Featured Discussions - iKnife Collector2024-03-28T13:49:05Zhttps://iknifecollector.com/group/knifesharpeners/forum/topic/list?feed=yes&xn_auth=no&featured=1Don't have stones? Need stones? Here are recommendationstag:iknifecollector.com,2013-08-21:3181080:Topic:9386172013-08-21T15:38:14.373ZJack Haskins, Jr.https://iknifecollector.com/profile/JackHaskinsJr
<p>On other forums I've seen several people ask for sharpening tool recommendations in seperate threads or discussions. People recommend what they like and use. Then, a year later one of the recommendors makes another recommendation of different stones because of experimenting and playing around. Does that make the first recommendation mute? No, just a different choice usually.</p>
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<p>So I figured if people who have definite opinions on their tools they can post here so anyone…</p>
<p>On other forums I've seen several people ask for sharpening tool recommendations in seperate threads or discussions. People recommend what they like and use. Then, a year later one of the recommendors makes another recommendation of different stones because of experimenting and playing around. Does that make the first recommendation mute? No, just a different choice usually.</p>
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<p>So I figured if people who have definite opinions on their tools they can post here so anyone wanting recommendations can have a single place to start. So here goes.</p>
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<p>I have tried several different stones and systems in the past 5-6 years. Especially in the past 8 months or so and have settled on what I am going to stick with and recommend to anyone wanting my opinion. They can either spend the money on what I recommend or they can do what I did. Spend hundreds of dollars trying different stones, systems, strops, compounds, etc. To top it all off I have sold a stone to fund another type to try then ended up selling or trading it and buying another stone to replace the one I sold because I prefer it. Sounds terrible doesn't it? Well, I don't think it has been. Now I have what I like and can resist the next recommendation to try a $100+ stone that I haven't used yet. I believe with all my heart if a person wants a nice set of good (great in my mind) quality sharpening stones he/she can buy these and never buy another one. He/she will spend in the neighborhood of $200 max. These stones will sharpen any blade steel you can buy. <strong>Forget about NOT being able to sharpen a knife with a blade steel hardness as high as Rc 65.</strong> Most decent knife blades fall into the Rc hardness of 57-60. Higher than that and the stones of lesser quality will require a long time to sharpen the harder steels. And that can be a serious pain.</p>
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<p>Here are my recommendations (<span style="color: #ff0000;">red</span> are essential to get right away or very soon over time IMO. <span style="color: #3366ff;">Blue <span style="color: #000000;">can be one or the other, similar results. I do recommend one of these though. If you are going to buy in seperate purchases leave one or both of these for last. You may find the DMT fine grit is all you want or need to finish with.)</span></span></p>
<p>DMT (diamond stones)</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;">coarse grit 6" or 8"</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;">fine grit 6" or 8"</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #3366ff;">extra-fine grit 6" or 8"</span></p>
<p>If cost is not an issue I believe the longer stones are preferred but I use the 6" stones a lot for pocket knives. Longer stones are easier for longer knives like kitchen and hunting/camping knives.</p>
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<p>Spyderco (ceramic stones)</p>
<p><span style="color: #ff0000;"><span style="color: #3366ff;">Fine grit 8" stone</span> <span style="color: #000000;">(Similar to the extra-fine DMT stone)</span></span></p>
<p>Ultra Fine grit 8" stone <strong>(extremely optional) </strong> I have owned one, know what it can do and love it but can live without it. Great performing stone though for the ultimate smooth razor edge on a knife. I just don't need that type of edge. I will get another one the next time a surprise bag of money falls in my lap. lol</p>
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<p>A single site to order any of these is cutleryshoppe.com. Best prices and customer service of any site I've dealt with. There are a couple other good sites I like but none are "better" than this one and he has all of the things I mentioned above.</p>
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<p>A big factor in my decision on what to use is cleanliness. The diamond or ceramic stones can be used dry, no water or oil. You can use water on the diamond stones and some prefer it but either way (wet or dry) is perfectly fine.</p>
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<p>STROPS:</p>
<p>Should be another discussion but for starters I'd recommend the one on knivesplus.com. It is about $25 I think and it works great. You never even need more compound. If you want to get serious (or stupid lol) there are lots of other products that get VERY refined results. Most of these ARE NOT CHEAP! Also, unless you are really obsessive you will now have everything you will ever NEED. If you WANT more, have fun. :)</p>
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<p>Do you want a sharpening system? I'll leave that for another discussion I think. I have used the DMT aligner and Edge Pro Apex. Aligner is very good, EP is great. The price indicates the performance difference very accurately I believe. More on these later or in another discussion.</p>