An Interesting Sharpening Stone But It Doesn’t Make Sense - Atoma Diamond Stone Review

[@NeevesKnives]

btw i buy a different layer of atoma and stick them on the opposite side which works well if you dont mind haveing a double sided stone

[@littlebabycarrotful]

That was my thought as well

[@omfgbbqsauce1177]

I had some reservations about this, being that the backs of the blanks aren't milled level, but went for it anyway and don't regret it

[@Aerzon1v1]

​@omfgbbqsauce1177 Being aluminum you could probably flatten it fairly quickly with the old sandpaper on a sheet of glass trick.

[@TheAdequateMedia]

glad to see you back brother. i know you'd mentioned some life stuff happening

[@nafis6668]

I'm using this for 4 years now , combined with Hapstone T1. My AUS10A was so sharp , I accidently sliced off a chunk of my flesh without feeling any pain.

[@ARAW-__-]

That happened to me once ! Was swiping my new izula with a towel, and the towel became red... heard the slice but didn't feel it.

[@lindboknifeandtool]

Those simple stainless chromium alloyed steels just get sharp. I have a feeling the size and hardness of the chromium carbide is easier to abrade so instead of readout you shape the large carbide. I noticed this with cts xhp too

[@TalRohan]

I did that on some chemically abraded non ferrous Stainless steel...those no resistance cuts go really deep

[@spikestern3237]

I had freshly sharpened and strapped a Fällkniven WM1 with neck strap. I didn't push the knife into the holster properly. It went out and hit me on the inside of the thigh high up. I was wearing shorts when it happened so not much protection. I was lucky I was with my parents when it happened. I was bleeding a lot and my mother had to drive me quickly to the hospital. I got 6 stitches in my thigh. After that, I never had a knife with a neck strap on me. A little higher up and a little more to the middle, it would have been really bad.

[@Cid_1]

I think the Atoma Economy stones (and replacement sheets) can make more sense some places in Europe, where some pay a 25% import tax on everything bought. So some might pick up an Atoma stone and a replacement sheet in a different grit to put on the back of the plate to make a double sided stone to save a few bucks.

[@OUTDOORS55]

Yes and even since publishing this video the price has increased🤷‍♂️🙂

[@tombrown4683]

​@@OUTDOORS55I anticipated that happening.

[@61hink]

​@@OUTDOORS55I'm pretty sure a lot of products on Amazon have their prices automatically adjusted via algorithm. When sales are slow the price continually drops but as soon as people start buying the trend reverses.

[@kadmow]

- ine could also simply stick the "replacement sheet" onto a glass substrate - or flat tile/bench end, as available.

[@Cyber_Kriss]

Sticking with the Sharpal you suggested... very satisfied with this one.

[@lawrencem5943]

Alex, I had asked you about the Atoma stone a few days ago without knowing you would put up a video on it. My Atoma is the newest of my stones and I am getting used to the feel of it. I agree that it cuts very good. I bought a 1200 grit and slapped a 600 grit on the other side. I have had two Sharpals and have given them away to my son and grandson, a very good product as well. I mainly use the S SATC for my kitchen knives since they are made of cheap steel. I use my Atoma for my fancy high HRC knives. I love your channel man. Greetings from New Mexico.

[@EDC_IWB]

That stone does look super clean and nice to use. I feel like I have to get it before it goes up to $90 on Amazon now.

[@EDC_IWB]

@suspicionofdeceit true

[@nafis6668]

I've been using it for 4 years , doing sharpening every months for my work knives. Atoma keep grinding and not slowing down. I rather buy this , than a another knife at the same cost.

[@NeevesKnives]

im surprised to hear you have never wore out a diamond plate. i guess i have a bunch of smaller plates that are known to wear out faster. Atomas are great The diamond clusters make them cut very fast and they seem to last a good while however i do notice they break in to a finer grit eventually and dont cut as aggressive as they once did but you could say that for all diamond plates.

[@OUTDOORS55]

I do have a TON of them so I change out quite often. The only ones I've ever actually worn out were the ones I had made prototyped. I was also doing extremely stupid stuff with them, which probably helped contribute to them wearing out.🙂

[@bjornegan6421]

@@OUTDOORS55 please pardon me butting in here, but it may make for decent entertainment watching stupid stuff be done to plates

[@Lawman212]

@@OUTDOORS55 I've definitely worn out my DMT Duosharps. They cost a hell of a lot for how long they last. The experience put me off diamond stones.

