Mini Keychain DMT Hones

cchu518

cchu518

Joined
Mar 6, 2013
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I just picked up a pair of course and fine mini DMT hones on a keychain for $11 a piece. The course is a 325 grit (blue) and the fine is a 600 grit (red) they come in grits from 120 to 8000.
Pretty nifty gadgets makes short work of sharpening all of my pen knives!

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I just got in my DMT Aligner and DMT keychain in fine for my brother in hopes he toss it on his backpack, keychain, or leave it in the car so he can sharpen his knife back up at work when he eventually dulls it. It looks like a good little keychain and something not to be underestimated. Can't comment on the keychain as he only tested it real quick when I gave it to him a few hours ago, as for the aligner which uses the same type of stones they work awesome I just got done reprofiling 3 knives and free hand sharpening a few.
 
I just started researching these and have a couple question. My goal is to keep these in my pick-up truck to sharpen my knives when needed. For the most part, I'll be using them on the Victorinox Executive, Cadet and Rambler. Occasionally, I'll have to touch-up my Spyderco Chaparral and Cat. Should I really need anything more that than the 325 and 600 grit stones? Would you folks recommend this as a portable system or should I be looking at something else. After reading a bunch of posts, I think I've ruled-out any of the pull-through sharpeners.
 
this_is_nascar said:
I just started researching these and have a couple question. My goal is to keep these in my pick-up truck to sharpen my knives when needed. For the most part, I'll be using them on the Victorinox Executive, Cadet and Rambler. Occasionally, I'll have to touch-up my Spyderco Chaparral and Cat. Should I really need anything more that than the 325 and 600 grit stones? Would you folks recommend this as a portable system or should I be looking at something else. After reading a bunch of posts, I think I've ruled-out any of the pull-through sharpeners.
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You might think about the EF (1200) as well. With very low-wear/softish steels such as used on the Victorinox knives, a finer grit is really all you need. Diamond is plenty aggressive for blades like these, even at the smallest grit sizes. Coarser grits, even including the Fine (600), can easily remove much more steel than necessary; that'll make the already-small & thin Vic blades disappear a lot quicker than desired. The EF will also do a better job at leaving a very fine edge on these blades, which are fine-grained enough to benfit from it.


David
 
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Thanks David. I appreciate that. I'm trying to find the best place to purchase these DMT stones. Now that I've noticed they also have a credit-card sized version, I may go that route. I'm not sure as of yet.
 
this_is_nascar said:
Thanks David. I appreciate that. I'm trying to find the best place to purchase these DMT stones. Now that I've noticed they also have a credit-card sized version, I may go that route. I'm not sure as of yet.
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I have the 'credit card' hones in Fine & EF. That's why I recommended the EF in particular, as I've found it a good match to my Vic blades, as well as for simple carbon steel blades in 1095 and CV (by Case). The Fine (600) is still handy for very quickly re-setting bevels on these knives, after which the EF is a great maintenance & touch-up hone.

BTW, I can recommend at least one (BF member) dealer, in knifecenter(.com). They do carry the full DMT line, so far as I know. I have seen the DMT keychain hones in many retail sporting goods stores also; it shouldn't be too hard to find those, if you go that route.


David
 
I have to side with David on this the C/F are quite aggressive on the soft SAK steels. I would personally just use the F to reprofile them, and sharpen on the EF.

Between those small keychain versions for a credit card sized diasharp I think the diasharp will be more useful. Having a larger surface area makes a pretty big difference in my experience having used those 4in DMT stones from my Aligner till just recently when I picked up 2 norton economy stones (india and silicon carbide) which are 6x2 and 8x2.

If you prefer to sharpen with a stone laying flat on something you may find a bit difficult keeping these stones in one place like I did. So my advice pick up a sticky car dashboard mat and use that, I found it works extremely well in keeping these small stones in place while you sharpen. Only annoying part is it works best if you find a corner of a desk or something like that to work on as these are very thin stones so there isn't always clearance for even the handle if you choose to use it on the center of a desk or some other object.

If you go the credit card route they will fit in an Altoids tin if you trim the corners of the plastic packaging they come in from what I hear. And if you use a polishing compound you can always put some on a notecard and toss it in there as well to make a full sharpening kit. Could also cut the dashboard mat down to size if you choose to go that route and store it in there as well.

If you go the keychain route they do have an advantage though, I think they will work better if you hold it in your hand from the vague memory I have of holding them. Your holding the handle and not the stone so you don't have to be as careful about cutting yourself. Off memory I think they also fit in an Altoids tin which is what I'd personally store it in to further protect it if I were to leave it in a car and to keep them all together.

Another good option would be a Diafold in F/EF. I would just toss a rubber band around it when it's stored in the car to insure it never accidentally opens and gets ruined.
 
Thanks guys. This info gives me allot to work with. I'm sure I'll have more questions. My Cadet arrived today, so I've been playing with that.
 
I had forgotten I posted in this thread. Still haven't chosen which to get for portable sharpening. I order a couple Farmers and Pioneers the other day and one of them will probably replace my Cadet as an EDC. I really want to get some type of portable sharpening solution. I have the Sharpmaker for home, but I'm not going to tote that around with me.
 
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