What are the sharpening differences between whetstones and diamond stones?

R

Rickman

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Dec 13, 2009
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I currently own shapton stones (2,000, 6,000, and 16,000) and get a great polish on my knives (mirrior like finish) but am wondering if I can get an even sharper edge with the extra fine stone that DMT makes. I get a shaving sharp edge with the shaptons but am curious what the DMT could do.
The DMT is is a 8,000 I believe and is rated at 9 microns while the 16,000 shapton is rated at .92 microns.

Would I be going backwards if I choose to microbevel with the 8,000 DMT over the 16,000 shapton?
 
You would get a finish off the DMT a little finer than your 6K Shapton, but probably a bit more aggressive (a little more 'tooth' for slicing) especially when the DMT is new. But yes, it's a big step backward from the 16K Shapton finish. Just an FYI, the EEF DMT when new is going to leave a finish closer to your 2K... it requires quite a bit of break-in to get it to its rated finish level. My .02... you probably don't need it.

cbw
 
Thanks guys. It's just that I read a post a while back about whittling hair and I can't do it. I have whittled little pieces of hair but it took alot of time. I can shave hair from my arm with light pressure but am wondering if I might need to go to a smaller micron rating than the .92 to whittle hair. Any thoughts
 
I think some of them (hair whittlers) :) hone the knife on leather with diamond spray after using the stones.

cbw
 
With enough practice, you can whittle hair with a 2,000 grit Glasstone. When you can do that (and it's only practice - even I can do it), your 16,000 grit edges will be even more impressive.

The D8EE, though, just not needed. It works, but does nothing you can already do with your 6,000 grit Shapton Glasstone easier and with less care.
 
cbwx34,

I'm wondering the samething. I don't think I'm way off on my sharpening skills but could be in someone elses eyes. Maybe I need to strop on leather and diamond spray as a final touchup?

thombrogan,

I just can't whittle with the 16,000. I'm amazed that you can do it with the 2000 though. My angles are not off with the profiler I made. I profile at about 15-16 degrees up to the 16,000 and then microbevel starting with the 2,000, 6,000, and then 16,000.
 
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You can get hair splitting sharp from a fine DMT if you wanted to but getting more than one in the same spot is the hard part. For a diamond stone its one hell of a finish and the sharpness of the edge is far beyond what you would think.


Stone selection is one of the hardest parts of sharpening, The type of blades and steels you sharpen will be a big deciding factor in the types of stones you select. I choose diamond because of the harder steels I tend to sharpen and because of the IMO amazing results I achieve with them. Its also always best to stick with one style of stone, each require their own technique and the more you use the exact same stone the better you will get. You have the start of a good set but getting just the EEF would be of no use to you, if you like the stones you have complete the set of them and master their use. Filling in the gaps and making the jump to the next grit smaller will also improve results. If you feel the need for diamond stones buy the whole set and use them exclusively.


Only use the 16K for the microbevel, using the 2k and 6k before will just remove too much metal.
 
That guy going by the name of 'me2' can whittle his beard hair with a 220 grit stone - that's impressive.

If you're got getting hair-whittling sharp with your Glasstones, check a few things out:

1. Too much pressure is a common culprit. It can turn lightning-sharp "v" edge into a disappointing "y" one.

2. Not enough time spent creating and removing burr across entire length of blade.

I like harping on other things (are the stones flattened before use? Were the scratches from the previous grit removed before moving on to finer stones?), but they don't interfere with getting extremely sharp edges as much as inconsistent grinding and excessive pressure.
 
Speak of the devil and he shall post before you. I've only done it a time or two, same with the 1000 grit stone. You need the right steel and getting a hair whittling edge takes time, even if you only use one grit. The standard edge off the 1000 grit stone will shave hair off my arm, but won't come close to whittling hair.

Pressure and angle control is key. I havent used diamonds enough to know their finer points, but they cut any steel or carbide, no questions. They also cut faster with lighter pressure, and cleaner, so I'm told. The diamond lapping compounds are touted as being able to polish soft solder microscope samples without smearing, and leaving a scratch free finish at 1000x magnification. The expense keeps me in the $20 bench stone realm, and the $10 sharpmaker replacement rod realm.
 
Sharpening on a 600, 800 and 1000 grit and a leather strop will give an edge that can easily shave your face . Taking it up to 2000 grit can tree top . I don't care to split hairs but looking at the results from a Spyderco fine or ultra fine ceramic and stropping causes me to believe it is capable of hair spliting . Technique is a key . DM
 
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