Spyderco Sharpmaker

[Vinifera]

I don't own the ruby stones but for those considering a purchase you may want to a search related to ruby stones and the Sharpmaker. There are a number of posts on the Spyderco forum with discussions and issues related to the stones. I don't have any experience with the stones and therefore express no opinion, but you may want to check out the experience of others.

 

[cchu518]

Hey folks, any feedback on the quality of the stones and grits? I'm going to presume the grits are accurate?

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

So what is the grit on the brown Sharpmaker rod? I have seen a bunch of different numbers from 1000 to 600...

There is no spec'd 'grit rating' for it, or any of their ceramics, even by Spyderco themselves. They use the exact same grit stock to make all the ceramics (Med, Fine, UF) at something like ~15-25µ in size; only different binders, firing techniques and surface finish make the difference in how they perform. There are many 'estimates' of grit size, based on finish left. For the Medium (brown) SM rods, most estimates usually run in the 1000-1500 range (depending on which grit standard is used for comparison). In my own uses, they seem to closely emulate the finish left by something like 1200-grit wet/dry SiC sandpaper. On most steels, that would usually give a very, very fine satin finish, perhaps barely approaching a very hazy or 'foggy' mirror.


David

 

[postoak]

Thanks Vinifera, it never hurts to NOT re-invent the wheel:

Here's a good thread from last year -- good because it becomes a wide ranging discussion:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1264356-Sintered-Ruby-As-A-Replacement-Material-For-The-Sharpmaker-Ceramic-Triangles

And here's the oldest one I saw, from 2011:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/843754-Cheaper-Alternatives-for-Sharpmaker-Diamond-Rods

And somebody's review of them in 2012:

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/953041-Triangular-Ruby-Stones

 

[ncrockclimb]

There is no spec'd 'grit rating' for it, or any of their ceramics, even by Spyderco themselves. They use the exact same grit stock to make all the ceramics (Med, Fine, UF) at something like ~15-25µ in size; only different binders, firing techniques and surface finish make the difference in how they perform. There are many 'estimates' of grit size, based on finish left. For the Medium (brown) SM rods, most estimates usually run in the 1000-1500 range (depending on which grit standard is used for comparison). In my own uses, they seem to closely emulate the finish left by something like 1200-grit wet/dry SiC sandpaper. On most steels, that would usually give a very, very fine satin finish, perhaps barely approaching a very hazy or 'foggy' mirror.


David

Thanks for your reply!