Intro to Sharpening Stones

A

ASBOB

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Feb 8, 2008
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I have always used a Spyderco Sharpmaker successfully, but I want to learn how to use sharpening stones. I have already been working on my angles with a 1095 knife and a block strop. To help with this, I am buying a couple of junk Frost Cutlery knives that are TSA confiscations. What stones should I start with? At reasonable prices, please.

My thanks for your help with a newbie question.
 
Start with what you have!

If you have the Sharpmaker, use it. Either flip the base over or use the upper storage slots as shown here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ps_ZGQEr7U
got to 6:14 in the video. It will give you a start and cost nothing beyond what you have already invested!
 
Large benchstones are a great thing to learn to use. The larger surface will make you more aware of imperfections in the blade that the skinny SM stone would have never showed you.

What stones are you thinking about?

How much do you have to spend?
 
ASBOB said:
I have always used a Spyderco Sharpmaker successfully, but I want to learn how to use sharpening stones. I have already been working on my angles with a 1095 knife and a block strop. To help with this, I am buying a couple of junk Frost Cutlery knives that are TSA confiscations. What stones should I start with? At reasonable prices, please.
My thanks for your help with a newbie question.
Click to expand...

Not saying you have to buy a $200 stone but if I were you I would steer clear of the real cheapo stones since they are mostly fit to sharpen user knives that hold no collector value ( chefs knives , farm implements etc).

Try and look at yard sales or swap meets for older stones , IMO. All except two of my stones are older than me and work wonderfully.

As far as types I think good soft and hard Arkansas stones is the place to start.

Tostig
 
I figure to spend $50-$100 for a couple of stones. What are some good places to buy decent stones. I looked at a couple of sites (knifecenter, hallsproedge, sharpening supplies.com), but I have no idea of what is good or bad quality.
 
On Knifecenter, Knifeworks, or Cutlery Shoppe, you can get some DMT 6x2 stones for ~$23 each. All you really need is an XC, F, and EF (or maybe you can substitute this with an EEF, but that only comes in 8x3 and is ~$70.)

If you want 8x3 stones (excluding the XXC and EEF, which are more expensive), those are ~$45 each, and 11.5 x 2.5 stones are ~$55 each.
 
Get a DMT Coarse, Fine, and X-Fine. I am pretty sure you can get all three for under $100 and you will be set. Learn to sharpen there then move on to waterstones.
 
Asbob, Norton twin grit coarse/fine, silicon carbide or aluminum oxide stones in 2x6" or
2X8" size is a great place to start . Which is only a 20$ stone and they have strops available . John, at sharpeningsupplies.com can walk you thru it and answer your questions . I'd just learn the basics for now . DM
 
I have to recommend David at naturalwhetstone.com . I purchased my most recent benchstones (Arkansas stones, I dont use that diamond stuff) from them and they're great to work with and the stones couldnt be any better. He even modified one of my items to what I needed instead of what was offered and he was happy to do so. Very good prices I might add.
 
Get a cheap Arkansas stone. Use it to learn sharpening on stones. Then go out and buy some nice waterstones.

Im not a waterstone-guru but Ive hear good things about Aoto Blue Montain natural stones, norton 4k/8k, and Naniwas
 
crbauhs said:
Get a DMT Coarse, Fine, and X-Fine. I am pretty sure you can get all three for under $100 and you will be set. Learn to sharpen there then move on to waterstones.
Click to expand...

+1.

All I use for sharpening are the DMT diasharp coarse (in the largest size) and the duosharp fine / x fine.

I will wear out 3 of the duosharp fine / x fine before I need a new coarse.

If you are just learning, you will learn faster with diamond stones because they cut faster.
 
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