Which stone for profiling an edge on a newly heat-treated knife

[rockfishbrewery]

Hello,

I just finished profiling my first stock removal knife and am about to send it off to Peters for heat treatment.

The spec is as follows:

- Overall length: 16in (blade length is 10in, the handle is 6in)
- Steel: 3/32 A2 stock
- Current edge thickness (before edge profiling): .020in
- Planned edge geometry: 15deg per side (30deg all inclusive)
- Planned hardness: 60 RC
- Blade purpose: General purpose kitchen boneless meat and vegetable slicing

My questions are as follows:

I currently have a 600 grit and 1000/6000 grit (dual sided) Japanese waterstones. Those two work great for sharpening knives that have already been edge profiled. I spoke with a local knife sharpener, and they said that I would need to start with an 80 grit stone, than progressively jump to a 12, than to a 220 before going to my 600.

- Do I really need to jump through 3 separate grits before using my 600 grit stone? Could I set my edge profile with an 80 or a 120, than move on to my 600?

I'm trying to keep cost down, and purchasing 3 separate stones (or one combo stone and one single grit stone) is not doable due to budget constraints.


What do you think?


Thanks in advance for any input you might have.

 

[xmtgx]

I set my edge with a 1200 grit stone takes just a few minutes. Though I also take my edges much thinner then .02in before sharpening I go down to .005-.01 depending on what its to be used for. 600 grit should cut fast enough to set an edge as long as its a good stone. Definitively do not need 80 or 120...

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I would suggest getting a Duosharp DMT Plate (8" or 10") in coarse/fine ( black /red = 220/600) and setting the edge first, then switching to your stones. The 600 grit stone alone will do it with more time and patience, but the diamond plates will set the edge fast and straight. Once established, the 600/1000/6000 progression will do well.

I agree that very few people need Japanese stones in every grit from ara-to to nagura. A set of coarse, fine ,and extra fine will do most tasks.