Hand Held Diamond Hones

[T. Erdelyi]

How many of you guys use your hand held Diamond Hones,(especially the DMT's) by holding the knife in one hand and drawing the hone across the blade, or even work the hone in a back and forth sawing motion, or a circular motion.

I've done this with some amount of success till I get a wire edge on one side than I do the same until I get a wire edge on the other side, than I go with the more conventional, stroking the knife across the hone to complete the process.

I can't see where this method would be worse on the blade,(someone correct me if I'm wrong), the only possible problem I forsee is that if you are not carful you might tend to roll your wrist as you move the hone back and forth, keeping you from getting a straight bevel.

With practice this should not be a problem.

Anyone have an opinion?

 

[John Watson]

Good thread. I have always rather use a DMT type file on my knives than a sharpening block style. I guess it was from growing up using files on the cheap carbon steel knives that I could afford at the time and I got used to sharpening that way. While I can sharpen free hand on a block style stone, I still rather the DMT.

I usually do the same as you. Sharpen each side until I have a wire edge then turn over until that side produces a wire edge. Then I lightly pass the blade over the sharpener like you would a stone.

 

[Danbo]

I love to sharpen knives, and often(ok, everyday)sit in front of the TV and sharpen my knives. I use many methods, but mainly I use the 6" versions of the various grit DMT stones. Sometimes, I use the diamond version of the Lansky clamp sharpener, but usually it is the stone in the hand method. I generally just slice an imaginary slice off of the stone and do the same on the other side. Sometimes, I do one stroke on each side, sometimes 3-4 strokes. But, I always use the same number of strokes on each side of the blade. Eventually, I end up with the green DMT stone, which does little other than polish. I dont see how a finer edge is needed than this. For the final edge, I usually strop on the backside of an old leather belt. Hair poppin sharp!

 

[K man]

I use it because of a few pros:
1. You can do any knife on it, even a large one like my Buck nighthawk.
2. It is very fast.
3. It can easily be used for touchups while camping or hunting.

I really love this method. I usually use circular motions with the4 hone, like on my lansky.