Razor Edge Stones? Any Good/Bad experience with them?

aleforme

aleforme

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Like the title says, looking to see if anyone has used these stones before and how they liked them?

I'm talking about the 8" Coarse and Super Ultra Fine benchstones. Not the angle attachments or sharpening systems. I've seen a few videos of people using these stones along with a Spyderco Ultra Fine and they seem to do a good job. No water or oil advised. Nice size at 3x8.

I like the idea of the Super Ultra Fine but I haven't really found an answer on what approximate grit this would translate to? I searched the forum but most of the information and threads seem to be several years old.

Thanks!
 
The super ultra fine is about an 800 ANSI. Its a nice stone, especially if you don't want to use oil or water. I use mine with oil but it works fine either way. You can sometimes get 2nds off their site for a solid discount (mine came with a small chip on one side). I do not use mine very often as its slower than my waterstones and wet/dry over a Washboard easily fills the role as well and is also faster. Not to put you off, is a nice stone to have. I don't know about the label, is a 'fine' perhaps.

I have no experience with the coarse.
 
HeavyHanded said:
The super ultra fine is about an 800 ANSI. Its a nice stone, especially if you don't want to use oil or water. I use mine with oil but it works fine either way. You can sometimes get 2nds off their site for a solid discount (mine came with a small chip on one side). I do not use mine very often as its slower than my waterstones and wet/dry over a Washboard easily fills the role as well and is also faster. Not to put you off, is a nice stone to have. I don't know about the label, is a 'fine' perhaps.

I have no experience with the coarse.
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Thanks for the info HH!

I see they have a 6" Super Ultra Fine for a big discount. But, they really get you on shipping.

I'm really more interested in the Super Ultra Fine. Wondering how this would translate and compare to the Norton Fine? I think the Norton is a 400 grit. I would really like to find a non waterstone or ceramic that is finer than the Norton fine. Something that doesn't need flattening. The Super Ultra Fine seems like a potential fit?
 
It is quite a bit more fine than the Norton India or Crystalon fine. It probably translates to a 1200 or 2k waterestone, 800 wet/dry. I use it with oil, and it does release grit, so eventually I'd imagine it will need flattening, but probably no more than a regular silicon carbide stone.

The Spyderco Medium gets good reviews too but I don't personally own one. The RE stone might be more user friendly.
 
HeavyHanded said:
It is quite a bit more fine than the Norton India or Crystalon fine. It probably translates to a 1200 or 2k waterestone, 800 wet/dry. I use it with oil, and it does release grit, so eventually I'd imagine it will need flattening, but probably no more than a regular silicon carbide stone.

The Spyderco Medium gets good reviews too but I don't personally own one. The RE stone might be more user friendly.
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Thanks again HH. Much appreciated.

I think I'll try the 6" Super Ultra Fine out. I'm really just wanting to try some different types of stones out as part of the learning process. I have the Spyderco Fine 8" ceramic and love it. Just want to try some other stuff out.

Right now my two main set ups included the DMT Duosharp Coarse/Fine, DMT Diasharp Extra Fine and then onto the Spyderco Fine. This set up gives me great results.

I also have the Norton IC11 India/Crystolon Combo stone that I combine with the Spyderco Fine. This also seems to give some good results.

I'm trying to stay away form Water/Whetstones right now. I don't want to deal with flattening at this point. Maybe down the road. Any suggestions for stones that don't need regular flattening? I'm not brand loyal by any means. Just want to try some different stuff and have fun doing it.

Thanks again!
 
aleforme said:
... I would really like to find a non waterstone or ceramic that is finer than the Norton fine. Something that doesn't need flattening. The Super Ultra Fine seems like a potential fit?
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Razor Edge stones are one of the first benchstones I used. They're decent stones, but I would think a Spyderco medium or fine would better suit what you're asking for here. The Spyderco medium will leave a finer result than the Razor Edge "Ultra Fine". (This stone was created many years ago, when a 400g stone was considered "fine"). The RE stone will also wear faster than the Spyderco medium stone, (they're designed to so they'll expose fresh grit, and don't need water or oil), so will need flattening over time. (The Spyderco medium will wear a little).

That being said, the RE stone is a decent stone... good quality, and leaves a decent edge.... just not sure it's what you're seeking. I don't think you'll learn or benefit much from it. vs. the Spyderco Fine you already have My .02.
 
Appreciate your thoughts. I don't have the Spyderco Medium yet. I'll probably pick on up soon. I'll also try the RE stone.

I'm not really looking for stone to specifically improve my skills as much as I am to broaden them? If that makes sense? I just want to try some different stones to learn how they work and how various knives and steels react to them. That being said, I think using various types of stones and learning about how they each perform and work a little differently will help with my overall development sharpening knives.

