Recommend first bench stones?

D

dawgvet

Joined
Jan 25, 2007
Messages
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I have been wanting to improve my sharpening skills and move away from my Lansky clamp setup. I get good results but always wanted to be better at freehand on bench stones.
Could you all recommend an economical first set of stones to start using? Should I stick with traditional Arkansas stones or go to Japanese water stones?
Any input appreciated.
Thanks
Jed
 
I got a no-brand combination #1000/#4000 grit synthetic Japanese waterstone (made in Japan) from Japan Woodworker before they closed their retail store. They recommended it to me for maintaining the edge on my kitchen knives that had been freshly sharpened. They said they had it made in Japan to their specifications. I don't know if that's true, but I think they still have it available on their web store.

It's a nice big stone, and is very hard, so it cuts slowly and won't wear too fast. They told me it was good for a beginner to have a slow cutting/wearing stone because it's harder to screw up a knife on it vs. a softer stone like a King, and it is way cheaper than a Shapton or Chosera synthetic stone.

I hope this helps!
 
A Norton combination India stone is a good stone. Sharpens quick and offers good economy. DM
 
You have a lot of options, but I recently bought a DMT dia-sharp, these stones cut fast and give great results. I would recommend for a beginner to just buy the double sided 6x2 coarse/fine. It will only set you back about $45, and it is all you need to reprofile, and create a sharp edge. I have never used Japanese water stones, or natural stones, but the DMT's are will work for sure.
 
dawgvet said:
I have been wanting to improve my sharpening skills and move away from my Lansky clamp setup. I get good results but always wanted to be better at freehand on bench stones.
Could you all recommend an economical first set of stones to start using? Should I stick with traditional Arkansas stones or go to Japanese water stones?
Any input appreciated.
Thanks
Jed
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You should look into waterstones, they are a little more challenging to learn at the start but produce some of the best edges on cutting tools.

Typically you need about 3 stones for complete sharpening, a coarse stone for grinding, a medium stone for sharpening, and a fine stone for polishing. Most often it will be in grits 220, 1000, and 5000 respectively.

It helps to know expectations, budget, and the knives you plan to sharpen though, without that it hard to say what would be a good set-up for you.
 
I would go with the DMT combo stone too. Cuts faster than an oil stone, and is always flat. They are also no maintenance, and reasonably priced. You won't regret buying a DMT, and you can always get into japanese stones later.
 
David Martin said:
A Norton combination India stone is a good stone. Sharpens quick and offers good economy. DM
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Great answer!!!!! I used one of them for years and years!!! I highly recommend a set of QUALITY Arkansas stones also a soft and a black hard then a strop for a wonderful edge they will give you an edge that will equal any set of waterstones if you know what your doing. You can get a set of three full size 6x2x1 soft, medium, and black hard arkansas from Natural Whetsone Company for a real good price and they are as good as any stones on the market. I swear by them I work in a custom leather shop and I do all the sharpening for the shop, and we have to have razor sharp knives or you ain't cutting nothing!!!

MM
 
I really like my DMT 6" bench stones. 1 x coarse and 1 x fine should set you up good. They are good quality and will last a long time without wearing down.
 
I'm agreeing with David Martin. A Norton India stone is a good place to start. I have been experimenting with an IB8 stone using mineral oil. I'm getting good results. I also have one mounted in a stone frame for the EZESharp. That really shows it's potential. Recommended.
Good sharpening,
Dave
 
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