Author Topic: Stones or Diamonds? (Read 4768 times)

Eric Smith · « **on:** July 23, 2017, 12:05:49 AM »

I am stubbornly sticking with my Arkansas stones for sharpening. But I am curious, who has switched to diamond plates, and who still prefers stones? And Japanese water stones, still yet another frontier.

smallpatch · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2017, 12:43:04 AM »

Personally, I use diasharp stones.
Cut better, no oil needed. Stay flat.

PPatch · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2017, 12:52:13 AM »

Oil (carborundum stones), water, and now diamond, that was my route. Of the three, forget water stones, too much of a pain. Diamond stones cut rapidly, get the job done with less fuss. DMT is expensive but by far the best brand. Those from china, the cheap diamond stones, are junk.

If the arkansas stones are working for you then why go to the expense of changing?

dave

bama · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2017, 01:46:45 AM »

If you do this for a living and you sharpen everyday the diamond stones are the cat's meow. I cut my sharpening time down by 75% when I went over to the diamond stones. As an added plus because they cut so much quicker I am able to keep my bevels on chisels and gouges more consistent. Also my fine diamond stone is 8000 grit so I can get a sharper finer edge than I ever could with the Arkansas stones.

jerrywh · « **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2017, 03:34:28 AM »

What happens when you drop a stone? No more stones for me. I quit them about 20 years ago. The only thing I broke since was a ceramic plate. I sharpen gravers and chisels about 15 or 20 times a day. No time for nostalgia.

hmccaskey · « **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2017, 04:00:18 AM »

Which DMT diamond stones do you suggest?

I see they have a 4 stone set listed as
Includes 4 Grits (Extra Fine, Fine, Coarse and Extra Coarse)
Stones Measure 8" x 3"

David Rase · « **Reply #6 on:** July 23, 2017, 04:46:38 AM »

I see I am the only curmudgeon who is using a black Arkansas stone for my chisels and gouges. Kind of funny, as I recently switched to CBM wheels for sharpening my turning tools and use diamond wheels for sharpening my gravers.
David

Mark Elliott · « **Reply #7 on:** July 23, 2017, 05:28:59 AM »

I wouldn't use anything other than diamond stones. They are so much easier and quicker, not to mention more durable.

WadePatton · « **Reply #8 on:** July 23, 2017, 09:22:03 AM »

Quote from: Mark Elliott on July 23, 2017, 05:28:59 AM

I wouldn't use anything other than diamond stones. They are so much easier and quicker, not to mention more durable.

That and plus I don't have a full collection of Arkansas stones. I do the bulk of sharpening on diamond, and use synthetics and natural waterstones for going the full nine yards (razors). Chisels and plane irons get honed/polished out on highest-grit automotive papers-AFTER doing primary bevel setting/correction on DMT plates.

There is no substitute for sharp and there is no benefit to taking longer than necessary to get there-as I currently understand it.

WadePatton · « **Reply #9 on:** July 23, 2017, 09:32:07 AM »

Quote from: hmccaskey on July 23, 2017, 04:00:18 AM

Which DMT diamond stones do you suggest?

I see they have a 4 stone set listed as
Includes 4 Grits (Extra Fine, Fine, Coarse and Extra Coarse)
Stones Measure 8" x 3"

I mostly use Coarse (also great for leveling waterstones) and Fine. Then, if needed, I go straight to 1500 or 2k paper and then a 2500 or 5k paper in the place of chromium oxide for final polish. Paul Sellers uses a three-stone setup but I don't think he uses DMT. I think he's replicating a DMT Coarse, Fine, and Extra Fine setup. My next DMT will be Extra Fine. I find that I can use standard papers/grinding to do what Extra Coarse might do. And that's only for super neglected or poorly ground items.

I tend to start with antiques that may or may not have had any proper maintenance. Refurbish and Reuse eh?

Also the 6" DMT's can be had with dual grits for less expense, BUT the 8x3 is a great size and mass. The 6" is easily a pocket stone--and the best pocket stone ever.

smart dog · « **Reply #10 on:** July 23, 2017, 01:02:24 PM »

Hi,
I don't use any of the above except diamond and ceramic stones for my gravers. Instead, I have a cheap polished granite tile from Home Depot at each of my work stations where I use gravers or chisels, upon which I place 6"x 6" sheets of 3-M micro abrasive films of different grits. I just hold the sheet down with my fingers and strop the chisels. No lubrication to mess with. Every so often I insert chisels and plane blades in Boatman53's sharpeneing jig and run them over the abrasive paper to clean up the bevels. I used my current 3-M sheets for more than a year and they can be cleaned with water. As a final measure, I always strop my chisels, plane blades, knives, and gravers on leather charged with simichrome polish.

dave

Tim Crosby · « **Reply #11 on:** July 23, 2017, 02:35:46 PM »

Sharpening...sounds like a good topic for a demo at the ALR tent at Dixon's.

