I use ceramic blades and coated steel blades as finishing steels for my metal blades. The hardest coating I use is TiAlN at 92 HRC. The only drawback: Apples sliced with knives used as steels with turn brown because of the iron sloughed from the blade being sharpened.
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Sharpening Steels: Different Types, Different Uses
- Thread starter JD Spydo
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I think but not sure....
Polycrystaline does a better job as a polish, monocrystaline makes cleaner cut scratches - more cleanly removes metal in a grinding operation because it has more pronounced sharper edges. Both will work, the mono might deburr a little easier, the poly give a finer finish at a rated grit.
Polycrystaline does a better job as a polish, monocrystaline makes cleaner cut scratches - more cleanly removes metal in a grinding operation because it has more pronounced sharper edges. Both will work, the mono might deburr a little easier, the poly give a finer finish at a rated grit.
bodog
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As far as knife steel is concerned CBN and polycrystalline diamonds should act the same. Smaller points covering more area of the plate. The crystals can break down giving a higher cut rate for a shorter period of time. Monocrystalline diamonds don't break apart but the edge of the crystals can still wear down leading to a reduced but not completely diminished cut rate. On a microscopic level the monocrystalline diamonds have fewer sharp, jagged edges to cut, possibly leading to what was shown in micrographs where higher grit diamonds left more ragged edges than low grit diamonds. Fewer nails on the bed of nails concept. The fewer the nails, the higher the pressure per nail.
And as far as I know eze-lap uses a poly and monocrystalline blend just for those reasons. High cut rate and long useful life.
And as far as I know eze-lap uses a poly and monocrystalline blend just for those reasons. High cut rate and long useful life.
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This is exactly the opposite of what I've seen in comparing DMT's mono vs. EZE-Lap's poly. For their rated grit, the DMTs have been finer in finish than the EZE-Lap hones. The most striking & obvious difference to me, was comparing EZE-Lap's 1200 and DMT's 600, of which the DMT seemed to leave a more refined edge and scratch pattern.
Poly is said to (eventually) become finer with use, but I haven't seen it yet in the EZE-Lap hones, at least not to the degree that gets the '1200' EZE-Lap anywhere near as fine as DMT's 600, much less DMT's 1200 EF hone.
May be some confusion factor introduced in how poly grit is actually rated for size, as to whether the spec'd grit rating represents the 'before' or 'after' size, or some nominal/average value in between, of the breaking down/fracturing behavior characteristic of poly diamond. At least for now, I'd have to assume my EZE-Lap hones are performing at a level much coarser than what's rated for them, if relying on DMT's or another's grit standard for comparison. And that raises yet another question mark, if each type is rated according to different scales or criteria. If so, a 'mono brand A' vs. 'poly brand B' comparison of similar grit numbers may just be apples vs. oranges anyway, and essentially meaningless. A more meaningful comparison would include actual micron sizes of the poly's grit, both before and after it gradually breaks down. But I haven't seen any published values for size in microns, from EZE-Lap.
David
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bodog
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My limited experience too. Eze-lap diamonds are super aggressive for me. Makes regrinding a snap. But I haven't used them that much to tell a big difference. They're pretty small plates. I'd have to assume that when they break apart the crystals would get finer but not from what I've seen so far. The monocrystalline diamond plates I've used only took a little bit and they were giving pretty fine finishes.
I've heard through what I consider to be a reliable source that Eze-Lap does Spyderco's diamond sharpening tools. I heard about 3 years ago that they are indeed the company that makes the diamond rods for the 204 Sharpmaker. If that truly is the case then I can say that they do a really good job with those. Now to the best of my memory the DUCKFOOT ( Spyderco's diamond version of the GOLDENSTONE) is made over in China. I don't believe that Eze-Lap has anything to do with that Spyderco sharpening tool from what I'm told.
When you consider that companies like F. Dick of Germany who makes arguably the best Sharpening Steels on the market>> you wonder if they don't contract some other company to make their diamond sharpening steel. I'm all but certain that must be the case.
Other that Victorinox who else makes a good quality sharpening steel? I'm not aware of any company here in the USA that makes sharpening steels other than the diamond units made by Ultimate Edge.
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Other than F. Dick and Victorinox, I believe that Dexter Russell is still making a quality traditional steel.
I think you're correct about that "FortyTwoBlades">> Isn't that Dexter Russell a USA made tool? I actually have a couple of their smooth steels that I got at an estate sale and I've seen their stuff at the dealer I've bought my F. Dick stuff from. They aren't the quality that F. Dick of Germany is but they aren't junk either. I've actually got a couple of their culinary knives I've found at thrift stores and they beat anything you would buy at Rip-Mart
I also have a couple of steels with J.A. Henckels name on them. I don't even know if Henckel even makes those sharpening steels or not. But I would guess that 95% of all the steels you see for sale in the stores are probably made in "Chairman Mao Land" . And the quality is truly a laughable joke needless to say 
I've never bought any of F. Dick's files but I found out that the wholesaler I got most of my F. Dick steels from can get me their files too. I have used a couple of F. Dicks culinary knives and they aren't bad at all> actually they are right up there with the best of them. I think I'm going to also check into some of the newer ceramic sharpening rods I've been hearing about. But not sure which company makes the best in that category. If anyone of you know who makes great ceramic sharpening rods I would like to know who does those good too. The two Lansky units I have aren't bad though.
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http://www.metallographic.com/Newsletters/PC-diamond-newsletter3.PDF
Most of my practical experience is between DMT and Smith's.
bodog
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In short that mirrors what I posted earlier. Although the friability seems to be a little bit of a non-issue, at least as far as normal knife sharpening is concerned.
https://www.fallkniven.com/en/kniv/c10/I think you're correct about that "FortyTwoBlades">> Isn't that Dexter Russell a USA made tool? I actually have a couple of their smooth steels that I got at an estate sale and I've seen their stuff at the dealer I've bought my F. Dick stuff from. They aren't the quality that F. Dick of Germany is but they aren't junk either. I've actually got a couple of their culinary knives I've found at thrift stores and they beat anything you would buy at Rip-Mart
I've never bought any of F. Dick's files but I found out that the wholesaler I got most of my F. Dick steels from can get me their files too. I have used a couple of F. Dicks culinary knives and they aren't bad at all> actually they are right up there with the best of them. I think I'm going to also check into some of the newer ceramic sharpening rods I've been hearing about. But not sure which company makes the best in that category. If anyone of you know who makes great ceramic sharpening rods I would like to know who does those good too. The two Lansky units I have aren't bad though.
https://www.fallkniven.com/en/kniv/c12/
Hey that's some interesting looking equipment you got there "Chumaman" >> Where here in the USA can you get that brand of sharpening steel?
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