High Grit Stone - Waste of $

S

sovernstrength

Joined
Sep 27, 2015
Messages
15
I'd like to present an argument here that high grit stones, water stones, Arkansas, etc are a waste of money. I question someone who spends $200 on a jap water stone, at say, 6000 grit.

Personally, I think any stone above 2000 is a waste. And 2000 is pushing it... I came to this conclusion when I let the Lansky System in the box for a change and broke out the old 400? Grit Smith stone I have. I started putting an edge on the D2 of my Bravo 1. After the 400, I went to a (800?) Cheap little Arkansas stone. Stropped the blade on my 2 strops. I found the edge was very sharp and polished, like you would expect from a strop.

Furthermore, have used my 400 course edge on a strop and brought it to a clean polished edge.

Why would anyone buy a 200 dollar stone at a high grit when you can buy a strop? Sure, one can aruge that a high grit stone with truly give you a mirror edge.

Unless I am missing a crucial detail, it seems to be only a matter of preference.
 
Why would anyone want to buy a Sebenza or a Hinderer when all they do is cut and slice like other knives do?
 
Different things for different tasks. strops are good, but not the end all and be all of sharpening. There are cases where a stopped edge will not be what the user wants, as the stropping creates a higher angle on the final edge.
 
I only use an 8000 grit stone for my work knives. I must be doing it wrong.

But I do agree, the AVERAGE person doesn't need anything above 2000 grit.
 
I just think 99% of blades do not require a ridiculous $200 2000+ grit stone when I can shave all day with a couple sweeps on the strop. My finest stone before strop is 1000 grit ceramic.

I just can't see any justification in a high grit stone.
 
Your use of "Grit" is very vague to say the least.

I would even guess to say that the amount of stones you have tested is minimal compared to the market offerings. I would also guess you have not used a multitude of cutting instruments, if you have never sharpened a Straight Razor, Japanese Usuba or Yanagi, Chisels, or a mandolin blade you might not see the need for a very fine stone.

Having an opinion is what makes this site tick, but this seems more like a rant on something you just don't understand because you lack experience.

FYI, my last 6000 grit stone purchased was a Suehiro Cerax (a top of the line stone) and it only cost $80
 
Well that's like a guy in a corolla pointing at the lambo saying speed limit is 65.
 
Another thing to consider, 2000 ANSI is about 6k JIS.

I have to admit $200 for a stone is high, but for a good one $100 is doable.
 
I see a genuine confused inquiry, not a rant.

However, Jason and Heavy, as well as others, are a first hand testament to the reason to use high end stones.

Necessary ? No.
I could keep my knives shaving sharp with things i find laying around. But its nice to have dedicated stuff to make it easier and more enjoyable. Its up to the user to decide where the diminishing returns start for them.

Just like with knives. Is the Gold Class Benchmade limited run really necessary when one could buy a Smith and Wesson ?
 
I see this entirely as a matter of personal preference.

MY personal preference (because I enjoy working with tools/guns/knives) is to take the edges to the finest stone (10000) or micron spray (.025) that I have on hand. That's just the way I roll. Doesn't make me right, or wrong.
 
sovern, I think you have a point. You really don't need to spend 200$ for any stone just to keep your knife sharp. When you can keep it sharp by more economical methods. And most likely we may not could tell the difference between the two edges. They'll both cut and shave hair I'm sure. If you're going to use it for a straight razor I still think it's spending too much. As I get mine sharp on my ceramic and strop. So, it seems high to me. DM
 
I spent too much on sharpening stones. 5K Shapton Pro/Glass is my prefer last fixed-grit stone before strop. That said, my 8K;12K;16K stones are friends of my straight razors, so this relationship isn't a waste :p
 
All this is subject to your goals and uses of higher grit media. Whatever that may be. The casual hobbyist may not need to go to higher grits. Folks that sharpen a wide variety of items may need higher grit media to achieve what they or the customer wants. Nobody is right or wrong as its all subjective. Do what you like and stick with it. Cost of course is relative to what you are willing to spend to achieve a goal. Again no right or wrong. The deeper one gets into sharpening the more one spends. But being thrifty is always a consideration.
 