[@Bob_Adkins]

I suspect the diamonds that stick up and/or have sharper edges are being pulled out of the plating matrix, exposing the diamonds that are flatter/not as sharp. So the stone is not really getting finer, but loses the aggressive feedback.

[@Ve-suvius]

@@Lawman212 Same here. Diamond stones do wear. And more than I like.

[@sharponsocks889]

Thanks for the review. I made the 400/1200 combo. Crazy how fast this works compared to my other natural and manmade sharpening stones. 💪👌🏻

[@ltgray2780]

I bought the Sharpal a few months ago, and my 25 yr. old Heinkels kitchen knives are back to work. I have severe damage to my cervical spine, which makes hand sharpening painful and difficult, but with a little effort, they've come back to life. Thanks for your insightful reviews.

[@krispytoo12]

I've been practicing what you preach about knife sharpening. I have yet to achieve the level sharpness you displayed at the end of this video but I have greatly improved my skills. Thank you for sharing some of your knowledge.

[@littlebabycarrotful]

I've got the Atoma 140 and the 1200. I'd buy both again. If you're into straight razors the 1200 starts out as a decent way to set a bevel. When it finally breaks in like mine did, it basically puts a mirror on the bevel. I also finish most of my knives on it. They'll catch thick hair above the skin off the stone with no stropping, and that's usually with a microbevel.

[@davidlewis620]

Alex, I forgot to mention, when I discovered your channel I ordered the Lansky Knife Sharpening System, very good for me. I like it!! Thanks to you I can do a better job at knife sharpening!

[@LancelotChan]

I use atoma 140 for many years now. My latest one is one with handle since I sharpen swords instead of knives. :)

[@lindboknifeandtool]

Come up with a sword fixed angle system and you’re a rich man. That’s what’s keeping me from doing longer than 12” or double edge

[@bradnail99]

I take stones on road trips and sharpen my friends’ kitchen knives. I begin with my Atoma 140 for really blunt edges; it works fast to establish an apex.

[@calvertschmued2920]

Glad you reviewed this stone, you should check out microtome blades, they are used to cut tissue sections sometimes as thin as 5 microns thick. So as you can imagine they are scary sharp

[@robbabcock_]

I've been using a 140 Atoma for a long time, maybe close to ten years? I forget when they came out in the USA. It's still working fine! I do like the feel, very good for an arato. It's a good stone flattener, too, although maybe a bit expensive for that purpose.

[@Bearded_Ham75]

I'm still learning how to freehand sharlen but I love my Atoma diamond Stones, they're just so well built and the way they make them with little clusters of diamonds perfectly and evenly spread across the entire plate is awesome and believe me I'm far from an expert sharpener but I've actually done pretty well with those stones

[@rvnerd7671]

I, would like to see what your technique is on sharpening a 8" chefs knife on one of these diamond plates. You could just do some ASMR videos of sharpening blades like the ending segment of this video. It was oddly satisfying to watch.

[@kadmow]

- also sharpening knives with serious curvature (cimeter style - butchers breaking knives)

[@davidlewis620]

Hi Alex!! When I came across your channel I subscribed immediately. I am a senior citizen and learned knife sharpening through trial and error, mostly error! I need some advice. All the knives I have sharpened through my lifetime are scratched to hell. I didn't care, now I do!! How do I remove those scratches or at least reduce them? I enjoy your channel!!! Thank you!

[@helterskelter156]

Been using my Atoma atones for ages, and they’re barely worn. I love the 140 for quick work and heavy reprofiling, especially.

[@paulmartin2348]

I have been planning to buy a diamond stone"s" to start doing some hand sharpening and I may just spend a bit more and buy this. As much use as it will get it will last me the rest of my life. Being a machinist I tent to be lazy and sharpen things on tool/cutter grinders. Thank you for another informative video.

[@roderikvanrinsum2968]

I got into knife sharpening few weeks ago (got the Sharpal) after backwatching your entire channel. Love the content. Can you do a video on how to sharpen thin kitchen knives without (or almost without) bevel?

[@Jammer881]

The replacement plate is also intended be added to the back of an existing stone. So with 1 plate you can have 2 grits thus saving space (a premium in Japan) and saving a few dollars

[@RyTrapp0]

Yup, I don't necessarily think it's about the cost savings as much as it's about the options/flexibility that it allows

[@RyanPlate]

Good review as always. Still enjoying and learning the Sharpal, but it does load up a bit. Quick rinse and pat dry solves that. Hope you're feeling well!

