Who's got the stones to answer?

D

db

Joined
Oct 3, 1998
Messages
3,762
I am trying to decide between water stones and the Spyderco ceramic bench hones. I have already coarse and medium grits and am looking at the finer ones. any opinions on the Spydy's or Norton 4k/8k, or Shapton 2k/5K, or ceramic VS water stones in general?
 
For the finer grits it may not make any difference. Ive used the fine Spyderco rods for years and they work great. I havent used the finer waterstones, although I've wanted to try a 4000 to follow my 800 grit.
 
I just bought some super fine stones from spyderco. Wow. I've never gotten a knife this sharp, but I'm not a total nut. I've never been able to use the flat stones properly, I've only been able to use the sharpmaker....
 
I've got some ultra fine rods for the sharpmaker and have found them to be very good indeed. I have a norton stone (grandfathers) and it will get knives as sharp but it's a lot more messy
 
I've got the spyderco Medium and the shapton 1k. If you plan on just using the stones to touch up edges the spyderco stones will excel, zero mess, as you can use them dry, and they have a good feel to them once broken in after a few knives.

If you're looking to start at the shapton 2k as a first stone then the spyderco medium would be (in my estimation, I don't have the 2k) a very close stone in terms of grit. The ceramics "will" load up a bit though if you're trying to do alot of sharpening, so they'll need to be cleaned occasionally or you'll get little spots where there's steel built up. The waterstones take care of this as you sharpen and wet the stone.

If heavier material removal is a concern, then I'd go with waterstones period, especially the 1000 grit ones, as they remove fairly quick but still leave a nice edge. The shaptons wear less than other brands so they don't require as much flattening, and you can use a bit more pressure on them to speed up material removal even more.

*edit: You're looking at the Shapton Pro series stones right? They're supposed to work better on hard/wear resistant alloys compared to their other stones.
 
Yup Yoda, the Shapton 2000 and the spyderco are the 2 hones I'm trying to decide between. I also have the Shapton 1000 and like it very much for a toothy coarse edge. In fact the 1000 edge is probably the edge I like the most.
 
WATER STONES!!!

I got a new set this week: Norton 220 and a sandwich Japanese 1000/4000. That's all I use now. They cut absolutely beautifully and provide excellent feedback (bite) to tell you how the hold the angle. I got a mirror polish with the 4000 stone and can't really see a use for the 8000 unless it's for woodworking tools.

I only use the Sharpmaker rods as hones (white) and field sharpeners (grey). Oh, and for the few recurves I have.
 
It is really a matter of personal preference. Waterstones do not load up they cut very fast and they have a very nice "feel". They are fun to work with. But they require water are a lot more messy and also more fagile in the sense that they are softer and get dinged edges and corners more easily and can also gauge. On the other hand you can fix those corners and edges and maintain a champher with a bit of sandpaper very readily. Both shouldn't be dropped.

Both work very well, and get an edge very sharp. In the very, very fine compartment I would say, the waterstones still have an edge. There is nothing in ceramic out that compares to an 8000+ waterstones. But just my $0.02 cents.
 
Hrmm, well if you like the 1000 stone's edge, I'd say get the spyderco Fine/superfine or the shapton 5k stone. The 2000 sounds really nice, and I'd get it if I wanted an intermediate step before a polish stone or a slightly finer edge, but otherwise it might be a waste. If you want the finer stone just to microbevel or touch up the edge as opposed to going for a full polished edge, then I'd definately go for the spyderco ceramics. They're cheaper, don't need to be flattened, and clean up easier. If you are going for a full polished edge though I think I'd spring for the 2000 and the 5000 hones. At least the 5000 as you can get a full polish with it from the 1k, it'll just take a bit longer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top