Tim C.

David Price · « **Reply #12 on:** July 23, 2017, 04:36:18 PM »

Tim,

I will be giving my seminar on sharpening and carving on Sat at Dixon's as I usually do. I will also be demonstrating sharpening at my table as long as I can. Looking forward to seeing all of you there.

David Price

Ray Settanta · « **Reply #13 on:** July 23, 2017, 05:16:36 PM »

Quote from: hmccaskey on July 23, 2017, 04:00:18 AM

Which DMT diamond stones do you suggest?

I see they have a 4 stone set listed as
Includes 4 Grits (Extra Fine, Fine, Coarse and Extra Coarse)
Stones Measure 8" x 3"

Paul Sellers on diamond plates.
"Firstly, I find little if any difference between EZE Lap and DMT in terms of abrasive quality. Both cut steel fast and both are good quality products I can recommend any day. They are both dead flat and I have used both for extended periods. EZE Lap seem less expensive and last well, as well as DMT. I do not have the ability to scientifically test either product so my testing is limited. That said, I think that a set of plates by either maker will last any individual woodworker for a lifetime.

DMT Extra Fine sharpening stones are 1200, Fine are 600 and Coarse 325 grit.

EZE Lap are Superfine 1200, Fine 600 and Coarse 250."

David Rase · « **Reply #14 on:** July 23, 2017, 05:17:30 PM »

Quote from: smart dog on July 23, 2017, 01:02:24 PM

Hi,
I don't use any of the above except diamond and ceramic stones for my gravers. Instead, I have a cheap polished granite tile from Home Depot at each of my work stations where I use gravers or chisels, upon which I place 6"x 6" sheets of 3-M micro abrasive films of different grits. I just hold the sheet down with my fingers and strop the chisels. No lubrication to mess with. Every so often I insert chisels and plane blades in Boatman53's sharpeneing jig and run them over the abrasive paper to clean up the bevels. I used my current 3-M sheets for more than a year and they can be cleaned with water. As a final measure, I always strop my chisels, plane blades, knives, and gravers on leather charged with simichrome polish.

dave

Dave,
Those 3M sheets do work very well. I have had great success with them.
David

Mike Brooks · « **Reply #15 on:** July 23, 2017, 05:29:01 PM »

I just use an old grinder with a big hunk out of the wheel.....

Eric Smith · « **Reply #16 on:** July 24, 2017, 12:21:59 AM »

Quote from: Mike Brooks on July 23, 2017, 05:29:01 PM

I just use an old grinder with a big hunk out of the wheel.....

You crack me up, Mike. Always look forward to your posts.

Jerry V Lape · « **Reply #17 on:** July 24, 2017, 12:57:16 AM »

Third voice for 3M abrasive films which I setup with a couple grits on a granite reference block for carving tools. I don't like the films with the sticky back as they just make a mess on the granite resulting in the next sheet getting cut up. The sheets adhere fine with just a few drops of water. I do have a DMT fine that gets used for somethings. But nothing I have tried has worked as well for me as the finest of the 3M films to get a flawless edge on the carving tools. Grits used from coarse to finest are: 45 micron, 15 micron, 5 micron, 1 micron and 0.3 micron. The two coarsest are for establishing the edge, the last three to achieve finest polish and eliminates need to strop. Pull edge across the paper instead of pushing.

smart dog · « **Reply #18 on:** July 24, 2017, 02:59:17 AM »

Hi Jerry,
Yep, that is the way and it is very effective.

dave

dogcatcher · « **Reply #19 on:** July 24, 2017, 06:54:58 AM »

I use the diamond cards and sandpaper. Prefer the diamond cards for traveling, but usually stick to the sandpapers at home.

smart dog · « **Reply #20 on:** July 24, 2017, 01:58:11 PM »

Hi.
For anyone coming to Dixon's this year, I will be showing how I sharpen chisels and knives with micro abrasive sheets while I demonstrate cutting lock moldings.

dave

deepcreekdale · « **Reply #21 on:** July 24, 2017, 05:01:25 PM »

I am with Davie Rase on this. For final honing, I use a black hard Arkansas surgeons stone. Sadly, those are hard to get these days as scalpels are no longer sharpened, but are disposable. Most people would be surprised to find that these scalpels are not that sharp, they are not cutting anything nearly as dense as wood, also they are very thin and flexible. I have access to them but don't really have much use for them. As an old RN, I learned to sharpen the old style scalpels, I use the same technique on chisels. I final polish with leather, nothing added to it. I use a GRS diamond wheel for my gravers though. With the holding fixture that has the degrees on it, you can perfectly repeat any angles you want. I would love to try the diamond stones as I am a tool junkie but since I feel confident with my old Arkansas stones and techniques, I will probably keep using them.

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Author Topic: Stones or Diamonds? (Read 4768 times)