whats better water or diamond

[yip]

 i'm going to buy sharpening stones but just wondering whats better water stones or diamond steel, any thoughts........................yip

[Nordnecker]

I imagine you'll get lots of opinions on this. I have one diamond plate that I really like and has held up for many years. Another one I bought has not held up well. I don't have any waterstones, but have several oil stones, a "scary sharp"  set-up, and a Tormek.
G'luck

[rich pierce]

A diamond stone may wear out but it will stay flat!

[wattlebuster]

I have the DMT 6 inch diamond stone plates in course,medium,an fine for 20 yrs or so an they have held up with good results. I also use a good old fashioned butchers steel for scary sharp edges on my knives

[Tim Crosby]

 Although pricy the Diamond have worked well for me for sometime. Take a look at this thread by David Price, it is from the Archives.

 http://americanlongrifles.org/old_board/index.php?topic=33.msg153#msg153

 Tim C.

[Mark Elliott]

I have used all sorts of natural stones, but now use diamond stones and hones for most of my sharpening.  They cut faster and stay flat.   They nothing short of revolutionized my sharpening by allowing me to quickly put the proper edge on a tool.  I use DMT 6" two sided stones (extra coarse (260 grit)/coarse(320? grit) and fine(600 grit)/extra fine(1200 grit)).   I have them mounted side by side in a wood holder clamped to my bench with the 260 grit and 600 grit sides normally up.  The 260 grit is for reshaping edges.  The 600 grit is for normal sharpening.   I then hone on a leather strop with Semichrome polishing compound.  

I have a set of EZ-Lap diamond hones and needle files.   I use these for lock work and the former for touching up graver tips.  

The problem I have with natural stones is that they have to be used with some sort of messy lubricant and they don't stay flat.   As far as I am concerned,  the only "problem" with diamond stone/hones is that they are not traditional.   However,  in my mind,  they are so much superior in performance, that I can't justify not using them.   They make my other traditional hand tools work much better.  

[PPatch]

Over many years I've made the progression from carborundum/natural stones to water stones and now diamond. I found the water stones not much good for the sorts of tools we use such as gouges and chisels plus the finer grits quickly load up with metal residue. You can create a grove in a water stone in a heartbeat and that means you have to flatten them all the time. A pain in the rear.

The diamond "stones" (DMT brand) work fast and stay flat. These days I shape and hone to "pretty darn good" with the diamond stones then resort to the natural arkansas stones and a strop for finishing to scary sharp. Be sure to get the diamond stones from a reputable source, meaning they are going to cost more, as there are a lot of cheap useless chinese stuff in the diamond sharpening stone market. My strops are just old leather belts glued to a pine plank with the rough side up and charged with polishing compound. For getting at the inside of gouges I mostly use slip stones and round dowels, the dowels charged with the polishing compound and held in a vice, some require shaping prior to use. For very small vainers and the like small brass templates specifically shaped for the tool and charged with compound (Acer's trick, and it works). The media I use is nothing more than motor valve grinding compound followed by a very fine automotive polishing compound purchased at one of the big box auto stores. Gets the job done.

dave

[spiderman852]

What Ppatch said!

Top notch set-up!

Mike

[P.W.Berkuta]

Like many others have said already the diamond plate does a good job . For me I use 3 diamond plates - corse / medium / fine to get my edge then move to a very fine ceramic "stone" by Spiderco then to a strop for most of my tools. I do use a 4000/8000 water stone by Norton for my good flat chisles and hand plane blades which I also strop. I have purchased so many sharpening "stones" through the years that I just need to use them all at one time or another or I feel I did not get my money's worth out of them .

[WadePatton]

I bought my DMT's to keep my waterstones flat.  But that was for straight razor sharpening and nothing else.

Now I use the DMT's nearly exclusively for wood tool sharpening as well as knife/razor repair. 

I only use the waterstones (and naturals) for razors and knives.

I strop WW tools with 3m 2500/5000 abrasive cloth.  Razors get leather and oxides.

For tools, I'm quite pleased with the DMT continuous coverage plates.  Never tried the other sort.

[Bob Roller]

I bought my DMT's to keep my waterstones flat.  But that was for straight razor sharpening and nothing else.

Now I use the DMT's nearly exclusively for wood tool sharpening as well as knife/razor repair. 

I only use the waterstones (and naturals) for razors and knives.

I strop WW tools with 3m 2500/5000 abrasive cloth.  Razors get leather and oxides.

For tools, I'm quite pleased with the DMT continuous coverage plates.  Never tried the other sort.

Where can I get the super fine abrasive cloth that you mention here???

Bob Roller

[WadePatton]

Where can I get the super fine abrasive cloth that you mention here???

Bob Roller

Most places that sell automotive paint supplies.  I think I got the 2500 at a 'Zone and the 5k at an Advance (both 3m make).  The usual "paper-backed" goes to 2000 at Napa.

[yip]

  i called Rockler wood carvers and said they had water stones, but when i got there they talked me into glass and wet paper of different grit. so i bought it, the guy that sold it to me was very knowledgeable so i bought it. hope i did the right thing................yip

[ddoyle]

Bob, I have bought abrasive papers from LEE valley tools. I Likely paid a premium (or not) but they have absolutely everything.  (down to 9000x)
Look under wood working/sharpening.

[Mark Elliott]

  i called Rockler wood carvers and said they had water stones, but when i got there they talked me into glass and wet paper of different grit. so i bought it, the guy that sold it to me was very knowledgeable so i bought it. hope i did the right thing................yip

I have used silicon carbide papers backed by a cast iron jointer bed.   Actually,  I see nothing wrong with abrasive paper on glass except that it will wear out faster than diamond. In my opinion it is a step above natural stones.    I should have mentioned that I used continuous diamond stones.   It is required for gravers and very small chisels and gouges.   The diamonds stones that look like a honey comb are just for knives and plane blades.   

[kutter]

Haven't used an oil or water stone in years.

I rough out  wood chisels and gravers on a belt grinder, usually to 280grit. Any finer and there's too much chance of burning the edge for any gain in material removal you might have IMO.
For wood chisels, I then go to the diamond plate, then 800 & maybe 1000 grit paper backed by the same plate.
A quick touch to a buffing wheel w/high gloss compound pulls any wire edge off and leaves a razor edge w/o damaging the geometry.
I keep it quick and simple. I want to use the chisel(s) for what they are made for,,not be a professional chisel sharpener.
 
Gravers go right to the 600grit power hone wheel for shaping and pointing and are done after the belt grinder roughing out.
If needed, 1000grit polished points or even diamond polish hone I can do if the job demands it. But I don't like the high bright look of those on restoration or older work.
Carbide demands diamond polishing generally for workable tool point life. I don't use it much any more though.

[Kermit]

I have a Grizzly Tormek repop that mostly gets used for lathe tools and reshaping damaged edges. I use mostly abrasive paper lubed with water these days. Rarely drag out the waterstones any more.

We got our hands on some 12,000 abrasive cloth some years back. The guy working spraying our conversion varnish decided to use it to try cleaning overspray off his shop glasses. Polished those lenses to about like new. Might be useful for sharpening your tools for neurosurgery.