[SmallJawz]

What are your favorite sharpening stones and why.


I learned on oil stones and feel I can get a really good edge on them. I want a good fast cutting stone for my box and wanted to see everyones input on their favorite.

Thanks

[AlArchie]

Well, we're back here again! My favorite for my carving box is the cheapo EZ Lap 1"x4" diamond stone from Wall Mart. Around 5 bucks and it works just fine. I have a full set of Japanese waterstones, that I rarely, if ever use, but they give me a lot of prestige. Now, that's what I really need,hehehe.

Al

[Lynn O. Doughty]

I bought a 2x6" fine Diamond stone several years ago and it works fine for me. I have a 10" waterwheel that was made by AMT that I also use.

[Clifford_Parker]

I carry two 3" X 1" stones in my box. The first is a fine grit "oilstone" and the other is a hard Arkansas stone. I use both dry and wash them between uses with warm water and a drop of Dawn.

[FK]

For carving tools I really like the DMT diamond hones (blue, red and green), then a leather strop with 0,5 Micron green CrO compound or the Herb Dunkle Yellowstone compound.

Oil stones work fine however, they are slow cutting in comparision to the DMT diamonds with mineral oil lubrication.

Regards,
Fred Krow

[squbrigg]

I like Japanese water stones. I find them easy to use with some care and practice. Don't have to use them often, strop a lot and Rick does a better job on basic bevels than I do. Come to think on it, he does a better job on the rest too!!!

Bob

[Capt. Bandaid]

8" x 2" soft Arkansas, 6 x 2" hard Arkansas, leather strop with Yellowstone or the stuff that comes with the Flexcut strop kit. I have three waterstones and they are OK for final polishing but the real stones work better for me. I also have a set of Harbor Freight Diamond stones (?) but they tend to be a bit too aggressive. I did use them to take the bevel off of some jack knife blades and that made the knife a much better wood carving tool.

[buckbeans]

Tucson has a large rock and gem show every year and last year, one of the exhibitors from Arkansas was selling novaculite for those folks who like to make their own bow and arrows out of sticks and stones.
I went ahead and got a large wide chunk measuring 10 by six inches for six dollars.
I had one of my friends cut it with his diamond saw and guess who now has a fine white translucent arkansas stone.
Chris Pye from England is crazy about this stuff and I can easily understand now. Is seem to grab the steel as it cuts making it easier to maintain an angle.

[cerndog]

Is it safe to say most everyone here is a knife and sharpening stone collector like I am? I just love to talk about this stuff, especially when you find something that consistently works.
I have a 3x1 soft white arkansas and a 3x1 hard ark both glued to a block of wood and reach for them all the time. I use mineral oil to lube, then to the strop with the green compound. I like the flat diamond files for aggressive removal, but the arkansas never let me down.
I'm too impatient to soak my japanese stones for recommended 30 minutes!

mike

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I have several sheets of sandpaper that works fine lol