japanese water stones or spyderco bench stones?

ivan51

ivan51

Joined
Dec 9, 2003
Messages
3,132
Im kind of stuck between which set-up would be better to go with and would like to hear some + or - of the 2. thanks
 
water stones all the way :)

The ceramics are nice but you have more grit options and better abilities to sharpen a wider range of steels with the water stones.
 
Spyderco's ceramic stones won't dish and go up to 2000 . Water stones grits are figured differently . It also depends on what you want to sharpen . DM
 
custom blades with 1095 and 01, Busse and kin, SAK's mostly is what i like to use for blades
 
Sounds like water stones then, ceramics do best with stainless steels and IMO are subpar on carbon steels.

Now for the choices..............
 
I haven't used a lot of water stones but you really can't go wrong with well regarded stones. I'm picky about my stones though so I've learned a stone with a clay binder is "better" than one with a resin binder. Stones with a resin binder have a "gummy" or "sticky" feel and its something I simply don't like. Stones with a clay binder have a more natural feel and to me this is much preferred.

I recently picked up a excellent 8k finishing stone and if you take a look at my water stone thread you can see what one along with the others I plan to get. Because I have another set of stones I'm aiming for more of the medium to high grit stones but plan on adding a bester 500 or 700 to have a more complete set.

What's your spending limit?
 
It might be worth looking at the stones I'm thinking of getting or at least the Kitayama 8k, that stones amazing!
 
I have the Spyderco bench stone set of three M, F, UF and they work well on my straight razor before stropping. My shaves are more comfortable than my previous disposable or rechargeable razors.
 
1.2k beston and a 6k takenoko. The beston grinds metal quick but leaves a good finish. The takenoko grinds like a 6k but leaves a 8k finish when using the nagura stone.
 
King Waterstones, get one 1000 grit and one 6000 grit. Total investment of about $100.00 (can usually find them cheaper if you look)

Then buy Murray Carters DVD's and you will be on your way!
 
You an get the King 1k6k combo-stone from Japanese Woodworker for about $35, which leaves plenty left over for an Extra Coarse 3x8" DMT Diasharp, which will work great for fast stock removal, and keep your stones flat. Honest injun, that's about as good as you can do.

You can spend a shootload on stones, and you might in the future, but this is the perfect 'beginners' choice. They are all high quality items that I use professionally. They are good bargains for what you get. You will be able to use just this set for everything you need to do freehand, but obviously, you could spend $1000 on a set of Choceras.
 
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