[@jasonmartin1668]

I absolutely love the educational value of your channel! What would you suggest for a lightweight "travel sharpening"? I work in remote locations for months at a time so want something that's not heavy

[@michaellamont2413]

I bought an Atoma diamond plate a few years ago and it is still cutting fine, down here in Australia there is a much bigger difference between the replacement face plates and a whole stone and in my case I bought a 400 grit plate and stuck a replacement 120 on the other side. It makes very short work of removing chips.

[@OUTDOORS55]

Yeah i had a feeling that different markets would have different pricing on that aspect 👍

[@curtis9202]

Hey Alex, In EU this atoma is definetly worth it! It has very similar price as US made stones, but it has advantages as you mentoined. Also its from Japan: i never heard any quality problems with them, but i read trough a lot of forums. Spare grit plates has their advantage: you can make your own dual grit stone, with the grits you choose, so you can carry only one.. As you mentoined earlier: People spending most of their time on the first stone, so choose it carefully. That is why i bought an atoma 400. I also have the shapton trio as you suggested (1000,2000, 5000). It works great! One year ago i tought that knife shaprening is for old fcks, with lot of time. I sharpened my cheapo knifes with angle grinder, and MDF wheel with green compound. You changed my mind. Thank you Alex!

[@OUTDOORS55]

I just read a comment from someone who had a problem with their atomas. They are out there🤷‍♂️

[@diego1694]

Doesn't make any sense at all in the EU, the better double sided sharpal stone is cheaper than anything from Atoma.

[@curtis9202]

@@OUTDOORS55 Wow, its new for me... I'm happy with mine...

[@foodonfire3662]

Another winner. Do you make custom knives and if so, how to I learn about your offerings? Thanks.

[@engelenf]

Hi Alex, I really like your videos. They are entertaining and very informative! I have been using the sharpal stone for a few months now for about 30 kitchen knives and I am at a point where I get the knife almost razor sharp. However, I never seem to get the tip of the knife sharp. Do you have any tips for that? Also I would really like it if you uploaded a video of you sharpening a kitchen knife.

[@kirillb.6001]

Great review, thanks! I've just bought 2 Atoma stones last week - 600 and 1200 grit. Haven't had a chance to use them yet.

[@ssa7843]

Love the vids! Could you make a review regarding sharpening SCISSORS ✂️ ?

[@josefslotosch]

Bought two Sharpals, one for practice and one for backup. For the price it's hard to get such a value, considering they are double-sided. For recreational use I have Shapton Kuromaku 320/1000/2000 And for technical sharpening the toohr3 from Aliexpress, might change to the edge pro in the future. And for outdoors the field sharpener from work sharp. Your videos definitely helped me to save money and make some good decisions what to buy. Thank you for that.

[@MrSuperboxman]

that outro was flawless, love the music selection

[@islandblacksmith]

for really hard steel and reshaping/rough removal and aggressive shaping work i go through a dmt diaflat/diasharp in a couple of hours at the expected removal rate for its grit, then once most of the surface diamonds are broken off it sort of works indefinitely but at a *greatly* reduced rate for the rest of its "useful" life...trying the atoma now to see if it can save me some time/grief...

[@jeremygavisk5582]

Love you videos and picked up a Sharpal after your recommendation. Do you have a video on cleaning diamond stones? Or a process you would give to a beginner?

[@Alexander_Sannikov]

I've been using these atoma stones for a while now. They are indeed decent quality and they go eat away any steel really fast, but in my experience they sometimes leave a wobbly pattern on the blade after polishing. And most annoyingly the pattern seems to depend on your exact stroke direction during sharpening: you change the direction just a little and the wobble pattern changes dramatically.

[@diji5071]

A wobbly pattern? Is the wobbly pattern co-ordinated by the angle of your stroke?

[@Alexander_Sannikov]

@@diji5071 it's because under some angles some areas of the blade land exactly between the dots and they don't get eaten away at all, while other areas end up aligning with dots and they end up eaten much more.

[@diji5071]

@Alexander_Sannikov Oh, i was trying to picture that but i think they're staggered in a manner that would make this very difficult to replicate reliably.

