Water Stone vs India vs Diamond

F

fadugleman

Joined
Dec 28, 2012
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I was wondering which of the three are better suited for my needs. I sharpen lower end stainless steel like 18cr13mov and 14c28n but also a lot of carbon steels like 1095. I would like a stone that is resistant to wear and will be able to do the harder steels like elmax or 3v and what not. Any input is valued thanks in advance
 
Diamond will do everything and will last if you use a little water. It's sharpening dry that makes the diamond chips fall off.
 
DMT diamond, Spyderco ceramics, and Shapton ceramics would be my suggestion.
Water stones require more maintenance and dont last nearly as long.
Ive never had to use water with my diamond hones...just light pressure and they've lasted years and years.
 
I personally like water stones the best. They give a great feedback, they cut very fast but are also forgiving, the slurry helps polish the edge, and they work great on all steels. Diamonds stones are nice but they are very expensive and I am not a fan of how quickly they cut lesser steels.

You don't need either to start off. You can get a Norton combination India stone with case and oil for $30. It will let you learn the proper technique and can give you a very nice edge. Once you master this stone you will know what you want next as you progress in sharpening.
 
retzius said:
I personally like water stones the best. They give a great feedback, they cut very fast but are also forgiving, the slurry helps polish the edge, and they work great on all steels. Diamonds stones are nice but they are very expensive and I am not a fan of how quickly they cut lesser steels.

You don't need either to start off. You can get a Norton combination India stone with case and oil for $30. It will let you learn the proper technique and can give you a very nice edge. Once you master this stone you will know what you want next as you progress in sharpening.
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Ditto all of that. I have some diamond equipment, but it is relegated to being used only on the hardest or most torn up edges. Diamonds will eat up soft stuff like the carbon steel used on just about any knife and it will remove material quickly unless you spring for some special grits.

And learning to sharpen on a stone is a good thing to me. I learned back in the 60s on Norton stones used for resetting or repairing an edge, then on to the Arkansas stones for edge finishing and maintenance. When you learn that way, you learn patience, technique, and how to the results you want. Then, you will also realize that you can sharpen and tune up edges on just about anything that is around. Sandpaper, the bottom of a coffee cup, coarse cardboard, a leather belt, and all manner of other materials can be used once your confidence and technique are there.

Robert
 
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