Granfors Bruks Sharpening Stones, Ceramic or Traditional?

Ballenxj

Ballenxj

Joined
Oct 30, 2010
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2,109
Hi Folks, I have been looking at picking up a sharpening stone to go into my backpack for touching up my Granfors Bruks Wildlife Hatchet while out. I note they have two different compositions, stone (4033), and ceramic (4034). Which one do you folks recommend as being better, longer lasting, and still sharpen well?
I don't want to have to get both as they are a bit pricey. ($49. EA.)
Maybe you guys have a better option?
Thanks in advance. :)
-Bruce
 
I really like to have this in my pack the best:

10077931.jpg


It's so versatile that I don't carry any other sharpener in the field regardless of which knives/hatchets/axes I'm carrying. I think you can land them for 15 bucks or so.
 
M3mphis said:
I really like to have this in my pack the best:

10077931.jpg


It's so versatile that I don't carry any other sharpener in the field regardless of which knives/hatchets/axes I'm carrying. I think you can land them for 15 bucks or so.
Click to expand...

I have that same sharpener, works great. I've been using a Lansky Puck recently which is also pretty effective and can be had for eight bucks or so. I prefer the diamond sharpener though, and it's also much lighter than the stone. Weight isn't a big concern for me but I know how important it is for backpackers and trekkers. I'd like to see a side by side comparison between the Gransfors stone and a Lansky or Norton. It doesn't seem like a Gransfors could be much better but maybe they are.
 
I use a Gransfors stone - I would say it is top notch. I have not used a lansky puck, I would think the performance would be similar though. Diamond files are tough to beat.
 
gransfors traditional stone is awfully nice. can be used dry and is really smooth to use and handle.
 
M3mphis said:
I really like to have this in my pack the best:

10077931.jpg


It's so versatile that I don't carry any other sharpener in the field regardless of which knives/hatchets/axes I'm carrying. I think you can land them for 15 bucks or so.
Click to expand...

Is it coarse enough to take a serious nick out of an edge or just for touch up? What grits are the 2 sides equivalent to?

In the field I want something that will quickly restore a blade to usability. I can fix it right when I get back home.
 
Ballenxj said:
Would you say it was worth the money? Which one do you have, the regular stone, or the ceramic? (they make two) :)
-Bruce
Click to expand...

The stone. I broke one already by dropping it on the concrete - however I find it still usable and works well on hatchets and now knives - you should use my kitchen knives now. Got the second stone in and it is great too. I have other stones - such as a arkansas and a couple other stones - made in italy - not round but your regular square stones, and I will say I like the gransfors better overall. Sometimes depending on the metal quality and the amount needed to take off, thin up, etc, I will use the arkansas, but I like the gransfors a lot. But thats just me.
 
Operator1975 said:
The stone. I broke one already by dropping it on the concrete - however I find it still usable and works well on hatchets and now knives - you should use my kitchen knives now. Got the second stone in and it is great too. I have other stones - such as a arkansas and a couple other stones - made in italy - not round but your regular square stones, and I will say I like the gransfors better overall. Sometimes depending on the metal quality and the amount needed to take off, thin up, etc, I will use the arkansas, but I like the gransfors a lot. But thats just me.
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good to hear operator...
ive been thinking about the GB puck... maybe in the spring;)
 
P1020788.jpg

Mine is Norton also. Comes in little pouch with belt loop. Not called a puck here but I can see why it's called that. I love that little stone. It cost NZ$20 about US$16.70. So much more expensive here.

During my young days in the bush I can remember at lunch time we 'then' young guys would play cards or wrestle...but the sensible 'Good old Boys' would just sit in the shade, smoke or tell yarns and gently hone their axes with their wet-stone. I look back now and realize why we had to work so hard to keep up with these Old-Timers.



regards...Frank
 
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Square_peg said:
Is it coarse enough to take a serious nick out of an edge or just for touch up? What grits are the 2 sides equivalent to?

In the field I want something that will quickly restore a blade to usability. I can fix it right when I get back home.
Click to expand...

I believe the grits are 325/750. You can't get to crazy with that. I've been on the lookout for a good quality, small single cut bastard file to add to my pack. Maybe I should go with a stone puck instead.
 
This is an old whetstone that used to be my father's. It's a Norton roundstone. Originally it was 5/8" thick. I carried this in my nail bags for many years. I've worn it down to just 1/4" thick. That's a stack of 3 U.S. quarters beside it.

Norton_roundstone.jpg
 
man, thats all great stuff fellows...!

frank, that is a wonderful story and it sounds like a wonderful memory... these and those are the thing that life is made of... right?

memphis, you should be able to get an 8" basterd file at your local saw shop... those work well IMO...

pegs, its none of my business, but i would save a little of that 'puck' for memories... if it were mine:)
 
I use a bunch of different honing tools now and use Wahita Arkansas stone (heavy work); Black Arkansas (fine work), dmt sharpeners course through extra fine. The DMT's are new to me (recommended by Nick on here) but I'm liking them a lot.

For a honing puck though, the Norton one does just fine for me.

memphis, i really like Pfred files. I suppose a file is a file as well but I really have good luck with these. http://www.baileysonline.com/itemdetail.asp?item=15110&catID=
 
Operator1975 said:
For files, I have not found one that beats my assorted STIHL files - I am very happy with them.
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actually, I think that Stihl files are Pferd files. at least I had been told that at a Stihl shop in the past. I do find the little file assortment that Stihl sells to be quite handy. don't plan on using the chainsaw this year, though, so I guess I won't be needing all those files in the field....
 
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