UF triangles

Great question!
I don't know grit numbers, but I do know they help if just working with Med/Fine stones previously.

This is direct from Spyderco's website:

"Ultrafine stones tighten the blade's scratch pattern to an even keener degree for hair-popping professional sharpness and polishing. Fits the 204 Sharpmaker system, stones are sold individually. 204UF TriAngle stones are 7"x.5" (178mm x 13mm)"

I find they do indeed clean up the edge quite nice followed after the fine stones. Ending with a strop puts icing on the cake.
 
I heard that they are equivalent to 6000-8000 grit. For me they make a noticeable difference in sharpness.
 
marknett1 said:
Does anyone know the grit of these and how much do they help on the edge
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CAMI/ANSI (US standard):
2000~2500 Grit

JIS (Japanese standard):
~13.000 Grit
(much better than 8000 grit Norton and better than the legendary Kitayama 12k waterstone)

Average grit size in microns:
1~0.5



I think Spyderco UF stone is one of the finest and one of the best in the market. :thumbup:
 
I thought I remembered Sal posting the UF stones to be equivalent to 3 microns. I think they do a very nice job of getting the edge really sharp.
 
Actual particle size on all three grades of stone are the same range, but the UF is a fine stone that has been surface finished, and the firing for the medium hones is different.
 
I just got the sharpmaker with UF stones and I would like to say when I first felt them, I was amazed at how fine they are! They feel almost like glass. Im new to the sharpmaker though so I cant help much with how much of a difference they make
 
the fine stones are enough to get my knives shaving sharp but the ultra-fine takes it to another level of shaving sharp smoothness. most of the time i don't even use a strop anymore after using the ultra-fine stones. add to it that you're not supposed to be able to wear it out makes it well worth the investment.
 
i found these post :


Spyderco benchstone grits

Med 12-14 u 800-900 grit

Fine 7-9 u 2000-3000 grit

UF 3-4 u 4000-6000 grit

But this was followed up by this from Sal :


I would be curious as to where you got your numbers for the ceramic stones. All of the ceramics use the same micron size (15-25). the different grits are created by different carriers, different firing techniques and diamond surface grinding.

sal

These were posted on DEC. 30 2007

So basically , I still haven't got a clue :D
 
From personal experience I'd say 3 micron is dead on. About 8-10k in waterstone grit and no, not as fine as a kitayama but close. Closest stone to the UF I've seen is the DMT EEF.

The numbers I go by and the ones sal once posted 15, 6, and 3 microns. Grit can be a misleading term and often not exactly relate to what happens to the steel. Take the numbers for what they are but don't rely on them to guide you.
 
8K in Japanese industrial standard is 1.2 micron, 3 micron is 8K in mesh or 4K in JIS.

Of course, the particle itself is as critical as the size. Like the UF stone, the natural coticule and arkansas stones are estimated at producing a finish finer than suggested by the particle size. Coticules are estimated at 8000 JIS finish while being loaded with garnets 5 to 15 microns in diameter. Novaculite has similar sized quartz grains, and the density of them affects the polishing level, not the average size.
 
I don't know the numbers, but they are considerably finer than the 'fine' (white) stones that shipped with my Sharpmaker. Using these I've been able to get nearly every knife I own sharp enough to shave hair off my arm.

SP
 
hardheart said:
8K in Japanese industrial standard is 1.2 micron, 3 micron is 8K in mesh or 4K in JIS.

Of course, the particle itself is as critical as the size. Like the UF stone, the natural coticule and arkansas stones are estimated at producing a finish finer than suggested by the particle size. Coticules are estimated at 8000 JIS finish while being loaded with garnets 5 to 15 microns in diameter. Novaculite has similar sized quartz grains, and the density of them affects the polishing level, not the average size.
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True but in actual use it does not seem that way. It seems to also depend on the steel and how well the sharpener can use the stones. Waterstones will leave a "finer" scratch pattern or won't dig as deep into the steel as diamonds but the edge sharpness and surface shine will be near equal and sometimes better in favor of the diamonds. Ceramics leave a scratch like the diamonds because they are both fixed and very hard abrasives unlike the waterstone, the ceramics will produce a higher polish level though because of the burnishing effects of their high hardness and density.

A 8k waterstone, a 8k DMT, and a spyderco UF ceramic are all very close but very different depending on the steel being sharpened and the skill of the user.
 
singularity35 said:
I heard that they are equivalent to 6000-8000 grit. For me they make a noticeable difference in sharpness.
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Now I'm sure I'll be flamed here, but hear me out (because its short and ends well). I maintain my EDC with the sharpmaker, typically will profile on the 30 inclusive and do a few swipes to microbevel on the 40. I finish on the standard fine stones and get an absolutely hair popping edge on my VG10 and really all my knives. I'm sure theres room for improvement at the extreme end, but I really just dont see it being very much at all. Maybe it would be more quantifiable with dedicated and delicate testing, but in actualy use I'm not so sure...


And the good ending: I didn't say anything about not going with the UF anyways. If I didnt have such a limited budget I'd give it a try myself.
 
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