How well do Spyderco diamond rods work?

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WillieD

Joined
Jan 22, 2004
Messages
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I usually use my DMT diamond aligner kit to get at an angle that I can just sharpen on my Sharpmaker. How ell do the diamond Spyderco rods work compared to the DMT's? This way, the angle would be the exact thing I'm looking for if I can just reprofile on the Sharpmaker. I'm getting into traditionals and the small blades are a pain sometimes to get into the aligner without just hanging them out at the edge. Even then, sometimes the stones will ride on top of the plastic clamp.
 
The diamond rods work great, just use light pressure/touch, otherwise you can quickly render the diamond stones a little less effective. I use them just as you plan, simply for re-profile, or to remove nicks and burrs quickly. Down side is they are pricey, a good cheap trick to use is wrap your standard medium stones with sandpaper, using heavy duty binder clips to hold the sandpaper on the stones.
 
Sharpmaker diamond rods are fantastic and *very* coarse, which is good for reprofiling. Go fast and with a light touch back and forth if you've got the motion down already.
 
chogue1980 said:
I use them just as you plan, simply for re-profile, or to remove nicks and burrs quickly. Down side is they are pricey, a good cheap trick to use is wrap your standard medium stones with sandpaper, using heavy duty binder clips to hold the sandpaper on the stones.
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I haven't used my Sharpmaker yet, got it last week. Don't you use the diamond rods also for D2 and Niolox? I know a whetstone can be used but I don't have one of those, I figured the SM would be a better overalll investment.
 
MrPocketsOfSteel said:
What does this accomplish and what is it for? Excuse the newbie SM questions please. :)
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It can used as an alternative, or in addition to, the diamond rods. Its just a way of being able to use the sharpmakers rods with a rougher grit to help expedite reprofiling an edge.

It works well, and can save you quite a bit of money over buying the diamond rods. Give it a shot!

You can also clamp other stones to the rods thereby maintaing the sharpmaker's angle while using a different grit. I've done this with my DMT, Lansky, and Gatco stones.
 
fatheadhill said:
It can used as an alternative, or in addition to, the diamond rods. Its just a way of being able to use the sharpmakers rods with a rougher grit to help expedite reprofiling an edge.

It works well, and can save you quite a bit of money over buying the diamond rods. Give it a shot!

You can also clamp other stones to the rods thereby maintaing the sharpmaker's angle while using a different grit. I've done this with my DMT, Lansky, and Gatco stones.
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Sorry it took so long to respond back. Thanks for the tip, that sounds pretty smart....I can definitely see someone doing that. Thanks again.:thumbup:
 
chogue1980 said:
The diamond rods work great, just use light pressure/touch, otherwise you can quickly render the diamond stones a little less effective. I use them just as you plan, simply for re-profile, or to remove nicks and burrs quickly. Down side is they are pricey, a good cheap trick to use is wrap your standard medium stones with sandpaper, using heavy duty binder clips to hold the sandpaper on the stones.
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Question. I bought the extra diamond rods to sharpen D2 and Niolox. Are you saying there are other ways to sharpen those? In the little book with the T3 from DPx it says to only sharpen (just like their HEST also) using either a whetstone or diamond rods. FWIW - I also picked up an extra Ultra Fine rod. Could just that be used to touch up either a factory sharp edge of D2 or Niolox? TIA!
 
Go slow. Consistent angle and keeping your hand steady is the most important thing. Speed will come in time.
 
Diamond rods are really for shaping the edge and removing enough metal to fix a chip or a flat spot. Afterwards, every steel regardless of type still need to go through the ceramic rods. I don't have experience with Niolox but D2 has been around for a long time. They seem pretty similar so I imagine the sharpening is pretty similar too.

Most factory edges are pretty coarse compared to what the Fine rods produce so going to UF to refine the entire edge is premature and will take forever.
 
dsmegst said:
Diamond rods are really for shaping the edge and removing enough metal to fix a chip or a flat spot. Afterwards, every steel regardless of type still need to go through the ceramic rods. I don't have experience with Niolox but D2 has been around for a long time. They seem pretty similar so I imagine the sharpening is pretty similar too.

Most factory edges are pretty coarse compared to what the Fine rods produce so going to UF to refine the entire edge is premature and will take forever.
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I take it then that you're saying to treat the D2 and Niolox<--I'll do some research on this one though * as the same as any other? If so, no problem.
 
I'm really thinking of getting a pair of these now. I got a GEC 72 that came fairly dull and needs reprofiled. I have Congress ruby rods that I use in the Sharpmaker, but they sit at a wider angle than the Spydie rods. I tried using the rubys in the 30 slots and then going with the ceramics in the 40 slots, but am still not happy. My DMT aligner clamp doesn't go on the blade right. The spine is ground so that the clamp wiggles on the blade. I wouldn't get a consistent angle that way. The diamond rods would be perfect for this knife... but spendy.
 
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