[@Alexander_Sannikov]

@@diji5071 in a hexagonal grid you have 6 directions that completely align with the lattice and 6 more directions that sort of align. if you accidentally make even one stroke in one of those directions, your blade surface will become wavy. which is just another point of attention that I don't want to be paying when sharpening.

[@mjktrash]

I haven't been following your deal, but I'm glad to see a new video popped up in my feed.

[@joshcarter-com]

I picked this up a few weeks ago and I love it. Excellent feedback from the plate as you’re moving the blade across it, and the 600 grit is perfect for touching up my Japanese kitchen knives. The only thing I dislike is that the size is different from every other stone I have and it slides around without a base, so I had to make my own base for it.

[@OUTDOORS55]

Ah yes it is slightly larger than other stores 👍

[@ChillyH2Omg]

Thanks for all the great content! Would love to see your findings on using liquid in conjunction with diamond stones. Does it really make a difference in sharpening whether you use them dry or not? 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@daemon1143]

I've used this Atoma when sharpening stellite and zirconium tool bits, and it does a good job, but it sheds its diamonds like dandruff with these high hardness materials. Still looks like it'd be good for a couple of years though.

[@nathan9775]

You reference the quality of the Sharpal a lot, but I wonder if you lucked out? Just like some of the DMT fine plates are good, and some have huge boulders in them. If you could, I'd love it if you bought a few more Sharpal and looked at them under the microscope, so see if the QC is consistent!

[@mladenvojinovic]

Nice outro Alex, stay strong, we love you man!

[@oceanwaves83]

I've had an Atoma 400 for years. It's wonderful for removing stock and leaves a great scratch pattern. However, I cannot attain the same degree of sharpness that I can off other diamond plates. I use it to save time as well as the life of my other plates. Works great. But for some reason I cannot seem to whittle a hair straight off the 400 like I can with cheap ultra sharps, DMT coarse (even occasionally with extra coarse), etc. No matter how much patience, no matter how many burr reduction extremely light passes. Still an excellent buy. And yes the feedback is robust!

[@randy-9842]

Thanks, Alex! I think I like the "reverse waffle" design and agree that it allows a space to [temporarily] deposit any shavings. Question: have you covered, in your numerous videos, how different manufacturers bond the diamonds to the plate? It seems that would be as important in the quality and durability of the stone as is the consistency in particle size. If you have, can you direct me to that video? If you haven't, would such a video (or comment within a video) be of value to those more experienced than I? (I'm still very much a novice at sharpening.)

[@matthewweaver1123]

I noticed you ran the blade across wood every couple of passes to knock the burr off. Do you recommend that as something to always do during and not just after sharpening?

[@TalRohan]

there is definitely a certain Zen to the way you sharpen blades, watching the process itelf is relaxing. thanks for the information on the Atoma

[@normcleod360]

I completely agree with your comment. I've sharpened my knives while listening, not watching his videos. It just puts me into that zone where I can Sharpen my focus while Honing my skills

[@attila5221]

I think the reverse waffle pattern is great on the 140 for use as a flattening stone, since it lets the slurry out. i've heard that it makes the stones stick less, and flatten faster, but i live in europe, and buying the atoma would cost me 87 dollars with delivery+customs tax, tbh the sharpal costed me 100, but that's twice the surface.

[@MFD00MTR33]

Ive had my 400 for 8-9 years now and have used it foe sharpening and to flatten my Shapton and other stones. Still going strong, though not as aggressive. Only diamond stone I've ever needed to replace was my DMT extra extra coarse after many years of reprofiling and even regrinds. It still cut, but it was so worn that it felt like a coarse DMT at most and i wanted that high cutting ability it used to have.

[@vaguincolombia]

Why would you use your diamond stone like a flattening stone?. That cuts the lifespan of the diamond stone a lot because its two abrasives grinding each other. Diamond stones are just for metal and the stone should be clean with mineral spirits and a toothbrush. That combination removes all the dirt from the stone.

[@MFD00MTR33]

@@vaguincolombia because it works well, it stays flat and hasn't really gotten any wear from it. It's cleaner that using carbide powder and some stones are just as hard as the carbide flattening stones you get. A lot of people use it just for flattering stones. You don't have to use that way. But it works for me.

[@vaguincolombia]

@@MFD00MTR33 I have no doubts that it can work but for sure it will shorten the life of the diamond stone. Anyway a stone for more than 5 or 6 years definitely completed its mission.

