Hi,
First time poster here, thought id give it a go:)
I am looking to buy new waterstones with a budget of around 200 bucks. For the last two years ive only had the diamond stone sharpening set from axminster rider, with grits #400 and #1000. I have read that diamond stones remain flat, but dull over time. So initially i am thinking to move up to two additional waterstones with 3000/5000+6000/8000, and later replace the diamond stones with waterstones when i can budget for that. Is this a good plan?
My local retailer sells naniwa stones, but i am unsure whether to go for the professional (earlier called chosera) or specialty (earlier called superstones). In gochnours tool test from issue 224 it seems that the main difference between them is honing speed, but they both perform well after honing. What do you think about good vs best?
I am using a LN a2 hand plane blade, and rider chisels similar to narex (o1 with manganese?), but might upgrades chisels in the future. Im a cabinetmakers apprentice, so i use my tools almost daily, at the very least once a week.
Thank you in advance,
-Tarjei
Replies
I can't say I have experience with either of those two brands, but will say after 40+ years of Woodworking I stopped using Waterstones several years ago for a couple of reasons, my shop had no source of running water, I tired of the soaking time and the mess involved and the constant flattening needed. Instead I switched to glass plates with 3m film and could not be happier. For about $60 you can get a starter set from Taylortools.com that includes 3 large plate glass plates and 10-12 different grit films. I attached 1 film to each side of the glass and I have 6 different grits ready to go with just a spritz of water and the edge I achieve is second to none. Couple it with a rubber dish drying mat from Amazon, similar mats are sold to woodworkers for 3 to 4 times the cost, and I have a low mess, light weight, compact easy to store sharpening system for less than $100.
The only thing I would add is if you go this route sharpen on the pull stoke only. When I first switched I did sharpen on both strokes and found myself slicing the film occasionally with the sharp edge. Once I started only apply pressure on the draw stroke not only did that problem go away but I also found myself getting a wire edge formed quicker and spending fewer strokes overall.
Thanks for the advice. The film + glass method seems very interesting, and i should definitely buy a rubber mat! Its funny how branding and marketing can double the prices that way..
Re. initial budgetary question. For my LN A2 plane blades I use Norton 1000/4000/8000 waterstones. I have an Ohishi 10000 that I use for touch up/honing - needs no water. These are more than satisfactory and you can get some Norton combo sets for under $200. I use 3M films and glass for chisels though.
Seems that 4000 and 8000 are the common honing grits from these replies. Good to know! Im curious, what makes you go waterstone for the plane blade and 3m film for chisels? Is it a question of efficiency?
Waterstones are great. For me, they are a much better experience than using diamond stones or paper. And as a full time woodworker, I need to enjoy the process. People obsess over ever little detail like how to soak, or what to use to keep your bench clean. I just keep the 800 soaking and the 6000 gets spritzed. As a surface I use a scrap piece of plywood. Everything wipes up easily.
Everything I need to sharpen fits in this tote in the attached photo.
Shapton glass are nice but probably out of the budget constraint.
I like king personally. An 800 and a 6000 can get it all done. See David Charlesworth.
I’d consider the 1000 and 8000 from this company. https://suzukitool.com/
They’ll be my next purchase when my Kings wear out years from now.
Your diamonds will be great to reestablishing the bevels when needed or working on things like edges of card scrapers. Also for flattening the water stones.
Don’t let the details bog you down, just get to sharpening, learn your system and trust it. Although if you are an apprentice, you employer should get you set up for the work he does.
A shopmate of mine who is a professional bladesmith swears by the Chosera Pro.
Nice setup:)
I will definitely not trash the diamond stones, they will have their used as you say!
Cool to hear that your bladesmith mate likes the chosera line. I might just go for them and practice getting sharp
The only stones you really need are 1,000 4,000 and 8,000. Whatever media those grits are on might matter to you -- mess, expense, etc -- but the media won't matter to your cutting edges.
I stopped using waterstones for the same reasons esch cited above.
I use DMT diamond stones, and finish with a Spyderco ultra fine ceramic. They hold up better than those from Trend and others. They've lasted longer than my last set of watersones, which got too thin, mostly from all the flattening.
Waterstones, sandpaper, diamonds, oil stones. All the same. Pick one that suits you and your shop, and stick with it.
Probably only relevant if you decide to go the waterstone route, but I do not like combination stones. Each person’s experience will differ based on their own workflow, but for the way mine works combo stones have ended up being a false economy.
Ive been wondering about this as well. Thanks for the advice!
I use a Norton 4000/8000 combo. I also have a 16K Shapton, but really anything after 8000 is usually optional.
Most of the guys here seem to go for 4k and 8k, i might just join that club then!
For a long time I used a King 1000/6000 combination stone. It was fine, but required long soak times and dished easily.
I've since switched over to the Shapton Ha No Kuromaku ceramic stones. They are splash and go. Literally spray some water on them and start sharpening. They're relatively hard so they don't dish too quickly. They come in a nice case to dry and store.
$150 will get you a set of three stones 1k, 5k, 8k. This is what I use in my basement shop, with no running water.
https://www.amazon.com/SHAPTON-Kuromaku-Ceramic-Whetstone-Medium/dp/B01FYEYKEI/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=shapton+sharpening+stones&qid=1638907071&sr=8-2
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