Thanks again. I have learned a tremendous amount from the members here. Much appreciated.
 
aleforme said:
Appreciate your thoughts. I don't have the Spyderco Medium yet. I'll probably pick on up soon. I'll also try the RE stone.

I'm not really looking for stone to specifically improve my skills as much as I am to broaden them? If that makes sense? I just want to try some different stones to learn how they work and how various knives and steels react to them. That being said, I think using various types of stones and learning about how they each perform and work a little differently will help with my overall development sharpening knives.

Thanks again. I have learned a tremendous amount from the members here. Much appreciated.
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I'd consider some waterstones and a Washboard of course!

I lump most stones into three broad categories:
- diamond plates
- waterstones (and by extension Washboard which has similarities to soft waterstones)
- oil stones - combination stones of all types

To this I add separately various finish stones and means that do not fit the above big three - ceramic finishing hones, Arkansas stones, smooth steels, various strop compositions and surfaces.
 
ale, your IC-11 is a good stone. I have the Norton JUM-3 and some other SiC stones. These will wear and require leveling. Most with the coarse and less with the fine. I have the Spyderco stone mention (fine). I don't have the medium Spyderco ceramic. I'm certain it would wear less than the SiC stone you have but not cut as quick as the SiC stone and leave a finer edge.
Good luck, DM
 
First off I have a lot of respect for the "Razor Edge Systems" company out of Ely, Minnesota. It was back in the late 90s when I bought one of their "Ultimate kits" which had both stones in it as well as some other accessories. I still use that book that came with the kit entitled "The Razor Edge Book Of Sharpening" by John Juranitch. It was that book that sort of got my basic sharpening skills established. I actually give equal credit to Spyderco as well because about the same time I had gotten one of the very first Spyderco 204 Sharpmakers when they were first released.

Between Sal Glessser's teachings and those of John Juranitch I had really taught myself the skill of sharpening with a lot of help from those two very wise men. Albeit when it comes to sharpening equipment I've gravitated to Spyderco's great ceramic sharpening tools and I really don't own much of the Razor Edge equipment like I used to. Over the years I've acquired just about every sharpening tool that Spyderco has ever made i.e. 302 Benchstones, Slipstone, GOLDENSTONE, DUCKFOOT ect.

It seemed like some of the Razor Edge equipment actually self destructed over a period of time. I went through 3 of those Razor Edge "coarse" stones and it seemed like those wore out quickly. Since then I've acquired some high quality diamond stones which I like much better for rapid stock removal. Overall for highly refined, super sharp edges I've found Spyderco's stuff much more to my personal liking. And Spyderco seems to always have something good coming down their product pipeline as well.
 
aleforme said:
Appreciate your thoughts. I don't have the Spyderco Medium yet. I'll probably pick on up soon. I'll also try the RE stone.

I'm not really looking for stone to specifically improve my skills as much as I am to broaden them? If that makes sense? I just want to try some different stones to learn how they work and how various knives and steels react to them. That being said, I think using various types of stones and learning about how they each perform and work a little differently will help with my overall development sharpening knives.

Thanks again. I have learned a tremendous amount from the members here. Much appreciated.
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I understand trying different... just don't think the RE stone is different from what you have now, that you'll gain a lot from it.

Like HeavyHanded suggested, a waterstone will broaden your perspective.... and they're really not that hard to maintain.
 
The Razor Edge coarse stones cut fast but also dish fast stay away if you don't want to flatten them. As said the RE fine stone is more fine than super fine and is a pretty good stone. Like others I'd get the Spyderco Mediom instead. If you just want to try different stones go with the RE fine or even take a look at all the different grades of Arkansas stones. At one time I was just like you and wanted to try out all the different types of stone/hones. And for the most part I did. I even tried these rubber hone things that had grit in them. Cann't remember what they are right now. All the types of hones/stone act a little different and the only way to really find out witch you prefer is to give them a try. I'm guessing you will not be able to resist getting water stones for long. :) Don't over look sand paper to sharpen with as well.
 
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Wow, thanks for the responses.

I went ahead and picked up a Spyderco Medium stone a couple days ago. Figured it was a must given that I have the fine. I must say I'm really impressed by the Spyderco stones. They work extremely well. Once they are loaded up a bit, a simple scotch pad and dish soap clean them right up. They also seem to work well together with the DMT diamonds.

I found a great deal on a Razors Edge fine stone and I should have it in a couple days. It will be interesting to play around with it.

I'm guessing water stones will come eventually but for now I'm trying to keep it simple. For now. I think I just need to work on my technique for now and continue to improve with what I have. Down the road I'll like explore water stones.

Thanks again for all the responses.
 
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