Abrasives: what I like and why

I did some testing with different stones to determine what stones put the most preferable edge on for me.

[@shaunharrison9618]

I just bought a full set of Venov stones. 80 - 1500. I also have your gunny juice from 6 - 0.1 micron. Can't wait to put some mirror edges on my blades!

[@stepheno.2730]

Informative. I’m sure I’ll have some questions about putting together a stone set once the TSprof happens. I appreciate you sharing your knowledge and experience.

[@GunnysSharptalk]

Thanks. Sure hit me up once you’re ready.

[@georgeyoung4292]

I have the same practice.. I never let a knife go totally dull, actually i bring the edge back with stropp to milk that sharp edge for as long as possible without completly ruining the bevel.. Good knives by the way😍

[@GunnysSharptalk]

Thanks

[@nathenwallis5664]

Great video man. And I'm fine with the longer format

[@GunnysSharptalk]

Thanks man!

[@ShelleyRaskin]

Good one, slowly building up my stones, have a collection of different stuff, never tried the Shelton glass yet though, lots on my list!

[@GunnysSharptalk]

Thank you. I have been using a combination stones a lot.

[@chasek3740]

Great information thanks

[@GunnysSharptalk]

Thank you

[@swiggamortis5521]

Great info.

[@GunnysSharptalk]

Thanks

[@therka3214]

That Rex45 Pm2 😭 The most desirable knife ever...I have same stones except metal bond cbn and vitrified diamond..

[@fredstephens6737]

I know it's been around awhile, but this is great info for a newbie like myself. I must admit that I find the more I learn about all of the options with stones, the more confused I get. And then there's the thing about more than one grit rating system! Really! Just kidding, great video!

[@GunnysSharptalk]

Thanks. If you ever have questions hit me up on FB messenger “Scott Gunn” and I will be happy to help you.

[@fredstephens6737]

@@GunnysSharptalk I may do that. Thanks.

[@GunnysSharptalk]

@@fredstephens6737 anytime

[@FORDRANGERFAN]

Great video and information, thanks. I have the TSProf and I'm using the Venev Centaur stones and really like them. Just to add I've only been doing this for a couple months. I have most of the stones up to 2000 in 100% and a 1200-2000 25%. They say the 2000 needs to be lapped before using so I haven't used it more than once because I haven't used it again yet until I do that.

[@GunnysSharptalk]

Thanks. Yes definitely lap the 2K. I have a video on how to do that also.

[@FORDRANGERFAN]

@@GunnysSharptalk Due to the corona I can't seen to get the lapping powder. I've been using Gritomatic so far for abrasives. I'll look for your video.

[@GunnysSharptalk]

Doug Baska Edge Pro sells lapping powder and so doe Gritomatic. You can use a SiC or AlOx flattening stone also.

[@FORDRANGERFAN]

@@GunnysSharptalk I was going to get it from Gritomatic but they are out of stock right now.

[@FORDRANGERFAN]

@@GunnysSharptalk What grit would you recommend for the 2000 ? Or more than one grit ? Gritomatic recommends F120 F400 and F2000. I like the set they have that has I think 9 different grits but not in stock right now.

[@shawnsisson8190]

I loved your video! Thanks for sharing! Do you free hand sharpen or do you use a device?

[@GunnysSharptalk]

I do both. I freehand stone in hand and use bench stones. I use belts. I have an Edge Pro and a TSprof. And I will be doing some videos later today hopefully reviewing the Jende JIGS system.

[@GunnysSharptalk]

And thanks!

[@georgeyoung4292]

Practical sharpening is out of Denmark but stones are made by Poltava Diamond Tools in Russia or Ukraine...

[@GunnysSharptalk]

That is correct

[@kevinfitz3721]

I wish more companies would make vitrified cbn and diamond matrix stones they kick ass! Although definitely won't polish like resin bonded cbn or diamond atleast from my experience and grits but man oh man I'm loving them, and I'm not even good or efficient yet freehand

[@GunnysSharptalk]

I like Vitrified on kitchen knives, but still prefer resin bonded on folders. I plan on making resin bonded stones first

[@kevinfitz3721]

@@GunnysSharptalk that's going to be sweet, I will definitely try to get some to test out, I know it's probably a ways out but what thickness you think would you go for? I still need to try those Colombia George works resin ones out yet to but those ones aren't phenolic so idk how well those one will hold up

[@GunnysSharptalk]

@@kevinfitz3721 thickness will likely depend on the wear rate of the resin we choose.

[@panzerkiller13]

@@GunnysSharptalk This is awesome news! If anyone could figure out a version of the Venev F2000 stone that works properly, it would be you! I've also heard that the lower grits from venev also have diamond tear-out issues, especially on some of the russian forums, but I haven't tested mine below F100 yet. I'd love to do some side-by-side testing once you get into the prototyping phase!

