What coarsness DMT to keep in a pocket?

stingray4540

stingray4540

Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
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I know, there's a billion sharpening questions on here, and because of that, I'm finding it hard to find what I'm looking for.

Anyways, I'm wondering what coarsness should I get if I'm looking to keep it in my pocket for touch ups. I was thinking the extra fine, but wasn't sure if I should l go with just fine, or the ceramic. I usually keep my blades touched up on a strop, but would like to have a little hone on me for when I don't have my strop, or when it gets dull enough that a strop won't cut it.

So, what do you guys think for a general purpose touch up hone? Fine, Extra Fine, or Ceramic?

In case your not familiar with DMT's diamond sharpeners:

Fine = 600 mesh/25 micron
Extra Fine = 1200 mesh/9 micron
Ceramic = 2200 mesh/7 micron
 
DMT makes two sided Diafolds in X-Coarse/Coarse, Coarse/Fine and Fine/X-Fine. I used to always carry my Coarse/Fine with me. Now I carry both the X-C/C and F/X-F. With those, I can restore a completely trashed edge in the field (which is a fairly regular thing for me). The C/F (blue/red) makes a great field sharpener.
 
Yeah, actually that's were this thread came from. My wife got me the DiaFold Coarse/Fine, but it's a little big to carry around every day. So I was thinking of trading it in for the smaller key chain size ones, and getting a fine and extra fine, or an extra fine and ceramic if they have ceramic. I already have a generic diamond sharpener that has four sides, 200, 300, 400, and 600.

I'm more interested in something for every day carry for touching up an edge here or there. I usually hit the sharpener before my edges get too dull, and if they do, I have the big sharpener at home.

Anyways, do you still stand by the blue/red, or can you make any other suggestions? Anyone else? I know you all are very opinionated, so lets hear them.
 
I have a couple of the keychain stones, and I find them only slightly more useful than a smooth sidewalk for sharpening anything longer than a boxcutter. Any stone under four inches throws my strokes off badly enough that I do more harm than good with it.

I find the C/F Diafold to be a good compromise. The Coarse side is aggresive enough to take care of all but the worst nicks in a reasonable time, and the Fine side gives a pretty smooth edge with enough bite left for skinning or field dressing game. The folded tool takes up a little less space than a Spyderco Military and weighs a little less, so I have no problem with carrying it.
 
Sting,

You might want to look at the Lansky dog bone ceramics. They are terrific for what your considering. Another good performer is the Spyderco Double Stuff with m/f ceramic stones. It's my usual choice when hunting, even over the DMT Diafolds I own (both the c/f and uf/ceramic). Fallkniven also has 2 combo diamond and ceramic pocket stones that are excellent. Give 'em a all look see, you won't be dissapointed with any of them.

Just my $.02.

NJ
 
Thanks for the input Native justice, but it has to be DMT cause that's all that OSH carries, that's were I have to return it, cause that's were my wife got the C/F one.
 
I carry a red (fine) Diafold. I can get my work knives (a Spyderco Delica and Dragonfly) shaving sharp with it fairly easily. I've been thinking about changing over to the credit card sized one to keep in my wallet and free up a bit of space in my pocket, but it really doesn't take up enough space to be uncomfortable, so I'm still just thinking about it.
 
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