Good whetstone kits

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Marktheknight

Joined
Sep 23, 2018
Messages
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Im a pretty decent sharpener with my dmt diamond stones and strop but I want to take my skills to the next level. I’ve done some reserch but I want to know what y’all use to get a mirror polish and a razor edge. I’d like a good high quality kit that I wouldn’t have to buy many add ons. Thank y’all in advance
 
You’re gonna get asked what you are sharpening...

I’m curious in the answer myself because I’m planning on upgrading my stones, no super steels so looking at naniwa’s professional range (previously chorsera) particularly the 800 and 3000 - obviously need to go higher than that for a mirror finish but the reading I’ve done they come highly recommended
 
I never coveted a mirror edge even though I get one easily with paper wheels. Hand sharpening DMT 325 to strop is sharp enough to shave arm hair. For my use? That's definitely good enough. I have dmts up to 8 k equivalent and don't find a need to use them.
 
Yeah, I'd say get the DMT EEF then hit the Spyderco UF afterwards. The Spyderco UF will produce a really nice mirror, and it will also produce a hair whittling edge
 
Craig James said:
You’re gonna get asked what you are sharpening...

I’m curious in the answer myself because I’m planning on upgrading my stones, no super steels so looking at naniwa’s professional range (previously chorsera) particularly the 800 and 3000 - obviously need to go higher than that for a mirror finish but the reading I’ve done they come highly recommended
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I have mainly low end steels for beaters( 420 440 aus 8) but I have a tops bob in 154cm and a recently purchased bugout in s30v
 
Beansandcarrots said:
Yeah, I'd say get the DMT EEF then hit the Spyderco UF afterwards. The Spyderco UF will produce a really nice mirror, and it will also produce a hair whittling edge
Click to expand...
I have the EEF but all my dmts are the small folders that’s why I’m looking for bench top stones I’ll look into the spyderco thank you
 
Marktheknight said:
I have the EEF but all my dmts are the small folders that’s why I’m looking for bench top stones I’ll look into the spyderco thank you
Click to expand...

Understood. Yeah, I would say grab the EC, EF, EEF, and Spyderco UF benchstones. If that is all in the budget, you will be amped about the capacity of your system. You'll basically have access to every major edge type from coarse to mirrored, and they don't require any maintenance, and they'll sharpen any steel without giving you cause for concern (as debatable as that topic of discussion is). If that doesn't fit the budget, then there are a ton of budget options to discuss as well.

One thing about that UF though: you have to set yourself up properly with it. It removes so little metal that it is easy to have scratches left behind. I found the Spyderco Fine, the DMT EEF, and the King 6k to be 3 different options that worked well for achieving an actual mirror with the Ultra Fine. I wouldn't recommend a waterstone unless you are specifically interested in them, so out of the stuff that I have tried, I'd definitely recommend you get the Spyderco Fine, or DMT EEF in order to setup for the Ultra Fine
 
There is a medium fine in the DMT line. It's a 6 micron (4k equivalent) grit that could bridge the fine(1200 grit) to the eef(8k grit) a little better. There are other choices as was mentioned. Lapping film I think would work well. I don't use it but have years ago for razors. Not sure how the alox would do with the super steels, there is diamond film as well.
 
At some point you just go to finer and finer compounds on (separate) strops. Since abrasives come in all sizes, when you choose to go to strops is up to you.
It probably helps to take smaller jumps in grit size if you want a mirror polish (ie go 1K to 3K to 5K on up instead of 1K to 5K) since you are removing the coarser scratch pattern as you go along. Just keep going finer until you get the finish you seek.
It helps that you aren't sharpening wear resistant steels, so all options are open really.
 
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