[@adriankiss3631]

Hi, my name is Adrian. I work in a kitchen. I have 12 knifes that I have to let ready for the next day in the kitchen. What would you recommend? I was about to buy the dmt, then you comet with Atoma. What would you recommend for daily use considering the time I have to use to sharpen those knives? Dmt or Atoma? Also you said that the honing rod is not the solution. Should I use the 1000 grit instead of the honing rod? Would help me a lot if you would answer my question. I follow you for this reason.

[@goncalovazpinto6261]

The Sharpal comes with a very nice case/holder. Don't know what the Atoma comes with. Also, loved the closeup video of the knife being sharpened on those dimples! You could see the metal flakes grabbing on to the blade, I'm guessing because it develops a static charge.

[@lostsanityreturned]

My economy atoma came with a solid whetstone clamp/holder.

[@jeanladoire4141]

Your videos are pure gold

[@imimportantright]

Hey! Love the vid. Just curious. After seeing the vids about coarse stone sharpness, im just curious how sharp they are before stropping. Im saving up for a proper stropping kit so for now im just deburring on the stone and im still getting shave sharp, but not hair whittling like yours! Any insight is much appreciated

[@W_H_K]

I like Atomas. I make all mine double sided by using the replacement sheets. Two plates/four grits. I saved about 40 bucks doing it this way but that’s not why I do it. I do it for convenience. Edit: In Japan Atomas are probably the number 1 waterstone flattening tool.

[@paulkresky1465]

I still like my Sharpal better. As I stated in that video, I bought them when they first came out around five years ago. As to this video, I have tried Atoma's. Not bad, but this video made me wonder about the so called selling points of the diamond stones that are the exact opposite of these Atoma's. I.e.- DMT may have come out with them first. Whereas these have raised "diamond dots" for sharpening, years ago they came out with the opposite. Flat diamond plate with holes punched out in them. Honeycomb effect. The selling point was supposedly that they needed less cleaning and left a cleaner cutting surface, as the metal residue from knife/tool edge would go into the holes. I found them to be slower at sharpening. I don't like them. But....I did find one thing they did. If you were sharpening an expensive knife, perhaps one you made for selling, there was less chance of marring the surface as there was less metal chaff on the stone. That said, one could always rebuff the knife to mirror surface. I wonder how those honeycomb stones compare in action to these Atoma, "raised dot" stones? That might be a new video comparison idea for you Alex.

[@123tobiiboii123]

Have you ever done a video on craft knife or snap-off blades? I generally like Olfa for fine detail paper cutting but have been thinking is it smart or dumb to touch them up with a strop? Maybe a video comparing leading brands like Fiskars, Olfa, Swann Morton, x-acto?

[@omfgbbqsauce1177]

Do you feel like the 400 and 600 are interchangeable? Only 200 grit difference as a step up to the 1200 seems minimal. I guess if you want to stop before the 1200, a 600 would be just a tad better

[@kevinfitz3721]

Have you tried the vitrified diamond stones from fsk also known as triple b sharpening stones also poltava makes vitrified to not just resin and metal ones and i think there is another company out there as well but would be interesting to see you test the very peak of technology for sharpening

[@trx9256]

Hey Alex, what are you looking at under the table when you are sharpening at the end of the video? Thanks a lot for your high quality content. Kiss from France

[@OUTDOORS55]

I swiping the apex on some wood just to clean it.

[@reeseromine2140]

Hard wood, soft wood, doesn't matter?

[@Aerzon1v1]

Not sure why everyone on Bladeforums thinks these cost more than DMTs when authentic Atomas on amazon are 40-50 dollars. In Japan, they're even cheaper yet.

[@ChefMercenary]

I love your videos! But also.. that knife you show at the end looks like it's disappearing from all the sharpening 😂

[@paulwilson2204]

Would be really interesting to see wood ash under the microscope. It's commonly used as a polish for a woodstove window and it'd be interesting to see it as a potential stropping compound.

[@Gringorican]

Immediately bought one. Thanks 👍

[@Jammer881]

The Atoma 400 is also a great flattening stone for non diamond stones

[@darksaiyan2006]

There might also be a consideration with the weight of the stone. The Sharpal is great and all, but it's quite heavy, which makes it difficult to carry around. The aluminum base of the Atoma should make it quite a bit lighter, right?

