Need new stones: opinions?

J

J. MacDonald

Joined
Jun 8, 2000
Messages
3,140
I think I'm finally ready to buy that trio of large high quality stones I've always wanted for Xmas. I want 8"-10" stones, in medium, fine and very fine. I've narrowed my chioces down to either a good set of organics like what's available from hallsproedge.com or danswhetstone.com in Soft Arkansas (Washita), Hard Arkansas and Black Hard Arkansas, or a set of DMT diamond stones in medium, fine and extra fine. The cost difference is not great, so the real question is traditional quality (real stones) or new technology (plastic mounted diamonds).

While this purchase is enough money that I could buy a SERE 2000 or something, I really want a nice set of bench stones. I sharpen everything from chef's knives to small folders.

If these stones were coming to you for Xmas, which would you want?

jmx
 
I have never used anything but the Arkansas stones and a very fine Japanese water stone. I have always had no trouble keeping any of my knives as sharp as they need to be with these stones. They cost quite a lot but were worth it.
 
I use the excellent Smith's Tri-Hone sharpener, and I am VERY pleased with the results that I get with it, although the stones are only 6 inches long.:).
 
I've got the DMT dou-sided bench stones with an elevated holder. The stones are simular to the smaller ones but about 4X10 inches. They are a part of my sharpening stuff. I really like using them free hand. It takes a while to "break them in" but then they really start cutting. Use a soft POS blade with LIGHT pressure for a while. You'll feel the difference when they start cutting.

Break them in right and they'll last almost forever. I'm using a DMT "lansky" style double sided sharpener that was Dad's. He got it about 20 years ago. Sharpens everything from "surgical stanless" to D2 without a hitch.

I'm looking for good natural stones now for my "old fashioned" carbon steel knives.

You almost need diamonds for some of the new stuff.
 
I have to second Glockman99. I use a Smith Tri-Hone also - but only the medium and fine Arkansas stones. I find the coarse synthetic stone is just too coarse - I might use it on an ax.

However, I finish the sharpening on an extra-fine translucent Arkansas stone for an extra sharp polished edge. It takes a while but I find it relaxing anyway. Occasionally I also use a Lee Valley Tools leather strop with Veritas green blade honing compound.

My objective is to frighten :eek: the hair off my arm! I'll get there yet :)

David
 
The Spyderco ceramics are excellent. I use the Pro-Files, but they also make bench stones in medium, fine,and extra fine.

Paul
 
i use a single extra-fine natural stone with water set on a deerskin patch (to avoid it goes around on my kitchen table, to sharpen everything and I'm really, really pleased with the results. It cost me a lot of money but it's worth what I paid it.
For roughing out really worn edges I use synthetic stones, but since I almost only use it on my knives, and I NEVER leave an edge to reach too much neglect, I'm perfectly happy with a single stone.
Having to choose between synthetic and natural, always go for natural.
Different grain shape means different honing.
Most synthetic, including diamond sharpeners, have grains with sharp edges, while the grains of natural sedimentary sharpening stones are rounded.
This makes a LOT of difference.
Dunno why, but it's true.
 
..And put a 1000/6000 combination japanese
waterstone in it. Drop a piece of 400 grit
wet - or -dry for touch ups.

my 2c
Jorge
 
The DMT:s cut more aggressively, thereby reducing the sharpening time. The Arkansas stones (especially the black hard ones) also polish the edge.
I have experienced good results with DMT Fine/ExtraFine duofold and black hard arkansas, all with Razor Edge Systems clamp, to fixate the angle.
 
Get a DMT X-tra coarse benchstone, then get the Spyderco Medium and X-tra Fine stones. If you go this way, you will not need the Spyderco Fine stone.

Jeff
 
has anyone else felt that diamond and ceramic don't last as long as a water stone or a norton oil stone.

from my experience my norton and my waterstones can do more knives without getting less abrasive. while a ceramic or a diamond wears down faster. it could be me but I sharpen lot of knives and this is what I have found.


I recommend getting all types and seeing which one you like. buy one of those and one of these here and there and in no time you'll be able to sharpen with every type.
 
I should mention that I have been sharpening freehand for many years with a combo long discontinued Gerber 2"x4" nice Washita backed with a good Hard Arkansas. I've also recently aquired a 2"x6" Washita and HA set of house brand stones from Plaza Cutlery (really nice folks with a nice selection)in Costa Mesa, CA. I'm not new to this and I can raise a hair popping edge on most knives with the (somewhat crude)tools I already own. What I'm looking here are "my last set of stones" so to speak.

