1200 / 1600 Ceramic stones disappeared from site?

Thanks for asking. We’ve been working with the manufacturer to straighten a couple of things out but hope to start carrying them again soon. The earliest we’d have them is in 6 weeks.

I was ready to place an order today but I wanted to include the ceramic 1200 / 1600 stones, and I have found that they have disappeared from the products page:

http://www.wickededgeusa.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=84

Are they going to be back, or is this permanent?

Just kind of confused as to what’s going on.

id say drop them for now, i bought mine thinking they would be hard like ceramics but they are more “chalklike”, they absorbe water and sometimes catch the edge and a small cloud of dust shoots from them. and the edge will need more worke from that..
i havent tried the other ceramic but it seems to be ceramic like from pictures..

remember to get enough strops 😉 that is one thing i regret not ordering more of on my first order

This is a good question, one that a lot of people ask and that we’ve gone back and forth with the manufacturer about. These stones are very different than what most people expect yet they are extremely effective. The coarse blue stones take time to break in. They have what is called a “kiln layer” that needs to be removed. The easiest way is to just use them and let the powder come off. Once you get them broken in, you’ll be pleasantly surprised how well they clean up the edge after the diamond stones.

I went ahead with my order from Wicked Edge and also placed an order for the 1200 / 1600 stones from here[/url], where they are available now.

I received them today, and I have to wonder about the 1200 side. The 1600 side looks correct, but the 1200 side is porous. I also rubbed the blunt side of a cheap pair of scissors across the 1200 stone, and (as TonyPettersen mentions above) it actually removed a little of the stone. I’m confused how such a stone will be able to cut steel in micro increments for sharpening as it seems to actually be softer than cheap steel? (By comparison I’ve had the Spyderco Sharpmaker for some time and those stones aren’t like this.)

As you can tell I’m a novice when it comes to professional sharpening so I’m not sure if I have a bad stone or if I just have a lack of knowledge.

Interested to hear any input! 🙂

That’s really interesting. The manufacturing process is different but result of the top layer appears similar.

I wonder if it’s similar to what DMT writes about their ceramics…

Why is there “smoke” when I first use my ceramic sharpener?

Break in of Unbreakable Ceramic Surfaced Product
DMT‘s unbreakable ceramic sharpener is produced using a patented process called Micro Arc Oxidation. This process is used to transform the surface of aluminum into an unbreakable, wear resistant ceramic (Aluminum Oxide) abrasive.

The Process

The oxide layer literally grows inward into the Aluminum by approximately 75% and outward by about 25%. Coating thicknesses can vary between 30 and 150 microns (or approximately 0.001” to 0.005”) depending on how the coating process is carried out. The process produces a two layer coating of ceramic; the outer layer (Gamma) being somewhat granular and chalky and the inner layer (Alpha) a very dense and hard ceramic abrasive.

How This Affects My Sharpener
Sometimes some of the Gamma phase layer remains on the product’s surface until the sharpener is used. It is not unusual to see traces of this outer granular Gamma phase layer slough off during your first few sharpening strokes. It looks like smoke. Do not be concerned by this. It is to be expected and considered normal due to the two layer base structure of the ceramic. After the first few sharpenings, this outer layer will be completely removed, leaving you a very hard, long wearing unbreakable ceramic sharpener which will provide the ultimate in edge refinement.
http://www.dmtsharp.com/resources/dmt-faq/#why-is-there-smoke-when-i-first-use-my-ceramic-sharpener%5B/quote%5D

We’ve been working with the manufacturer to straighten a couple of things out

Hi Clay,

If I may ask, is this a manufacturing quality or design issue?

Are the new ones going to be different in some way.

Thanks.

Hi Clay.

Thanks for the info, I just ordered some from Howes Knife Shop.

I can live with the powder etc. now I know what to expect.

Really keen to get my name on the list for the new arms.
Sent an email to WE sales, hoping for a reply soon?

Billabong.

Billabong do you consider these to be defective to the point where you are asking for replacements?