[@HebuTheLoneWolf]

maybe the idea with the replacement plates is that u can use different base like glass or some more sturdy metal or with something that weights more

[@dzonib1]

freakin love this channel

[@sermarr]

I have an 140 for flattening my Kuromakus, but it's too much for the 5000. It left scratchmarks. It's OK for 1000 and 2000. I was so impressed I'm getting a 600 for the 5000 ... but I doubt I'll ever need it. I'm also getting a 400 replacement that I plan on sticking on the back of the 600: "the internets" say you can do it.

[@DouglasRosser]

+1 to the slightly cheaper Sharpal double-sided stone linked as "The better VALUE stone" in the description. My expensive DMT diamond plates are now backups.

[@DouglasRosser]

And in the space of time it took to watch this video, they've gone out of stock!

[@OtherWorldExplorers]

I wonder what would happen if you burnished a sharpened knife. Using a hard metal to actually burnish the apex if it would make a difference in how long it lasts. Food for thought... 🙃

[@Gillass]

glad to see you much better.

[@marcinmerrimack1726]

I think the Atoma makes sense if the assurance of a quality product is important to you. As you can see from the comments in your videos and reviews elsewhere, the quality of your beloved Sharpal stone is not consistent. Instead of the Sharpal 400/1200 stone, I think it makes more sense to spend a bit more for the Atoma 400 stone with a 1200 grit replacement plate for the back side.

[@OUTDOORS55]

Perhaps..although keep in mind the sharpal is a much higher selling stone than the atoma. If the atomas we're selling 5k month stones you would potentially notice more issues. 1 problem out of 100 sales seems acceptable. 100 out of 10,000 seems different and more noticeable, even though its the same ratio. Edit, just saw a comment from someone who had a problem with there arome🤷‍♂️

[@mrcpu9999]

I enjoyed this. I'd really like to see you address serrated knife sharpening. LIke on some of the spyderco's and such.

[@tombrown4683]

I would be interested in your take on sharpening serrated edges. I had a full serrated Spygerco back in the nineties. I also had a Spyderco Sharpmaker. After reading (no U tube then)some opinions I proceeded to round off all the points of the serrations. Then I avoided serrated knives for over 20 years. Bought one last year.

[@samspade2104]

Question: At the end of the video, were you using oil or water on the stone? It looked slick.

[@plasmahead2]

I know where the value of the replacement plate comes in. I could see some one with a surface grinder and some flat stock deciding they could make a "better" plate just because they could...

[@Cosigne]

It looks like you could get a different grit replacement and put it on the opposite side. This would give you a two sided stone with guaranteed zero grit contamination.

[@xxcarlosxx16]

Are you supposed to apply pressure as you are moving the knife towards the blade or away? I've seen videos of you doing it both ways, or does it depend if you use a whetstone over a diamond stone?

[@Enigma-Sapiens]

Excellent video, commentary, and subject, thank you! Japan makes from decent to excellent quality tools in my experience. China... not so much.

[@heyarno]

Thanks for testing all that stuff.

[@Yupppi]

Never guessed the surface of Atoma looks that spikey under heavy zoom. It looks almost scary like stalactites. Well stalagmites since they don't hang but stalactites get pointy. Assumedly there's certain hours of initial use that wears the surface to more even? Personally I'm all up for being a little bit more environment minded when it's not troublesome, like not throwing a thick baseplate away and purchasing a whole new one when I can replace just the abrasive surface and pay a couple of pennies less. But if I was someone whose job was to do work with the stones, I could see how the time spent installing a new working surface wouldn't be the smart choice. Here in Finland you pay 78 euros for one and replace plate costs 65 euros (both include the 24 %, soon to be 24,5 % sales tax). Not a huge difference but some difference at least. But there's also that consideration where you can support a really good local specialising store that brings you value and quality and you know the people instead of random amazon store and hope you get what you're promised and if you have issues, someone is willing to fix the issue. The Amazon stores are still a bit of a foreign idea here when we don't have our own national Amazon. At some point I started valuing local professionals and the surrounding service more than saving a couple of units of currency when I realised the places I loved started struggling and getting closed for online shopping and suddenly I was in threat of not having local professional shops and their knowledge, service and import catalogue, so my value gauging changed radically compared to most people when they look at if something is worth buying and where. And I had the opportunity of doing moral/ethical evaluation on choices as well and make it whole lot more complicated to shop things. For others I'd recommend sticking to just direct monetary value gauging.

