Need advise on next stones/strops please

[Patrick Martin]

Hello all! I’m looking to move up in my kit and am curious what you true professionals think would be best. I have right now the pro pack 2 upgrade kit, angle cube, base, and for stones 50,80 100,200 400,600 800,1000 1200,1600 and strops just 5,3.5. Wondering what you would recommend. Do you think I need the 1.4,0.6 ceramics as well? And should I get the 14,10 and 1,0.5 strops also? I just want your opinions as if they’re worth it, or make a noticeable difference. I’ll show some pics of my recent edges. Thanks in advance for the help guys. I have learned so much from this place I really appreciate it.

[Mark76]

If I’d have the 1200/1600 stones and my budget was limited, I’d rather invest in strops + compound than in the 1.4/0.6 stones.

I have both types of stones and they are a bit similar regarding their coarseness. The 1.4 stones seem a bit more coarse than the 1200 stones and the 0.6 stones seem a bit finder than the 1600 stones.

Nice edge and nice pics, by the way! :cheer:

Molecule Polishing: my blog about sharpening with the Wicked Edge

[Marc H]

If I’d have the 1200/1600 stones and my budget was limited, I’d rather invest in strops + compound than in the 1.4/0.6 stones.

I have both types of stones and they are a bit similar regarding their coarseness. The 1.4 stones seem a bit more coarse than the 1200 stones and the 0.6 stones seem a bit finder than the 1600 stones.

To understand you right, if you owned both these ceramic stone plates (Ultra fine and Super fine) to maximize the scratch removal potential you’re saying you would use them in this order: UF Coarse 1.4mcg, then SF 1200, then SF 1600, then UF 0.6mcg last? Then go to strops?

Marc
(MarcH's Rack-Its)

[wickededge]

I guess it depends on what you’re going for. If it’s super polish, then you might want the 14/10 strops plus the kangaroo strops with some of the sprays. The 14/10 strops might seem like a backwards step but they act as though they’re much finer and are great for getting out the scratches from the stones. Whenever I go for a true mirror, I find I have to use the 14/10s to get there. If you’re going for extreme sharpness, then maybe the glass platens and diamond films.

-Clay

[Marc H]

I am mostly going for sharpness. Clay, you made no mention of how to use the ceramic plate before I move on to the strops. Where do I go after the 1000 grit Diamond?

Marc
(MarcH's Rack-Its)

[wickededge]

I am mostly going for sharpness. Clay, you made no mention of how to use the ceramic plate before I move on to the strops. Where do I go after the 1000 grit Diamond?

You go right on to the 1200/1600 stones. I like to use them slightly damp, placing a shallow plate behind the sharpener with a sponge, a little water and dish soap and periodically pressing the stones into the sponge. After the stones, go on to the strops though you’ll want to lower your angle by 2 degrees for stropping.

-Clay

[Mark76]

To understand you right, if you owned both these ceramic stone plates (Ultra fine and Super fine) to maximize the scratch removal potential you’re saying you would use them in this order: UF Coarse 1.4mcg, then SF 1200, then SF 1600, then UF 0.6mcg last? Then go to strops?

You understand me completely right :cheer: .

The ceramic plates Clay referred to are the ceramic stones. I don’t know about the ceramic ones, but technically the diamond stones are not stones, but plates. Just a matter of semantics.

I read you’re going for extreme sharpness. I don’t want to confuse you any further (but I know do 😛 ). If you want to combine sharpness and polish and also go for something that lasts you for a long time, there are the Chosera stones. The 5K/10K Choseras will give you a dream edge after the 1200/1600 stones.

Molecule Polishing: my blog about sharpening with the Wicked Edge

[Patrick Martin]

If I can try and hijack my own thread back, I’m not looking for the progression as much as asking if the 1.4 0.6 ceramics are worth it to be blunt.

[Patrick Martin]

Ended up buying 1.4 .6 ceramics as well as 14 10 and 1 .5 strops. Polished to the max now. I’ll update when they get here.

[Patrick Martin]

So that will be in total
50 diamond
80 diamond
100 diamond
200 diamond
400 diamond
600 diamond
800 diamond
1000 diamond
1200 ceramic
1600 ceramic
1.4 ceramic
0.6 ceramic
14 leather strop
10 leather strop
5 leather strop
3.5 leather strop
1 leather strop
0.5 leather strop

Can’t wait to get it going. Out of curiosity, where can I go from here?

[Mark76]

50 diamond
80 diamond
100 diamond
200 diamond
400 diamond
600 diamond
800 diamond
1000 diamond
1200 ceramic
1600 ceramic
1.4 ceramic
0.6 ceramic
14 leather strop
10 leather strop
5 leather strop
3.5 leather strop
1 leather strop
0.5 leather strop

That’s really impressive!

Next step for me is diamond and/or CBN stropping spray on nano cloth.

It’s available for the WEPS, too.

This sounds like you’re in for Chosera stones as well 😉 . But take your time to get to know what you’ve got already before jumping to the next great thing.

Molecule Polishing: my blog about sharpening with the Wicked Edge

[Geocyclist]

Hey Cakes.

1. I understand your progression. To be clear I don’t use 50 and 80 every time. Only if necessary. I only use 100/200 for re-profiles.
2. From here water stones are great. With a 400 or 600 and a 1000 water stone you can get a nice edge.
3. Your edge looks very nice. Good results
4. What type of screw driver is that? You have 2 in the photo that are black and blue.

[Patrick Martin]

Hey Cakes.

1. I understand your progression. To be clear I don’t use 50 and 80 every time. Only if necessary. I only use 100/200 for re-profiles.
2. From here water stones are great. With a 400 or 600 and a 1000 water stone you can get a nice edge.
3. Your edge looks very nice. Good results
4. What type of screw driver is that? You have 2 in the photo that are black and blue.

Got these at lowes. Kobalt micro driver set. I bought 2. They have Phillips 000 to 0, and torx 4 to 15. Not bad.

[Mark76]

Hey Cakes.

1. I understand your progression. To be clear I don’t use 50 and 80 every time. Only if necessary. I only use 100/200 for re-profiles.
2. From here water stones are great. With a 400 or 600 and a 1000 water stone you can get a nice edge.
3. Your edge looks very nice. Good results
4. What type of screw driver is that? You have 2 in the photo that are black and blue.

+1, particularly on the 50/80 stones (only use them when really necessary) and the waterstones.

Do you use these screw drivers with the WEPS, Cakes? What for?

Molecule Polishing: my blog about sharpening with the Wicked Edge

[Patrick Martin]

Hey Cakes.

1. I understand your progression. To be clear I don’t use 50 and 80 every time. Only if necessary. I only use 100/200 for re-profiles.
2. From here water stones are great. With a 400 or 600 and a 1000 water stone you can get a nice edge.
3. Your edge looks very nice. Good results
4. What type of screw driver is that? You have 2 in the photo that are black and blue.

+1, particularly on the 50/80 stones (only use them when really necessary) and the waterstones.

Do you use these screw drivers with the WEPS, Cakes? What for?[/quote]
No I use them for taking apart my knives. I believe this is what Geocyclist was asking about. When I made that list I was just listing the stones and strops I had, not any set order. If i am touching up an edge I’d probably start lowest 400 or 600. So someone earlier was saying that they switch up the ceramics order? Anyone care to elaborate?

[Author]

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