- Joined
- Nov 25, 1999
- Messages
- 1,499
Derek,
Sure, the fine (white) ceramic rod is enough for daily touch-up. But for real sharpening you will need at least medium (brown) ceramics. With fine and extra-fine diamond sharpener you can do the same job faster and with less effort.
Well, let's speak about certain sharpeners. Let alone all V-style sharpeners including excellent SPYDERCO Sharpmaker - they simply are not designed to sharpen convex edges. With this kind of edge (new edition F1 comes with convex edge) you have no choice aside from mastering free-hand sharpening. SPYDERCO Bench Stones - medium and fine - would work nicely for convex edge's free-hand sharpening and I strongly advise you to get them. But it is out of discussion to use them when backpacking, they are far too heavy and too brittle. The set of SPYDERCO ProFiles would be less expensive, more versatile and more portable (lighter) choice. Drawbacks - it's harder to work with convex edge on pretty narrow surface. They are even more brittle than Bench Stones because they are pretty thin long rods made of the same brittle ceramic. Also too heavy for backpacking.
This year SPYDERCO issued shortened version of ProFiles, 4" long rods could be practically enough to touch-up your 4" blade but they are too short for thorough sharpening. Because they are shorter they are somewhat lighter and not as shock-sensitive as full sized version.
But the DMT Double Sided Diafold with fine/extra-fine grit is even lighter and not shock-sensitive at all. It certainly would be my first choice for long and hard trip. When it is broken-in and lost some part of its initial cutting aggressiveness it could be nice choice for decent sharpening work on fine side and for finishing and/or daily touch-up on extra-fine side.
As you can see nothing ideal exists in this world, something always costs something.
Maybe DMT Double Sided Diafold for backpacking and SPYDERCO Bench Stones for thorough home work would be good combo?
Don't jump from one extreme to the other
Well, let's speak about certain sharpeners. Let alone all V-style sharpeners including excellent SPYDERCO Sharpmaker - they simply are not designed to sharpen convex edges. With this kind of edge (new edition F1 comes with convex edge) you have no choice aside from mastering free-hand sharpening. SPYDERCO Bench Stones - medium and fine - would work nicely for convex edge's free-hand sharpening and I strongly advise you to get them. But it is out of discussion to use them when backpacking, they are far too heavy and too brittle. The set of SPYDERCO ProFiles would be less expensive, more versatile and more portable (lighter) choice. Drawbacks - it's harder to work with convex edge on pretty narrow surface. They are even more brittle than Bench Stones because they are pretty thin long rods made of the same brittle ceramic. Also too heavy for backpacking.
This year SPYDERCO issued shortened version of ProFiles, 4" long rods could be practically enough to touch-up your 4" blade but they are too short for thorough sharpening. Because they are shorter they are somewhat lighter and not as shock-sensitive as full sized version.
But the DMT Double Sided Diafold with fine/extra-fine grit is even lighter and not shock-sensitive at all. It certainly would be my first choice for long and hard trip. When it is broken-in and lost some part of its initial cutting aggressiveness it could be nice choice for decent sharpening work on fine side and for finishing and/or daily touch-up on extra-fine side.
As you can see nothing ideal exists in this world, something always costs something.
Maybe DMT Double Sided Diafold for backpacking and SPYDERCO Bench Stones for thorough home work would be good combo?