For knives, I don't usually take my edges above 1000 grit. However, I take my straight razors to 12k, anything less results in an uncomfortable shave. My 12k naniwa stone cost me $75 by the way, and my 3/8 combo was $80.
A good high grit stone cannot be replaced by a strop, a strop is a finisher even when used with paste.
 
on my knives I use a Belgian blue, followed by a surgical arkie, straight .razors are coti followed by an apache red and strata. if I do a bevel on the razors I use a 1k stone the coarse grits are for fixing bevels on knives. I have an old black translucent I use as well on some razors as well as knives. I don't neglect the edges so bad as to go below the bbw.
 
Great replies, gentlemen. But I will continue my argument. Some of you are presenting unrelative comparisons that couldn't possibly be further from an appropriate metaphor.

Why buy a Sebenza? Because I can't achieve the same desires with a sebenza as other knives ( 100% solid lock up every time, tolerances within a thou.) Not because I enjoy spending the money.

Secondly, about the lambo comment, lambos are superior in performance than other automobiles. You are saying that a $200 6k waterstone performs better than my strop? I beg to differ.

I'll save the last for Jason's comment, since he seems upset by my valid points. Mr. Jason, I lack no experience to sharpen a knife. But let me inform you of how I operate. I am a man of practicality. And practicality isn't purchasing an unnecessary high grit stone. I am not confused. I'm just not a hobbyist who finds the need to allocate (ridiculous in my opinion) large amounts of money to achieve an edge equal in sharpness/durability, or even less than my much more affordable strop.

A knife isn't so much a toy to me, as it is a tool. Perhaps you may consider those who are practical in their maintenance of blades.

I posted to present the argument with intentions to understand why these consumers are purchasing high grit water stones. Not much evidence has been placed in regard to the benefit. Again, I am about practicality.

Thank you all for your arguments and thoughts.
 
I would also suggest that high dollar natural japanese stones are not marketed to pocket knife sharpeners. If someone wants to use a stone for that, they can. some people do that sort of thing. So asking why someone would use a 200$ stone to sharpen their EDC is like asking why someone drives to work everyday in an Austin Martin.

If you are trying to get a bunch of agreement, you won't find it here. This bunch of mutts can be the most contrary and argumentative devils advocates you'll find nearly anywhere. However its where you find the best info is when there is no echo chamber. Don't get upset if someone calls you on something, its your knives, your pockets and your dollars, do what you like. But when you roll in with the start that you did, you'll get some backlash. You have to really watch your tone here, remember that words don't always translate to text, and a lot of members are from the world over, lovely folks, but some of them handle their blades better than their english.

We like having new folks here, but it aint reddit here. If that's your background, sit back and read a bit, this town has different rules.

I'm wondering with the way I've seen a few guys race in here over the past couple of weeks if that's whats going on, or if its just one of those things you only notice once you see one.
 
Thanks for your reply gadgetgeek! I assure you I don't come to a forum for agreements. That is about as sensible as wiping back to front. I also assure you i'm not upset and this is not the first forum I have ever posted to, believe me (nearly 30 others). But in regard to watching my tone and your comments in relation to backlash and such... I hope for arguments. That is why I took the five minutes from my day to place my argument. I am in no way intimidated by an argument, nor will I refrain from posting a controversial topic. If the members you refer to aren't capable of professionally constructing an argument, that is not my problem. I also am not new to your town, despite my membership. This has been my go-to forum for blades for a long time. A forum environment isn't new exposure for me.

The issue is that many jumped on my post without comprehending my intentions, which were not to bash high grit sharpening stones, or consumers who pay the price for that matter. My intention was to mention that a high grit stone is unnecessary, which is accompanied well by facts, and then to see if other's agree, and possibly understand why users are purchasing these stones. Unfortunately, interpretation is open to the interpreter. I broke no rules. A man who is wise enough to sharpen a tool is wise enough to construct an argument.
 
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