Are expensive whet stones worth it?

[Artificial Intelligence]

I bought a cheap sharpening stone but I don't know whether I'm getting poor results because it's poor quality or if it's just down to poor technique (I suspect my technique is fine). There's a more expensive sharpening stone on Amazon which gets great reviews but I don't know whether to spend the money on it as a replacement or not. What do you think?

Edited April 1, 2016 by Artificial Intelligence

[electrathon]

If you don't know how to sharpen well you will have trouble with any stone.  If you are good, a good stone makes you better.  Sort of like swivel knives.

[Art]

It really totally depends on what you are doing.  You can spend a LOT on money on abrasives.  I sharpened a lot of knives and other stuff with Carborundum stones and Tri-hone stones dill I got heavily into Diamond Stones.  You can also use a sheet of glass and sandpaper to keep cost down and still have a bunch of grits available.  Wit 3M Feathering Adhesive and General Purpose cleaner, you can get by with sandpaper forever. You should buy a few slip stones (either diamond, natural, or synthetic) for hard to get into places and punches.  Get the really good (and expensive) stuff when you need it.

Art

[Colt W Knight]

You can put an amazing edge on things with an inexpensive double sided Norton stone and a strop/fine steel. I put razor edges on knives with one of these for years

 

http://www.amazon.com/Norton-614636855653--8-Inch-Combination-Oilstone/dp/B000XK5ZDY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1459563089&sr=8-1&keywords=norton+sharpening+stone

Edited April 2, 2016 by Colt W Knight

[seagiant]

Hi,

       That Norton combo is excellent, and the India side is just a fantastic finish hone.

Make a leather strop on a board with some green or white rouge and you are good to go!

I've had mine for 25 years and still going strong!

 

Edited October 7, 2016 by seagiant

[Colt W Knight]

17 hours ago, seagiant said:

Hi,

       That Norton combo is excellent, and the India side is just a fantastic finish hone.

Make a leather strop on a board with some green or white rouge and you are good to go!

I've had mine for 25 years and still going strong!

 

Mine is 16-17 years old, and you can hardly tell its been used. I have a set of expensive diasharp DMT diamond stones, but to be honest, the Norton is way easier and quicker to use. I use the DMT stones to level frets on guitars.

 

[seagiant]

Hi,

        I worked with a guy that BEGGED me to sale my Norton....

I said, no way, go order your own!

I use it for everything,knives,leather tools, plane blades,chisles,ect.,ect.!

I buy a cheap combo diamond hone (Course-Medium) from Amazon, to make quick work of setting the edge.

Then go to the Norton India for finishing!

https://www.amazon.com/DIAMOND-SHARPENING-STONE-double-MEDIUM/dp/B000TY15AQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1475945813&sr=8-3&keywords=diamond+hone

Edited October 8, 2016 by seagiant

[Texasdave]

May I suggest before you buy any other stones watch a few videos on how to sharpen. There are some on this site that are quite good and You Tube has tons. Practice is the key and polishing or stropping the blade is just as important as getting it sharp. Learning proper blade angle is key to getting it sharp. I use Japanese water stones and usually only need to strop to keep an edge but that also has a lot to do with what you are sharpening, the metal its made of and how you use it. Lots of ways to accomplish sharpening and each tool you sharpen will be different.

Dave

[ArildS]

I have lazy chefs for friends, and I use Naniwa 400, 800, 1000, 3000, 5000 and finally 8000 grit.

The way I do things, it gets really sharp on the 5000, not before. The 5000 stone is magic. Creamy, in a way.

I can recommend the Naniwa Chosera for the 400 to 1000, but then skip to Super series on the finer grits.

I've bought knives from "chefknivestogo", happy with them, they have stones as well. Buy a stone holder.

I'll be getting this: http://www.chefknivestogo.com/naao2kgrbr.html

Edited November 3, 2016 by ArildS

[Chrism]

So on a budget which stones are the best to come by?