Sandpaper before diamond

[Deer Turd]

I ordered a DMT Aligner with the diamond hones to try and make sure I'm getting enough material removal to form the burr.

I have a China blade that seems to be really difficult to work with. I haven't been able to budge the edge with my Gatco coarse stone and have not even tried with my Sharpmaker. I'm wondering if I could use some sandpaper on it - even before I go to the coarse DMT diamond. Can I get the forum's opinion on this and what type, and especially what grit, might compliment a coarse DMT diamond stone?

Thanks!

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Some wet/dry sandpaper, such as 3M or Norton brand, ought to work fine. Something in the 220/320/400 grit range should make fairly quick work of it. You could go coarser, but then you'll be stuck with removing the heavy, deep scratches. I wouldn't go below 220, and might even start with 400. You might find that's enough to get the burr formed in the first place.

The downside of the Gatco/Lansky guided hones, even if they're diamond, are that they're still quite small. The extra surface area afforded by a sheet (or even 1/2 or 1/3 sheet) of wet/dry sandpaper can really speed things up.

 

[Deer Turd]

Thanks. I was hoping to get some sandpaper and rig it up on my existing Gatco coarse stone - to help maintain an angle. Wish me luck!

 

[kalikali24]

Welcome to the forum. Im not familiar with this sharpening system but I have used sandpaper to sharpen knives. It's pretty easy to get a knife hair popping sharp using 220grit up to 1500 grit using a mousepad for the backing. I find alot cheap knives won't take a good edge let alone hold it.

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Thanks. I was hoping to get some sandpaper and rig it up on my existing Gatco coarse stone - to help maintain an angle. Wish me luck!

I actually did just that, a while back. Used some wet/dry sandpaper on my fine Gatco hone (the white ceramic one, as it has a completely smooth, flat surface), to put a new bevel on a plane blade. Worked quite well, and even better when wet (keeps the paper from loading up, and has great tactile feedback; very slick-feeling). I think you'll be OK with it, but I'll wish you luck as well.

 

[Deer Turd]

Trying to match the angles on my Gatco sharpener with the Sharpmaker. If I want to sharpen on the SM at 40 degrees, should I pick a Gatco angle that is closest to 20?

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Trying to match the angles on my Gatco sharpener with the Sharpmaker. If I want to sharpen on the SM at 40 degrees, should I pick a Gatco angle that is closest to 20?

Whichever setting you use, make sure to measure it. The marked settings on the Gatco clamp are only a gross approximation, based on whatever 'hypothetical' blade size the clamp was marked for. The actual size/width of your blade will make most of the difference. Maybe make a template of cardboard, with a 20 degree angle, to put alongside your clamp & hone setup with the blade in it, to get it close. If your blade size & shape allows it, you can set the blade further into the clamp to make a slightly larger angle, or further out to make the angle smaller (shallower).

 

[Deer Turd]

Thanks again, David.

I guess trying to get a specific angle is more important when considering using two different systems. I played with my son's protractor last night (guess I'm deteriorating back toward childhood) and had that eureka moment when I realized that moving the blade in or out on the Gatco clamp dictates exactly what the angle is. I like the idea of a cardboard template. Hopefully, I'll have some good results to post withing the next few days.

I appreciate your help!