Spyderco Ceramic Benchstones (Med, Fine, U.Fine) GRIT QUEST?

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Thin-Slice

Thin-Slice

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I need to buy me some ceramic benchstones and wanted to buy the Spyderco ones. Particularly the 3 different grit versions.

MODEL:
  • Ceramic Benchstone Medium 302M
  • Ceramic Benchstone Fine 302F
  • Ceramic Benchstone Ultra Fine 302UF

Does anyone know the grit numbers of each ones. For example is the Medium a 600 grit or 800 and so forth.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
Nice chart. Is there a key to go along with that.

EDIT: i wish everyone used a universal unit of grit measurmemt.
 
blee said:
I'm not sure what you mean.
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I am guessing that the colums are the different brand names that make sharpening stones and that the numbers/letters would be the model name.

Just to clarify is everything in terms of grit measured in microns?
 
Thin-Slice said:
Just to clarify is everything in terms of grit measured in microns?
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Microns are the only constant in that chart. Everything else is variable, including many things not listed.
In other words, you can't go by how a particular abrasive from one manufacturer to another will perform on a given steel just from cross referencing it to micron.
 
I've read that some types of stones don't really have a grit size, and that such numbers are approximations. Also, grits sizes are not equivalent between different brands. One brand's might be coarser at a given grit, or vice versa, but you can compare within the brand. It seems the micron size is better for comparing between brands.
 
the medium stone is a waste of time, I would mix it up with another stone that could do the job better like a diamond stone or SiC stone, also I wouldn't buy both the fine and UF just get the ultra fine and be done.

best setup if you are dead set on the ceramic would be a DMT coarse stone, a UF stone and a leather strop with 1 micron Diamond spray.
 
Thats what i was thinking. Wanted a large benchstone on which i could mirror polish the blade (not just the edge). Some scratches r deep and a fine ceramic just takes waaaaay to long to get down to the scratch depth. I dont have experience in which product is good in terms of benchstones. Have the wicked edge pro and its fine for making things sharp but not good for what i need.


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I think you will be very disappointed if this is the reason you want a bench stone.


Bench stones are not the tool for polishing a blade, that's the job for sandpaper, elbow grease and buffing wheels.

Don't waste your time and money on stones if that is what you need.
 
DeadboxHero said:
I think you will be very disappointed if this is the reason you want a bench stone.


Bench stones are not the tool for polishing a blade, that's the job for sandpaper, elbow grease and buffing wheels.

Don't waste your time and money on stones if that is what you need.
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I think u r def right just dont have the exp in that dept. can u suggest anything
 
Not super polish more like satin really maybe like 400-600 and then will like to buff it. Fixed blades and maybe some folders. Polish more like something to do not to sell or anything just for me something to do. New hobby if mine

Then again maybe polish close to 1000 grit. Have a spyderco endura gen 1 with aus8 steel and was polishing it with a ceramic and it gave good results but to really improve it would take way too long by hand.

Not sure if specific enough
 
I think it's pretty ez to get the finish you want on spydercos. UF gives you mirror. This is just for edge, didn't notice op meant the whole blade
 
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Thin-Slice said:
Thats what i was thinking. Wanted a large benchstone on which i could mirror polish the blade (not just the edge). Some scratches r deep and a fine ceramic just takes waaaaay to long to get down to the scratch depth. I dont have experience in which product is good in terms of benchstones. Have the wicked edge pro and its fine for making things sharp but not good for what i need.
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If this is what you are looking for then DBH is right, a bench stone isn't your friend. (Neither ceramic nor diamond) Look on google or youtube for how to do a hand rub finish. Sandpaper and a small soft block are your tools.
 
This is a bit long but its very comprehensive and he's got some good info in there.

[video=youtube;4I4x4QLpfnk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I4x4QLpfnk[/video]
 
I've owned two sets of Spyderco's 302 Benchstones for quite a long time now and really I don't even care what their grit rating is. I've had such great luck and splendid results with my Spyderco 302 Benchstones and again I don't really care what the grit ratings are.

With Spyderco offering those CBN stones for the 204 Sharpmaker unit I kind of wish they would offer a 302 Benchstone with CBN. You just can't go wrong with any of Spyderco's great ceramic sharpening tools IMO. The only negative aspect of them is that they do need frequent cleaning and upkeep to maintain their great performance. But other than frequent cleaning I don't see any negative aspects about the 302 Benchstones.

And I do hope we see the new upcoming GAUNTLET sharpening kit soon.
 
Thin-Slice said:
I need to buy me some ceramic benchstones and wanted to buy the Spyderco ones. Particularly the 3 different grit versions.

MODEL:
  • Ceramic Benchstone Medium 302M
  • Ceramic Benchstone Fine 302F
  • Ceramic Benchstone Ultra Fine 302UF

Does anyone know the grit numbers of each ones. For example is the Medium a 600 grit or 800 and so forth.

Any help would be appreciated.
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I believe that Sal once said that grit was the same for all of them. What differs is the surface finish and configuration.
Just a guess, but the medium is not quite as fine as a Norton fine India stone. The fine is somewhere like a soft Arkansas by Norton and the ultra fine acts like a strop. I have all 3 benchstones, and use a strop in place of the ultra fine most of the time. The ceramics are great for sharpening knife blades. I have used them on woodworking chisels, but would not use them on plane irons. If you do, be sure to carefully check to see if they are perfectly flat, if you want precise straight edges on a plane blade. Just throwing this out there....
I like the Spyderco ceramics for most of the knife blades that I use, unless I am in a hurry. I might then want a more aggressive abrasive.
 
runscott said:
This 'Empress Trio' Carver just arrived. I figured I'd post it just for documentation's sake. It's a solid-as-hell knife that I will sharpen and then carve many a goose with.

ctoRvBE.jpg
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Nice.😍
But ya posted it in the wrong thread. 😏
 
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