I have a pile of Stones myself. I flatten them using sandpaper to get a better, more consistent surface to work with. Silicon Carbide Coarse/Fine Combo 8"x2" Silicon Carbide Coarse/Fine Combo 6"x2" Aluminum Oxide Coarse 8"x2" Aluminum Oxide Combo 6"x2" Aluminum Oxide Fine 4"x1.5" Vintage Synthetic Combo Stone 8"x2" Diamond Combo Stone 6"x2.5" Diamond Fine Stone 6"x2.5" Diamond Combo Stone 4"x1.5" Diamond Fine Stone 4"x1.5" Soft Arkansas 8"x2" Soft Arkansas 8"x2" Soft Arkansas 6"x2.5" Soft Arkansas 6"x1.5" Soft Arkansas 4"x2" Translucent Black Arkansas 6"x2" Black Arkansas 4"x2" Black Arkansas 4"x2.5" Translucent Grey Arkansas 6"x2" Translucent White Arkansas 4"x2" Belgian Blue Waterstone 8"x2"
I thought a thread about stones might pull some people out of the dark and into the light, who don't post much, when others are talking about their Sharp makers, work sharps, etc. There are tons of people still using oil stones, or Waterstones. I mainly use oil stones myself. I rarely ever use the BBW stone, because I don't feel the need for 4,000 grit, but I do have an appreciation for BBW's.
I use a coarse/fine aluminum oxide stone, a hard Arkansas stone, and finally if I want really sharp a 2000 grit diamond stone. Finally a leather strop mounted on a board. For quick work in the field I use an old (i have had it over 20 years) EZE Lap diamond rod with a brass handle. Or if for some reason I forgot the rod I will pickup a smooth piece of rock. It takes a little work using rocks but can be done.
I could stand to step-up my "sharpening game." Have some long-owned stones, including Arkansas. And some strops, made by gluing (contact cement) leather to simple wooden paint stir-sticks. And for my convex Bark Rivers, the standard mousepad-and-paper combo. My "dayhike kits" and Altoids kits include some wet-dry paper for "just in case."
At home I use Japanese waterstones. It takes some practice but you get a crazy sharp edge if you know what you're doing. At work or in the field a diafold. For the larger stuff and axes I use old sharpening stones I cut up to use as puck. Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G920F met Tapatalk
For most of my life, I failed to recognize that Soft Arkansas is not a good place to Start, when sharpening. Once I started using Coarse stones, life was much better.
Stones, eh? OIl stones: Ace 4" x 1 3/4" silicon carbide combo Norton 6" x 2" Economy silicone carbide combo Norton 8" x 2" Crystolon combo Norton 8" x 2" India Combo 8" x 2" Arkansas soft/hard combo bench stone Couple of 3" x 1" Arkansas stones pocket stones, 1 ea. soft and hard Diamonds: Set of 3 DMT diamond whetstones (polka dot), 6" x 2", coarse, fine, extra-fine Chefknives to Go 400/100 combo diamond plate 8" x 2.75” Atoma 140x diamond plate, 8.25" x 3" Water: Shapton Pro 320, 1k, 2k, 5k Suehiro Chemical 800 Kit: Spyderco Sharpmaker Strops: 3" x 11" Balsa with 1u diamond spray Old leather belt with some chromium oxide compound rubbed into it. I've got some wood and leather with plans to make some more strops and some different compounds but I haven't gotten around to it.
I own everything you have ever heard of..... water stones, oil stones, edge pro, work sharp, wicked sharp..and just straight up mechanical dedicated belt stock removers . All great. The only thing that makes a difference is a strop... and super cheap. DSCF0937 by mumbojumboo, on Flickr
Hm. I own (and use): An old fashioned two sided (coarse/fine) carborundum water stone that is starting to get way to saddle-backed A super fine white translucent Arkansas stone An old fashioned Norwegian scythe stone for sharpening scythes and axes. I usually finish buy stropping on my leather belt. I have been thinking of getting a better (set of) waterstone(s), and perhaps a guide for my Global kitchen knives, but haven't been able to find the funds.
I have used a Fallkniven DC4 stone for the longest time, with a strop my grandfather made from an old leather belt. I just never got into mechanical sharpeners. I just get a sense of satisfaction and some zen-like vibes from hand sharpening. Just the way I was taught I guess. "Cooler than a cucumber in a bowl of hot sauce."
Stones? I have a few... Several SiC and carborundum combo stones. Soft, hard, true hard, and white translucent Arkansas Medium and ultra fine DMT-type diamond Mutukusuyama 1k Red Aoto 4K Naniwa Super Stones in 1k, 5k, 10k, 12k Imperia la Roccia 12-15k hard slate Shoubudani 100 with Tomo nagura Several different diamond rods of various sizes for serrations. I also have a cow hide paddle strop with iron oxide paste, a balsa strop with chromium and iron oxide pastes, several canvas and linen strops and a horsehide razor strop. I get the Zen from using stones. Especially the Japanese synthetics and naturals which I use primarily for straight razors... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I recently bought a king 1000/6000 whetstone to replace my sharpmaker, and I have been having a really difficult time keeping a consistent angle on my knives. Do you guys have any tips/tricks/methods in order to help?
I like to free hand it. I usually sharpen my knives on japanese waterstones. The big stuff like axes and machetes I free hand but in a different way. The small stuff: stone on the bench, the big stuff: the blade on the bench. Plus. The big stuff doesn't need a shaving sharp edge Verstuurd vanaf mijn SM-G920F met Tapatalk