Just bought a Bester 1200 waterstone

C

csisland

Joined
Aug 8, 2013
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I own a few modern folders, a couple of Mora's, and some GEC's. Did I buy the right stone?
 
It's a good stone but if its the only one you have it could prove difficult to be a one stop shop.
 
On another forum I go on, the owner has been using a Bester 700 grit for awhile now and has had generally positive things to say about it. For the relatively simple steels that you are describing, it should work well, although 1200 might be a little fine.
 
csisland said:
So I'll need to have more than one stone to sharpen freehand? What would you recommend?
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Typically you can find a popular stone set that includes the bester 1200, beston 500, and suhiro Rika 5k. I would recommend adding these stones. You are not bound to buying these stones and can pick from the many available but together they are effective. FYI, these stones are good but the set of stones I mentioned were put together with the intention of sharpening kitchen knives.

P.S. with waterstones you typically need 3 for a basic set. Coarse, medium, and fine.
 
csisland said:
If not the Bester1200 is there one good all around stone and cheaper than the Bested?
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Not likely but if you find one let us know ;)

Having one single stone to perform all sharpening is every sharpeners dream.
 
csisland said:
If not the Bester1200 is there one good all around stone and cheaper than the Bested?
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That's a tall order. 1200 in a waterstone is about as close as you can come to an all purpose stone - coarse enough to clean up some edges, but fine enough to put on a nice finish. My King 1200 is one of my favorite all around stones, but has a tough time on some steels and is very slow. A Norton 4k is a nice stone in that regard too, but sadly, there is no one good stone unless it be a combination stone of some sort. There's just no good way to make one stone do all you might want it to. As mentioned by Knifenut, you typically need a coarse, medium, and fine - be it waterstones or other. I have had pretty good luck using the reclaimed grit from a waterstone as a stropping compound, and gotten away with only two stones - a coarse and medium. Just carefully collect the mud by lightly dragging a sheet of paper across the muddy stone, let it dry, and wrap it around a dry stone - strop away, and this acts as a fine hone. This method also works well with a regular combination silicon carbide stone used with oil.
You'll want a coarse stone for repair and truing the edge/geometry, and a good medium stone is a necessity. A fine hone is nice to have, but can be fudged a bit with some creativity.

Not even my Washboard qualifies as a "single" stone, though it does come close :)...

Martin
 
You already have the 1200 why go changing things?

Add a coarser stone like the latte 400 and call it good for now.
 
knifenut1013 said:
You already have the 1200 why go changing things?

Add a coarser stone like the latte 400 and call it good for now.
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I just want to make sure I'm going about it the right way. First time hand sharpening.
So having a 1200 and 400, I should be ok?
 
Yep, and if you want a finer stone in the future there is lots to pick from. Coarse stones are for establishing bevels or making a edge your own, they should only be used when necessary with the medium and fine stones being used the most. Keeping a edge sharp is the goal, letting them go dull means work.

Practice setting beveled on some kitchen knives or used folders. Work to master your confidence on the stones and with holding consistent angles. With a medium grit 1200 stone you should be able to make a clean shaving edge, it will be a toothy edge but a sharp one. Remember that it takes time and practice with more practice being better.
 
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