Looking for Sharpen Stones

[caine]

For the past 2-3 years I have only used a Gatco TRI-SEPS or a Lansky Crock stick to most touch up the edges on my knives. But a few are getting dull. Im wanting to get some bench stones of some sort. Been look at waterstones, soft and hard AK but dont really know the diff. in them

 

[kidwholaughs]

I woud glue some wet and dry sand paper on a glass pane. The stones are more trouble than they are worth. Plus, you have to get one that's at least 6 inches long to work efficiently.

 

[Ben Dover]

I have two Norton Waterstrones. They are 8 inch X 3 inch. Coarse is 220/1000, and the fine is 4000/8000.

These are fine stones, but buying them for over $125 was a mistake, because I don't have the skill to utilize their full potential. If I had it to do over again, I'd get a Norton India Sone, at least until (unless? ) I acquired the skill to justify the money spent on something better.

Uning bench stones free hand is an ART as well as a skill, and is not easily learned. I've spent dozens of hours practicing, and I still don't do very well with them. :grumpy:

Ben

 

[Dan Seaver]

Water stones are great, unlike sand paper the more gunk on the stone, the better it works. With a budget of $130 you can get 240, 800, 1000, 4000, 6000, and 8000grit if you look for good deals.

Ben is right, hand polishing/sharpening is an art and even with experience it will take a very long time.

 

[Native Justice]

Waterstones may not be the right direction for you as others have indicated but don't let thhat stop you from trying freehand sharpening. You can pick up a fine/coarse combo grit Norton stone for under $50 depending on the size. Get the largest you can afford. Use windex or water instead of oil as a cutting lubricant. Learn the sharpening motion on a throw a way knife. Use masking tape to protect the areas of the knife you don't want to scratch or grind away. Take your time and have fun!

NJ

 

[Dr. Mudd]

Freehand sharpening using a decent sized bench stone works well. It's just like everthing else in the way of manual skills, though, it takes a little regular practice. I used the common carborundum stones for 40+ years, but in my later years now I've moved on to a DMT diamond dust impregnated bench stone that measures 2" X 6". It does everything I need on knives up to a blade length of 8", though a little longer stone would help on the longest of my knives. The color of the DMT stones denotes their coarseness or fineness. Mine is red and I can't remember what grit that's supposed to indicate, but it works just fine for me. I'm not a "purist" like many folks here are, and I don't bother with all this crock stick and leather strop business. I don't plan to ever have to live on sliced newspaper and arm hair, so this "shaving sharp" business is just not for me.