Spyderco ceramic sharpeners

[jcmv4792]

I'm reading that many of these stones don't come flat. What is your experience with these stones?

I was just about to buy a set but after reading that people are having issues with stones that are not flat, I might opt for other options.

edit: do these stones wear/dish?

 

[marthinus]

I'm reading that many of these stones don't come flat. What is your experience with these stones?

I was just about to buy a set but after reading that people are having issues with stones that are not flat, I might opt for other options.

edit: do these stones wear/dish?

My only experience is with the Ultra fine stone, I use diamonds for most of my other work.

Have never had an issue with dishing.

Here is a reply from Sal Glesser on the Spyderco forum:

All of our stones, save 2 are "as fired" and not perfectly flat. I don't think you can resurface them without ruining whatever you use. The 2X8 UF and the 3X8 UF are milled flat using large diamond grinders and are flat....

sal

 

[jcmv4792]

My only experience is with the Ultra fine stone, I use diamonds for most of my other work.

Have never had an issue with dishing.

Here is a reply from Sal Glesser on the Spyderco forum:

Ohh okay. So would these last longer than shapton glass/pro stones?(I'm not sure if the glass or pro is harder)


What's the finest diamond stone you use?

 

[marthinus]

Ohh okay. So would these last longer than shapton glass/pro stones?(I'm not sure if the glass or pro is harder)


What's the finest diamond stone you use?

I cannot comment on Shapton as I have no experience with them. I am sure someone else will chime in in due time.

Finest diamond I use is 1200grit and then I go onto the UF stone, sometimes straight from a 600 grit DMT onto the UF, depends how I feel. I dont have a large setup withr regards to sharpening. However, I tend to cater the edge according to task and composition.

Here is my edge I finished re-profiling last night.

Buck sharpening system with diamonds, coarse, fine, UF. Sharp enough to catch the protruding hairs at the back of the head.

 

[jcmv4792]

Awesome. Liking the minimalist setup and nice results.

 

[jcmv4792]

So is the grit progression thing a misconception? I was under the impression that for some reason it's bad to jump too high a grit level between stones.

 

[marthinus]

So is the grit progression thing a misconception? I was under the impression that for some reason it's bad to jump too high a grit level between stones.

It is not a misconception if you want an absolute perfectly mirror edge. My edges under 10 magnification still shows scratches.

Going through grit progression and going finer and finer is important if you want results like the video below or a maker is doing a satin finish on a knife.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1095752-ZT-S110V-Mirror-Finish

[video=youtube;4BDQI508seU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BDQI508seU[/video]

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I'm reading that many of these stones don't come flat. What is your experience with these stones?

I was just about to buy a set but after reading that people are having issues with stones that are not flat, I might opt for other options.

edit: do these stones wear/dish?

I have older Spyderco stones, purchased back in the '90s, that had slightly upturned edges on them. More recent stones from Spyderco may or may not have these issues; I haven't heard or read too many complaints about this, from others here who use them. Even the stones I have aren't so bad, but care needs to be taken when exerting pressure on the edges of the stone (I avoid it, in other words). Took me a little while to figure that out; a Spyderco DoubleStuff hone was the first I used significantly, and the upturned edges were quickly undoing what the smoother, central portion of the hones were accomplishing. Chews up and dulls a fine edge quickly, if scrubbed across the upturned edge of the hone.

If you buy one, check flatness when it's new with a dead-straight edge (steel ruler, for example) to see if there's much daylight showing underneath, when back-lit against a bright light or window in the daytime. My hones showed a very thin crescent of light under the ruler, with only the edges of the hone supporting the ruler itself.


David