Scratch pattern question on Grit progression

chopsaki

chopsaki

Joined
Feb 4, 2014
Messages
305
So I recently bought a KME and have been getting some very good results. I have both the diamond and ceramic stones, 6,3 and one micron dmt diamond past on kangaroo strop and a translucent Arkansas stone.

After coming off the diamonds, going to the Arkansas and the strops I am left with what most would consider a pretty mirrored edge but I can see that there are whisper scratches. It seems like I need a transition stone in between the diamond and translucent. Just ordered a 3k chosera and plan to add the 5 and 10 later. Does anyone know if the 3k is a good transition off the 1500 extra fine KME diamonds?
 
It might, but you have bit of an odd progression.

Going from diamond paste to a natural stone will cause its own level of distortion of the bevel finish. Natural stones tend to dull the finish, still polished but hazy.

I usually don't like to follow diamond plates with fine waterstones. Diamond plates leave deep scratches and it can be difficult to remove with a fine waterstone. I would probably recommend at minimal starting with a 1k waterstone after no coarser than 300 grit diamond stone. Using a progression of Coarse diamond-1k waterstone-3k waterstone-3 micron strop-1 micron strop. That would probably yield better results.

I use the full size Naniwa Pro/Chosera stones freehand, the 3k is an excellent polishing stone and yields a very clean scratch pattern that strops to a high polish easily.
 
Jason B. said:
It might, but you have bit of an odd progression.

Going from diamond paste to a natural stone will cause its own level of distortion of the bevel finish. Natural stones tend to dull the finish, still polished but hazy.

I usually don't like to follow diamond plates with fine waterstones. Diamond plates leave deep scratches and it can be difficult to remove with a fine waterstone. I would probably recommend at minimal starting with a 1k waterstone after no coarser than 300 grit diamond stone. Using a progression of Coarse diamond-1k waterstone-3k waterstone-3 micron strop-1 micron strop. That would probably yield better results.

I use the full size Naniwa Pro/Chosera stones freehand, the 3k is an excellent polishing stone and yields a very clean scratch pattern that strops to a high polish easily.
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Thank you very much for your response. I know my progression is odd. I just got my setup and just started buying stuff and learning along the way. I can get very sharp edges quickly but I love to get OCD and go all in sometimes. You mention going from 300 diamonds to a 1k chosera. I was under the impression that 300 to 1k was too much of a jump in grits.

Also in my op the first paragraph was a list of the stuff I had for the KME, not the progression. I usually go off the diamonds, to the Arkansas, than to the strops.
 
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These are friends knives that I did and they are decent but hazy. Under sunlight you can see the light scratches and hazyness. I'm probably going to buy 1k-10k choseras and call it a day.
 
The 300 to 1k jump is no problem, 1k is considered a medium stone and can remove a fair amount of metal.
 
If you have the gold series diamond hones and the kangaroo strops, you really shouldn't need much else. Once I got the diamond hones I rarely take out the arkansas stones. If you wanted a good intermediate stone the 2k or the 3k would fit well between the strops and the diamond. Some of the coarser diamond pastes are fairly equal with the 5000 as it is, I think the KME 4micron CBN emulsion comes out to 4k or something like that and their 1.5micron is 13k.
 
darks said:
If you have the gold series diamond hones and the kangaroo strops, you really shouldn't need much else. Once I got the diamond hones I rarely take out the arkansas stones. If you wanted a good intermediate stone the 2k or the 3k would fit well between the strops and the diamond. Some of the coarser diamond pastes are fairly equal with the 5000 as it is, I think the KME 4micron CBN emulsion comes out to 4k or something like that and their 1.5micron is 13k.
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I have noticed a definite refinement in edge when I use the translucent Arkansas after the 1500 diamond. I have 6micron dmt diamond past as well as 3 and 1, but I have heard great things about the CBM emulsions. I guess I could stop as I am getting stupid sharp edges, but what's the fun in that? :)
 
After the 1500 diamond, I would suggest the 2k Chocera - a bit closer to the 1500 so the stone will take out the diamond scratches better and eliminate your problem. From there you could continue to the 4 micron CBN and beyond, or, using the 5k Chocera, go to the 1.5 micron (12k) CBN or 2 micron CBN. You can save the Arkansas stone for softer steel knives or even refine your Arkansas stone finish using some 4 micron CBN ON the Arkansas stone. You can also use 8 micron CBN instead of the 2k stone on either Kangaroo or nanocloth, particularly if you are sharpening more abrasion resistant steels.

---
Ken
 
ksskss said:
After the 1500 diamond, I would suggest the 2k Chocera - a bit closer to the 1500 so the stone will take out the diamond scratches better and eliminate your problem. From there you could continue to the 4 micron CBN and beyond, or, using the 5k Chocera, go to the 1.5 micron (12k) CBN or 2 micron CBN. You can save the Arkansas stone for softer steel knives or even refine your Arkansas stone finish using some 4 micron CBN ON the Arkansas stone. You can also use 8 micron CBN instead of the 2k stone on either Kangaroo or nanocloth, particularly if you are sharpening more abrasion resistant steels.

---
Ken
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Wow, thank you for those nuggets of info! I will definitely look into setting up and following this advise in the future. I ordered the 3k chosera but I think I'm going to get the 1-10k stones as the more I research the more I think I will use these stones the most off the diamonds. Also plan on adding a couple more strops with CBN. Thanks!
 
ksskss said:
You can also use 8 micron CBN instead of the 2k stone on either Kangaroo or nanocloth, particularly if you are sharpening more abrasion resistant steels.
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I've been looking for some 8micron CBN, but haven't had much luck finding it. Any pointers?

Edit: Ooops, nevermind. Found some it was just branded under Bark River.
 
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