Need advice on choosing a sharpening stone/system

B

bill_duoduo

Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
8
Hello everyone!
This is my first post in the forum.

I am trying to choose between Buck's portable diamond sharpening system(dual grit, 325 and 750) and Spyderco's "Double Stuff" pocket stone(medium and fine, don't know the exact number). Buck's diamond sharpener has a plastic case which also serves as a handle, while Spyderco's stone is... just a stone. They are both small -- length of a pen, width of 3~4 pens. If not against any rules of the forum, here are the links:
http://www.buckknives.com/catalog/detail/175/245
http://spyderco.com/catalog/details.php?product=87

I need the sharpener for my pocket knife: small blade, drop point, 420HC. The side of the edge looks very ugly(because of bad sharpening/polishing), and I want to make it look nicer by removing the surface. And also, I have a Spyderco Endura and a couple of SAKs, which may require resharpening someday.

So, I would like to hear your opinions on these two. Thank you!

Bill
 
Diamond cuts fast, even with rather fine grit. I would go for a finer diamond grit than you would use with other abrasives. I really don't like the perforated diamond hones for putting on my finish edge. I just don't see how it can work well for curved sections of the edge. If you want a folding hone I would get the Eze-Lap #510 Eze-Fold. That has a smooth surface (no perforations) with 400 grit on one side and 1200 grit on the other. For pocket knives this should cut reasonably fast and leave you with a fine finish.
http://www.eze-lap.com/product/ezefold.htm

A bench hone generally does nicer work and is better for larger knives.
You might try a DMT model D6EF Double-Side Dia-Sharp 6"x2" hone with Fine grit on one side and Extra-Fine grit on the other.
http://theconsumerlink.com/product_detail.asp?BID=DiamondMachiningTechnology&T1=TCL+D6EF&navStart=0&.
 
Jeff Clark said:
Diamond cuts fast, even with rather fine grit. I would go for a finer diamond grit than you would use with other abrasives. I really don't like the perforated diamond hones for putting on my finish edge. I just don't see how it can work well for curved sections of the edge. If you want a folding hone I would get the Eze-Lap #510 Eze-Fold. That has a smooth surface (no perforations) with 400 grit on one side and 1200 grit on the other. For pocket knives this should cut reasonably fast and leave you with a fine finish.
http://www.eze-lap.com/product/ezefold.htm

A bench hone generally does nicer work and is better for larger knives.
You might try a DMT model D6EF Double-Side Dia-Sharp 6"x2" hone with Fine grit on one side and Extra-Fine grit on the other.
http://theconsumerlink.com/product_detail.asp?BID=DiamondMachiningTechnology&T1=TCL+D6EF&navStart=0&.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the advice!
Unfortunately, the products you recommended are very difficult for me to get -- I live in China, and the options are very much limited. I think I will go for the diamond, because of its efficiency you mentioned. Thanks again!
 
Why not consider something like a washita stone? I broke mine a week or two ago, and I'm realizing just how great it worked. Honestly, I think a set of NICE arkansas bench stones would have been a better investment than these DMT stones. Maybe sometime this summer. All I know is I need to get a new washita pocket stone.
 
A set of India stones would cost you less and be just as effective. I have both. Guess it depends on what you have access to in China. BTW for finish polishing of the blade, don't hesitate to get the Double Stuff, it's great.

NJ
 
So glad to see more replies!

Actually, I bought a Buck diamond stone(fine, not dual) first. It did cut aggressively, but it was a bad choice for polishing -- you can't call it scratching, but definitely not polishing! So I bought a Buck washita stone a week later, and I am very happy about it. (Both Buck stones are pocket size)

I tried to create a microbevel on my endura by grinding at about 30 degrees per side, with light pressure. Now my endura can shave, and it's by far the sharpest knife I've ever seen. Of course, it would be better if hair-popping sharp, but if getting a strop or sandpaper is the only way to achieve it, I'd rather give up.

Thanks for all the advices! They have all been very helpful!
And thank you, Alan Molstad, for all the great tips in your emails!
 
Native Justice said:
A set of India stones would cost you less and be just as effective. I have both. Guess it depends on what you have access to in China. BTW for finish polishing of the blade, don't hesitate to get the Double Stuff, it's great.

NJ
Click to expand...

In China, or at least in the city where I live, the best place to get quality knives or sharpening stones would be the online stores. They do sell some imported knives in a few real stores, but the price... imagine a Spyderco Endura for at least 100 US dollars, or a Ladybug for 50 dollars. However, the online stores offer much better price.

I didn't find any India stones though :-(
 
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