[@tomcat5284]

I wonder if sharpening in reverse strokes only with the ceramic could reduce chipping during the sharpening process?

[@Polska1116969]

It may only be a $10 difference, but the excess waste is considerable, being that the majority of the replacement unit is a metal slab which is unlikely to be recycled by most people.

[@spto7382]

What di you think about shapton rockstar stones? Are they any good?

[@zionpsyfer]

Love my Atomas and Sharpal. DMT, however... I can send you a Diasharp 600 that I bought a month or so after the Sharpal. That thing was devoid of diamonds after the fourth or fifth knife. I'd be interested in what your sweet macro setup would show that my cheap microscope doesn't. Huh, I see a members only video about your setup. Welp, been looking to join anyway to help support the fun/work. Off I go.😁

[@OUTDOORS55]

Thanks for the support my friend!

[@joeaiello6869]

I think the plates might be ice if you wanted to add them on a cheap stone you already have maybe? On the back side of one?

[@MMMmyshawarma]

I just use the Atoma 140 to flatten everything 600+, naniwas, suehiros, shaptons, etc. No knife touches it.

[@leecapel8184]

Hey dude were you turning up the music at end of this video, under the table 😂

[@noahhoward390]

Can you test the sharpall credit card stones?

[@MemeScreen]

Is the stone around the 25 µm mark? I already have the Sharpal but NeevesKnives recommends having a 300, 600, & 1200. So I was planning to also add this to fit in between the other one. Is this necessary or just a waste of money?

[@tylermelton1746]

You should take a look into nsk resin bonded diamond stones.

[@hristov71]

how are you? I've a question for you. Why are cheap steels difficult to sharpen? It takes 100 times more passes to create burr and final result isn't the same as sharpening decent steel. I've Kai seki knife, entry level, it takes 3-5 passes on a diamond stone and already I have a burr. Cheap steel feeling is like it is skating on the stone, same like slippery surface, you know what I mean, will you give me an advice? Regards

[@OUTDOORS55]

Good question! Cheap steel is difficult primarily due to the lower hardness and difficulty of removing the burr. Also if a steel has poor grain structure and low hardness it will not develop a super keen apex.

[@craig1825]

Why do you use the DMT Dia sharp plate rather than the DMT DMT WM8FC-WB 8-Inch Fine/Coarse DuoSharp Plus Bench Stone with Base,

[@ElCapAddict]

The Atoma is priced at $2.50/in^2 and the Sharpal is $3.00/in^2-granted it’s double sided. I don’t know that I’d compare two different sized plates like this because in my opinion most people will be unhappy with 6” plates, especially if they’ve ever had an 8” and it seems the Atoma is the better value. Hopefully the 8” Sharpal come back in stock, it’s been a while.

[@christurley391]

How far apart are the diamond dots? Thanks again

[@jeromeflament4082]

Bonjour, Pouvez vous me dire quel microscope vous utilisez pour les vues agrandi?

[@zwaker]

With the waffle pattern making you need to clean the stone off less often, how often would that be. Also how often would you need to clean off a flat diamond stone in comparison?

[@Layarion]

Hey could you test as-is serrated knives to hand sharpened knives on tough skin but delectate breads? or basically if their hard to sharpen ass is worth it.

[@kknives_switzerland]

The Atoma is my go to solution for flattening conventional ceramic stones for years now. For sharpening... eeeh, not so much.

[@OUTDOORS55]

Not sure you'll have to be more specific.

[@kknives_switzerland]

​@@OUTDOORS55 I somehow can't stand the feedback of electroplated stones - especially the Atoma - it's a preference thing. Vitrified or resin bonded is my jam for sharpening. Costs a lot more though, of course.

[@larryphillips4164]

Video suggestion: push something soft to replicate your hand on a scale with a knife to see how much pressure it takes to roll over an edge or if it’s even possible under Microscope. Imitate as if someone was stropping waaay to hard to show how soft or hard you can strop before the edge rolls over.

[@horsetowater]

Niceidea. You can see it when he push cuts sandpaper etc and gets a rolled / deflected apex so I wouldn't have thought it take too much pressure, maybe more a product of angle of attack and medium being cut

[@doid0666]

Is there any reason or logic to stropping a 600 Atoma edge on a 30 microns strop, while using finer compounds to higher grit edges?

[@sihiga]

What if you buy a different grit replacement plate & install it on the other side, making a double sided diamond stone?