Stone Question

singularity35

singularity35

Joined
Mar 1, 2010
Messages
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I recently got some Moldmaster SiC stones from Congress tools that I stuck on some Edge Pro stone blanks and did a few knives with them. My question for purely curiosity's sake is, it seems that it's easier to get off the scratches from the previous lower grit with the moldmasters than with the stock EP stones. Any idea why that is? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
 
Stones don't cut well unless they release their abrasive. Super hard SiC stones like the stock EP one will glaze over and become dull. The AO EP stones are similar. They are crazy hard and don't remove much metal. There is also the issue of grain structure w/ the EP stones. The 220 is open grained and the higher grits are closed grained. IMO, while it's good to have more metal than abrasive in the swarf, a little loose abrasive is still needed for a good cut.
 
The fact that EdgePro makes the very best hand powered sharpening device does NOT mean that the stones sold by EdgePro are always the very best. In fact, as Ben's suppliers change from time to time, we've all noticed different cutting speeds from the same grit stones when getting new ones. I found that I prefer to have my own stones cut to size, and mount them on EdgePro blanks. I can buy a good quality Japanese water stone and have a lapidary slice it into 10+ pieces that I can use on my EdgePro. I get great cutting speeds and it comes out a lot cheaper in the long run for me.


Stitchawl
 
singularity35 said:
I recently got some Moldmaster SiC stones from Congress tools that I stuck on some Edge Pro stone blanks and did a few knives with them. My question for purely curiosity's sake is, it seems that it's easier to get off the scratches from the previous lower grit with the moldmasters than with the stock EP stones. Any idea why that is? Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Click to expand...

The silicon carbide abrasive is very hard so its ability to make a cut in harder steels is easier. In terms of cutting speed its like a diamond waterstone, what you do in one pass would be like 10 or more with a stock EP stone. The abrasive likes to break apart as used so though its a harder abrasive the stone feel/feedback will feel softer and have more drag as you sharpen. The loose abrasive also aids in the cutting action increasing the speed in which previous grind marks are removed.
 
Thanks for your thoughts guys.

@knifenut: That's a very clarifying expalanation for me. Thanks. I'm liking the moldmasters and what I've observed is that it tends to burr the steel less and still gives a more aggressive edge even when polished up to 1 micron diamond pastes.
 
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