC/C and a F/XF. If I were going to carry only one Diafold, it would be the C/F blue/red model (which I have but don't carry). The "Coarse" side, which I always considered a medium grit, is decent for repairing accidental damage and establishing a utility edge. The Fine side will easily acheive hair-popping sharpness if you have the skill to sharpen freehand. Unless you put a microbevel on your scandi grind, you are looking at a long road to sharpen even a slightly dulled blade on the fine/x-fine, especially once the new is worn off them.

 

Yet another vote for the Coarse/Fine. I carry either that or a Spyderco Double-Stuff when I think the EDCs will be worn down.