[@kevinfitz3721]

And I also have the metallic cbn stones and use the hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid and its nice but it doesn't store long and its exspensive so its really not worth it imo. And also mine didn't come flat but I still used them and flattend them recently and now they perform much better and it wasn't hard to flatten them with sic for anyone looking

[@GunnysSharptalk]

I use ferric chloride. It stores for long periods

[@georgeyoung4292]

I highly doubt that there can be a better sharpener than you😉 Technique is not everything and different people are looking for different finishes (I finish also with 3/2 micron ocb) Theory is very important too and you are highly experienced and educated.. But i use different abrasives on different steels (All of the knives on the table definitely diamond or cbn except 20cv) Jende now released also resin bond diamond but i doubt it can get any better than venev or poltava!

[@GunnysSharptalk]

I am supposed to receive a Jende 3 micron to see how it compares to Venev 3/2. For ceramic water stones I really love my Shapton glass. They’re great for kitchen knives. And for Vitrified ceramics Spyderco’s stones are hard to beat.

[@georgeyoung4292]

@@GunnysSharptalk Spyderco are among only ones i never used.. *never in stock at gritomatic (Thats confirms that they must be great)

[@GunnysSharptalk]

Yeah they go pretty fast.

[@feralcruz2093]

Does practical sharpening still have a website?

[@Iowahurler82]

Hypothetical question. Say you had to pick one set for use for cheaper kitchen knives, 1075 carbon steel kitchen knives, along with D2 pocket knife (Kershaw Leek composite blade) no mirror finish needed, and budget minded, what would you recommend?

[@GunnysSharptalk]

Honestly look at the Venev stones or the other resin bonded diamonds up to 1k. If you don’t want a mirror just get maybe 3 stones like an 80 grit for repairs. A 300-500 and a 1k-1,500 somewhere in there. Or go with ceramic stones. Something like Shapton’s or Chosera would serve you well for what you’re needs are. Like a 220, 500 and 1k (give or take 100 grit either way on any of those). What is your sharpening method?

[@Iowahurler82]

@@GunnysSharptalk I use a TSProf. But my coarse stone is dishes pretty bad fairly quickly. When I got it, I (probably mistakenly) used a drop of dish soap in the spray bottle and sprayed until the water puddled on top. Guessing that softened the stones and caused accelerated wear.

[@GunnysSharptalk]

Chris Hurlbut no the stones that come with it dish pretty bad. Venev stones from Gritomatic are pretty decent price. And the Venev OCB are great stones. You can get two sided stones.

[@Iowahurler82]

@@GunnysSharptalk how do the dual sides stones work with the TSProf? Is the stone material beveled to fit, or just a friction fit type deal?

[@GunnysSharptalk]

Chris Hurlbut no. They’re mounted on aluminum. It’s not beveled, but the TSprof stone holder holds them just fine. You can get single sided too. Those are mounted like any other Edge Pro stone.

[@randomstranger2472]

Have you ever tested the cutting ability of a knife "honed" on a ceramic honing rod? They're usually about 1500grit.

[@GunnysSharptalk]

I have honed on ceramic rods. I have sharpened or honed just about anyway that you can think of at some point.

[@randomstranger2472]

@@GunnysSharptalk Curious about your thoughts on Idahone V-shaped ceramic-rod style sharpener. System sharpens at "100-200 Grit" ceramic at 15°, then 1500 grit at 15° (30° Inclusive) or 20° (microbevel). Demos are impressive online, and I wanted a stropping compound of yours to use after the 1500 Grit ceramic.

[@GunnysSharptalk]

@@randomstranger2472 Idahone are decent. Go with my 3 micron after the 1,500. It won’t give a complete mirror because you need more grits before a 1,500 to effectively remove scratches from a 100-200 grit, but it will shine it. And definitely will bring up sharpness

[@randomstranger2472]

@@GunnysSharptalk Thanks!

[@false-set]

Have you tried the jende resin bonded diamond?

[@GunnysSharptalk]

I have not tried them yet

[@false-set]

@@GunnysSharptalk I’ve got the venev Orion set, but not the 2000, so I bought the jende 1 micron resin bonded diamond stone. I don’t have the experience to really say if it has the same “parasite scratches” but, it definitely leaves an aggressive edge, I think it bought the polish down a little from the 1200 venev on m4, but still had an impressive amount of bite. After stropping with .5 gunny juice the polish comes up really, really nice. I’m very much an amateur tho & only used it twice so take that for what it’s worth.

[@GunnysSharptalk]

@@false-set I will try to pickup a set and check them out. I am moving this month and the next. So it might be after the move before I can get a video on them out.

[@false-set]

@@GunnysSharptalk now I’ve used it a bit more, and with the help of a microscope. I take back what I said. I think I can see parasite scratches.