Set me straight! (Free-handed sharpening questions)

E

Edged_Obsession

Joined
Sep 30, 2009
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Hey guys...Can you fill me in on some of your freehanded sharpening techniques and tools. I'm not interesting in belt grinders , etc..just would like to know your choice of stones, strops, etc., for sharpening ,honing, and polishing. Another thing I am a total noob on leather strops, when do those come into play? Can you sharpen altogether with them or what? Thanks for the information, much appreciated.
 
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I like diamond stones myself, they work the fastest and you don't have any problems like that can be had with other stones. DMT is my choice for stones because they are the only ones I know of that have a 8000 mesh diamond hone. Having a very fine stone is a must if you want to use a strop and have good results. A strop with compound is the final step in sharpening, it refines the edge and removes any imperfections that you final stone may have left behind. With a strop you are basically just sharpening at a finer level.
 
Norton India stones can be purchased for half the cost of diamond stones and cut just fine.Then for the finer grits above 400. A Spyderco med. and fine ceramic will do you a great job and you'll not wear them out.Get the 2"x8" size.Just my 2 cents.DM
 
I like DMT Diasharp stones the best (continuous surface, not the perforated ones.) They're heavy-duty, don't wear away, and diamonds cut more efficiently. I would think that the only two you need if you use your knives a lot and don't care for an absolutely hair tree-topping edge are the XC (or XXC) and F (or EF).
 
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