Going dry, or at least trying to.

Y

yam

Joined
Sep 17, 2003
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Been sharpening free hand for about a year now or so on a Norton Tri-Stone setup. Would like to go dry. Thinking about going this direction:

DMT DiaSharp (continuous, not polka dot) in either the 8" long or 11.5" long in Coarse, Fine, Extra Fine and making a strop.

Comments, suggestions, alternatives?

Was going to get the Spyderco ceramic stones in medium and fine until OneStopKnifeShop told me they could no longer get them.
 
yam said:
Been sharpening free hand for about a year now or so on a Norton Tri-Stone setup. Would like to go dry. Thinking about going this direction:

DMT DiaSharp (continuous, not polka dot) in either the 8" long or 11.5" long in Coarse, Fine, Extra Fine and making a strop.

Comments, suggestions, alternatives?

Was going to get the Spyderco ceramic stones in medium and fine until OneStopKnifeShop told me they could no longer get them.
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Sounds good except a few suggestions:
Extra fine diamond stones aren't all that fine, so maybe skip one of those steps. Can you get EXTRA course? Those are nice when you can get 'em.

On my benchstones, I've got an Extra coarse one and an extra fine one. I do that and then strop. That's plenty unless you want to polish the edge more then maybe step to a fine non-diamond before the strop.

There's no point in using oil. Wash the diamond ones after you use them with dish soap and a vegetable brush.

Also, don't press too hard or you'll knock all the diamonds off your stones. Light pressure cuts the same as heavy pressure (even if it doesn't FEEL like it).

If I could do it over again, I would get the extra coarse in the extra large 11" because that's the one you really need to work hard with, and go smaller (cheaper) with the others.
 
fulloflead,

Sounds like the fine diamond stones are more like a medium, 600 grit? And the extra fine are more like a fine, something like 1200 grit? I have read someone saying that eventually the fine wears down to close to being an extra fine. Man, it's kind of confusing. I mean, I think my Norton fine India is something like 240-280 grit. My other two Norton crystolon stones do a decent job of removing material. That's not done very often (luckily). Not sure what my big ceramic rod is.

I really just want to be able to touch my knives up simply and easily freehand. Maybe since the Spyderco stones are actually available I should still consider them. Was looking at the medium and fine, then strop or not. I don't mind a toothier edge.
OR
Get a DMT DiaSharp fine and then strop.
 
yam said:
fulloflead,

Sounds like the fine diamond stones are more like a medium, 600 grit? And the extra fine are more like a fine, something like 1200 grit?
Click to expand...

Yeah, that sounds about right.


yam said:
I have read someone saying that eventually the fine wears down to close to being an extra fine.
Click to expand...

This has happened to my lansky and gatco stones, but I was pushing pretty hard on those. It hasn't happened to my DMT stones yet, but I use light pressure; just about the weight of my hands. I have the DMT stones that have the diamonds on the all-metal block - they're kinda thin and have little rubber stick-on feet. I really like 'em so far.

.
 
fulloflead said:
I have the DMT stones that have the diamonds on the all-metal block - they're kinda thin and have little rubber stick-on feet. I really like 'em so far.
Click to expand...

Yep, the DiaSharps are the continuous ones I was looking at too. Do you think that model in fine grit is a decent enough finish edge even without stropping?
 
yam said:
Yep, the DiaSharps are the continuous ones I was looking at too. Do you think that model in fine grit is a decent enough finish edge even without stropping?
Click to expand...

I have the extra fine and, yes, I think it will just barely shave before the strop. I wouldn't even call it toothy. If you like a toothy edge, the regular fine might be the ticket.:thumbup:

.
 
Thanks fulloflead, you have been very helpful. Think I'll go for the 8" DMT DiaSharp in fine and make myself a strop. Nice and simple, exactly how I like things. :thumbup:
 
I'd get the coarse one too If i was you. Your going to need to reset an edge at some time and coarse will move things along easier. Coarse fine and a strop should have you set for anything.
 
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