Stones, s30v, and other questions

J

jaseman

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Jul 28, 2016
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I'm a newbie to sharpening and have a handful of questions that I hope someone can answer.

Are there any decent (hopefully inexpensive) stones I can buy in local 'box' or hardware stores? I prefer to pay cash whenever possible, as that's how I collect and keep my 'play' money, and it keeps me within budget.

What about diamond stones? Can they be had in a Lowes, Home Depot, etc? I know HF has a set, but I've also heard they were absolute junk.

Speaking of Harbor Freedom Freight, I do have a stone from HF that I've used to sharpen tools and a few cheapie knives, but I don't know if I should be using it on my better knives. And should I use it wet or dry? With water or mineral oil?

As for better steels.... I have a few knives in s30v. They're still nice and sharp right now, but could use a touch up. How easy is s30v to sharpen on that HF stone, or the bottom of a coffee mug? I've touched them up periodically on the kitchen steel, but I'd like to put a real edge on them.

Is this all conceivable, or do I really have to suck it up and buy some decent stones online(hate shopping online) or invest in a system? Any help?
 
You can just find and purchase one combination coarse / fine diamond stone. The better quality type you find at a hardware store. In 2 X 6" and
start working it on that. DM
 
I know DMT has a list of dealers on their site, which includes a number of bricks and mortar stores. I’m sure other manufacturers would probably have the same. Maybe there’s one near you, as the saying goes.

I get best results using diamonds on s30v.
 
jaseman said:
Is this all conceivable, or do I really have to suck it up and buy some decent stones online(hate shopping online) or invest in a system? Any help?
Click to expand...
Buy an Amazon card with your play money. When it is used up you are done until you get another card.
I love, love, love buying on line because I can get world class tools and materials. I don't have to put up with the ineptitude of local sales staff . . . the majority of which are just there to have a job . . . any job. . . and very often don't care about the products. Or I special order from them and then after months of waiting for a call that my stuff has come in I go to the store to find it hanging on the wall for sale and no call to me that it is in stock.
Sick of that :poop: man !

On line stores (very often) post real / useful info ( I don't have to rely on the memory of some body to regurgitate it for me).
Because the free world is their clientele on line stores have enough buyers to stock the good stuff and I have come to enjoy that.
I'm not saying I buy the most expensive knives or stones, far from it, it is just that most of what I see on the shelf locally is simply not high enough quality to satisfy my needs. Very often anyway.

Don't fear the UPS man and his magic brown truck.
 
The amazon gift card is a good idea.
Are you looking to freehand sharpen or a Guided system? I say get a lansky diamond guided system. Thats what I use.
 
S30V will be cut and refined most easily on a diamond hone. The 'cheaper' ones will still do it, but there's a difference in how clean they'll leave the edge, as compared to a better brand like DMT, which leaves the edge cleaner and less in need of much burr cleanup.

The Harbor Freight diamond hones are also quite coarse, as compared to something like a DMT Coarse or Fine which leaves a more refined, excellent working edge. I think the 'finest' one they have is something like ~ 360-grit (as rated), but it's still relatively coarse as compared to something like DMT's Coarse (325) hone. I bought a 3-hone set ($10) from them, in 180/260/360 grit options. They'll grind the steel easily, but they're obviously nothing special, in terms of finish. If the other inexpensive stone you have from Harbor Freight is one of their oilstones (think I've seen it there, in aluminum oxide), it probably wouldn't do so well on the S30V blades anyway.

Home Depot carries a 'Fine' (600) DMT hone in their 6" x 2" interrupted surface format. It's not inexpensive, but I'm sure it'll work well.

Some sporting goods retailers like Sportsman's Warehouse or Cabela's also carry diamond hones. I know Sportsman's Warehouse carried the EZE-Lap brand (I've bought one or two there), which is pretty good and somewhat less pricey than DMT.

Other brands, like Smith's sharpeners, can be found pretty widely at Walmart and other discount outlets (sporting goods, hardware stores like ACE, and I think I've seen them at Lowe's as well). I've also seen DMT's Coarse 6" x 2" interrupted surface hone at ACE; it's the same format as the 'Fine' version sold at Home Depot, but in the Coarse (325) grit. Also not cheap, but it'll work well, I'm sure.

I wouldn't waste time trying to sharpen S30V on a coffee mug. On a newly-sharpened edge (from a capable stone), it might work to clean it up a little (burrs, etc), but won't help much in the longer run, to restore an even slightly dulled edge.
 
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