Need advice on what sharpening gear to buy, got my first 'real' knife (s90v)

Tony18 · Nov 9, 2015

Jason B. said:
Only the XXC DMT plate is rated for lapping duties. The Coarse is an awful choice IMO and you will likely see the diamonds being ripped from the plate while lapping, it will look like you are grinding steel.

Going with a cheap plate when using one of the highest grade and most precise waterstones doesn't make much sense to me. That cheap plate might work but it also might come warped and that is no good for lapping. Some Wet/Dry sandpaper on the back side of the glass stone works well to lap other glass stones. I wouldn't recommend it long term but it's better than destroying tools.

I'm gonna just order an Atoma today for flattening my stones. I've got the 500,2k, & 6k GS coming, should I get the 140 or 400 Atoma? If I need to lap them before the Atoma gets here what Grit wet dry would you use?

Tony18 · Nov 9, 2015

mycough said:
Well, there you have it. I bought one and set it on glass and it seemed flat enough to use. That being said, I have either an eex or a dia flat going on my Christmas list.
I like the suggestion of using the back side of the shapton for lapping. Jason, what grit paper would you recommend for flattening a shapton glass 500? I need to go over mine and have been nervous about it. Russ

How much have you used your 500 to get it to where you need to lap it? Just tryin to judge how much I can use it till I'll need to lap it, since I'm gonna have it for a few days before I'll have a Diamond plate to lap it.

mycough · Nov 9, 2015

I have used it a bit and flattened it on my crkt cheapie but now I am nervous. I did several kitchen knives from work with it as part of the progression and feel I should flatten before things go too far.
I wouldn't order the atoma for flattening till one of the honchos chimes in. I think you may be better off with dmt.
Russ

Tony18 · Nov 9, 2015

mycough said:
I have used it a bit and flattened it on my crkt cheapie but now I am nervous. I did several kitchen knives from work with it as part of the progression and feel I should flatten before things go too far.
I wouldn't order the atoma for flattening till one of the honchos chimes in. I think you may be better off with dmt.
Russ

Ya I usually get my cart filled with what I "think" I want & then come here to ask an make sure that's what I want. What were you using before the Shaptons? How you liking them?

fsatsil · Nov 10, 2015

If you want to flatten your stones on the cheap then nothing beats some SiC lapping grit and a granite tile or sheet of glass. A 12x12inch granite tile is $5 and you can get small 4oz bags of SiC grit on eBay for $5.

Tony18 · Nov 10, 2015

If using sandpaper what grit would you go with?

Chopper88 · Nov 13, 2015

Ok, after reading tons of posts and watching all sorts of videos, as well as changing my mind a few hundred times, I just pulled the trigger after deciding I want to learn freehanding...

Ordered a DiaSharp 8" C and EF to start with, and some 6, 3, 1u diamond paste to strop with after using the DMT plates.
In the future I might order a coarser diamond plate (Atoma 140?), but I feel I have no need for it at this point. The Sharpmaker is also still in consideration, if stropping doesn't turn out as I expect it to for maintaining edges.
For sharpening razors and non-supersteel knives, I'm planning to buy one or more decent water stones later on, so I don't have to strop everything past the DMT F.

Great info again, didn't know about the SiC grit on a sheet of glass or granite, proper lapping stones/plates aren't cheap. I've mainly focussed on the diamond plates until now, still a ton of research ahead of me on the waterstone subject..

You got your stuff yet Tony18?

Tony18 · Nov 13, 2015

Chopper88 said:
Ok, after reading tons of posts and watching all sorts of videos, as well as changing my mind a few hundred times, I just pulled the trigger after deciding I want to learn freehanding...

Ordered a DiaSharp 8" C and EF to start with, and some 6, 3, 1u diamond paste to strop with after using the DMT plates.
In the future I might order a coarser diamond plate (Atoma 140?), but I feel I have no need for it at this point. The Sharpmaker is also still in consideration, if stropping doesn't turn out as I expect it to for maintaining edges.
For sharpening razors and non-supersteel knives, I'm planning to buy one or more decent water stones later on, so I don't have to strop everything past the DMT F.

Great info again, didn't know about the SiC grit on a sheet of glass or granite, proper lapping stones/plates aren't cheap. I've mainly focussed on the diamond plates until now, still a ton of research ahead of me on the waterstone subject..

You got your stuff yet Tony18?

Yup just got it yesterday, haven't had a chance to use anything yet. These are my first waterstones so I'm gonna try to sharpen a few knives tonight and see what I can do with them. I got the DMT a day before it's nice & works fast, I think I'll need a little time with it before I can get consistent bevels like I did with the oilstone I was used to. I'm sure you'll like them as well & with the Diamond paste you'll probably get some killer edges. I was gonna post some pictures tonight when I have a bit more time.