I'm starting to feel like a medium and fine DMT, coupled with a Translucent Hard Arkansas (supposedly better than the Black hard) might be the ultimate choice from all the feedback and my own intuition.


How about the 8" vs 10" issue. If I'm going to spend this much, is it worth the extra money to get the longer stones? The longest knife I now own is an 8" chef's knife.

Thanks for the info.

jmx

PS: Stopped in at Tru Grit today (happened to be in Ontario on business) and got a bit of 1/8" ATS-34. Damn those Hard Core grinders look good!

PPS: Sorry if the above post seems pompus, I'm really not that good, but I can do an OK job with existing tools and am just looking for tools that will make the job easier.
 
i admit its an odd combo but it works for me - a good soft ark for really dull stuff, a fine norton india stone, a DMT duofold fine/xfine, and a spydie ceramic ultra fine - one, or a combination of the above, work for me......really like the norton, and they are CHEAP.........


sifu
 
:eek: avoiding fiedsty women wearing steel toed shoes will cut down on your need for stone replacement.;)
 
Jmxcpter,
As you can see the opinions of ideal sharpening set are quite different. Taking into consideration that most of fellows here are knowing what they are saying - here is only one logical explanation. This is mostly the question of individual likings and here is no objectively best solution. For example, I can sharpen each knife shaving sharp using only some $ worth silicon carbide stone and the bottom ring of porcelain dinner plate. Another question is how long time it will require and how pleasant and comfortable my work will be.

Well, now I'll try to mess your task even more ;)
What are you going to do - real life sharpening for working knives or sharpening for itself, just as state of art?

If first - my working set would be:
DMT coarse (blue) Diamond Whetstone for edge reprofiling, 6 inches is enough for 3-4" long blades. 8 inches will bring you comfort with these blades and allow to sharpen up to 6" long blades without any problems.
DMT fine (red) one with the same dimensions to obtain fine working edge, shaving sharp.
You can save some bucks purchasing double-sided Diamond Whetstone, Duo-Sharp if I remember properly, instead of these two.
For real life conditions it is quite enough and it will work better than arkansas whetstones. Natural arkansas stones work nicely on carbon steels or relatively soft stainless steels but they cause additional effort and decrease sharpening efficiency when sharpening blades of modern extreme stainless steels like ATS-34/154CM or CPM 440V. They also wear faster losing their flat plane with these steels (maybe I have not-the-best stones).

If you want to obtain more-than-enough, really extra-fine edge add SPYDERCO fine Bench Stone to this set. Or the set of SPYDERCO ProFiles if you have a lot of knives with recurved blades. You can purchase this addition each moment when you will decide that previous set is not enough for you.

If you want to savor the sharpening process as itself - add SPYDERCO extra-fine Bench Stone. WARNING: it is quite expensive and adds practically nothing to your knife real life performance comparing with finishing on SPYDERCO fine Bench Stone. But sometimes it is pleasant to put really mirror polished edge onto your gentleman's carry knife no matter does it add any performance or not :)

If you want to save some bucks more you can replace DMT whetstones with Eze-Lap ones with the same grit. Probably they would last a little shorter but they cost about half of DMT price. However if you do not sharpen at least one knife daily I doubt you will notice any difference in durability.

BTW, it is no medium grit DMT stones...

8" vs. 10".
10" allows more comfortable work, however the difference is not essential since you are working with 4-5" long blades. But 10" Diamond Whetstones are much more expensive!
 
I use a very large white colored stone that they were going to throw away at work. I clean it with some Comet and a SOS pad occasionally and the thing works great. It will put a nicely polished edge or a good grabbing type edge on most knives. The thing weighs about 10lbs so it doesn't move around much. I also have a very old Norton natural med stone that is backed with a coarse stone. I also have a Lansky diamond honning kit that works great on certain knives. Keep'em sharp
 
When I started this thread, I was asking about two very specific sets of bench stones. Almost nobody has really responded directly, most preferring to list what they currently have.

What I asked was, if they were coming to you for Xmas, would you rather have 3 8" DMT Diamond stones (Blue, Red & Green) or 3 quarry mined real Arkansas stones in aproximately the same size and length?

To Serg: You probably answered closest so far, but,my use does exceed the blade size you mentioned as I do want to sharpen at least 8" chef's knives (possibly 10" but I don't have one yet). I'm also looking to streamline my sharpening time as not only do I have to maintain all my user knives and kitchen cutlery, but I'm working on my first two knifes and expect to have an ongoing need to create fresh sharp edges as I build more knives.

jmx
 
i havent had good luck w/EZ lap, but...........to answer your question, give me the DMT anytime over the arks..........although i like the arks, if i have to choose, the DMT is better imho


sifu
 
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