Venev Diamond Waterstones from Gritomatic (detailed use)

A detailed freehand sharpening video with the Venev Diamond benchstones from Gritomatic sharpening Maxamet steel at 67hrc
This is the 400\800 combo stone ( I said it was a 600 grit in the video, my bad haha)
here is the amazon link.
www.amazon.com/Bonded-Diamond...

[@false-set]

You've always made me want to learn better freehand, last week I got my maxamet pm2 to crop a free hanging hair straight off the venev 400. Looking forward to 15v !

[@michaell397]

I've become quite a fan of the new OCB Venev stones. I've been ask why or how they last so long and what is the binder. Well, here is a news flash to what I've leaned in researching the binder. As many know, the very popular phenolic product originally developed by WestingHouse has become a house hold name in the Custom Knife World regardless of who makes it. It's called Micarta. Micarta can have have any number of bonding matrix and laminates. Canvas, Linen, Paper, Burlap, and now Diamond! Yep, this is virtually a Diamond Micarta type product. Woo-H00. About time someone figured it out! Due to the makeup of Micartas, they are impervious to most liquids. I have found that the Trend Diamond Honing liquid prevents any build up of metal in the stones what so ever. Even what looks like build up or loading vanishes instantly after sharpening with nothing more than a quick rub with my index finger. Don't wipe down with a towel until rubbing it first as the towel will remove the fluid which is needed to do the work of cleaning the stone. No more Bar Keepers Friend, no more abrasives needed at all until flattening is needed. And that is rare. I have been testing and sharing results with Gritomatic (Chris) and so far, I'm very impressed with the products and Company. KnifeMaker

[@PaulK390S90V]

Oh and btw venev is coming out with new diAmond water stones with triple the amount of diamond and a new matrix. It will be OCB which is an improved resin bonding process. Going to be a big improvement according to them. Coming out in march but maybe you can get a early review sample! Hit them up

[@lorisb1513]

Great stone and result too.

[@RyanHall_]

Hey BBB! I watched until the end. 🙌

[@Jef]

Thanks for sharing, and esp the bevel close ups

[@FearNoSteel]

Jef Jewell this is your kind of video brotha haha

[@anthonyp7051]

Thx for sharing, I’m well past the point needed to step into proper stone sharping

[@michaelshults7675]

Nice info! Excellent skills. Would you do a video on how to sharpen serrations?

[@michaelchristy4982]

Great video. It's funny how much you're liking that Manix 2 considering how much you hesitated on buying it, but I'm glad to see you getting so much use out of it.

[@FearNoSteel]

Michael Christy right? Shyt, I talked you out of buying it last year then I go and buy one lol

[@michaelchristy4982]

Ha, that's alright. I'm waiting on the PM2 in Maxamet.

[@FearNoSteel]

Michael Christy I want that Millie bro

[@bp-hx9ts]

Michael Christy he was saving it all for himself lol

[@barkingspider2007]

Gritomatic has a 400 / 800 and 800 / 1200. I have Spyderco Medium Fine and UF bench ceramic stones. Would you recommend the 400/800. Or the 800/1200? I'm planning on ordering one of the stones to try them out. I have 6 diamond plates from 240 to 1200. I just wanted to see how these cut. I like the diamond Matrix stones from Edge Pro. Are they similar? Thanks for the video 😎👍

[@MrWeedpeet]

Nice stone and sweet edge!! I really like 600 and 800 grit in one stone, it gives you proper refinement and not to big of a jump to the next grit. I mean you Show that you get a Killer edge with this one stone and a strop, which is pretty much minimal Equipment. Love your vids and watched till the end ;)

[@FearNoSteel]

MrWeedpeet thx bruddah, I was mistaken, it's a 400-800 stone hehe. Yes it's a rad stone, can't believe it's only $60 bucks. Love it.

[@garycox3841]

This video is just what I needed, being on fence about this stone. Thanks a bunch! I’ll be using it for kitchen knives, and my Stone Lettering Carbide Tip Chisels. Do you think this stone be okay with Tungsten Carbide? Well, I did it! Just bought myself one of these bad boys! Couldn’t wait, and besides, they selling out. I really like your presentation, and your down to earth way of explaining things.

[@robertmorano2372]

Hey, I have to thank you for your reply about my comment/question on your s110v video(about better more modern stones for a long time sharpener, now just getting really into the hows and whys). Now that I am balls deep into your content, you have more than enough information to answer my questions... at least for now. (plus, it led me down the Michael Christy rabbit hole). All of that being said, I cannot find this exact stone anywhere. Is there anywhere you know will have this stone in this grit? I'm also planning on picking up a strop and some diamond spray. I was all ready to purchase them today and cannot find this stone! Thanks again and keep it up!

[@williamthomas5780]

Yeah I'm a Venev fanboy. 7/5 to 3/2 and have actually been stropping on Poplar strips. I like it because it comes in either Softer suede like density and texture or harder smooth hide like texture. It's harder than Basswood but I like it because I can strop without molding around the edge. I can pass with moderate pressure or really light and get great audio and tactile feedback. Different animal though. Still use hide but much more rarely now. K390, M4, Maxamet, REX 45... Even Softer steels are liking it for me. Glassy finish easily. Great content for sure. You and MC are my go-to repeat watchers. I never get bored. Steel Soup for the Soul. 😉🤙

[@arn6376]

Yeah buddy I’m the same way BBB and MIchael Christy ftw 🙌 💯

[@JeffSmith-eq3kc]

I've yet to run into a steel that's difficult to sharpen although I read and hear it all the time. I've been sharpening as a side job type deal for 7 years now. The newer powdered steels and some of the crazy hard stainless steel these days do take longer but I'm not sure I'd use the term difficult. I personally don't like them so much, my hobby is Japanese knives so I'm not big on stainless, but they're definitely cool. Wasn't too long ago when Hap40 was 65HRC and it was gonna be the savior of stainless steel. Shows you how trends in knives works. Funny the one stainless knife I use in my kitchen is a Hap40 Gyuto so I fell right into it too.

[@FearNoSteel]

Hap40 is not a stainless, its a PM carbon tool steel. I find with the harder abrasives the steels with harder carbides in them take crisper edges.

[@gunny4029]

thanks for clearing that, i would like a stone. i think they do a good job i making sharpening products. i bought the grito matic hapstone but, i already had the orig apex pro. and i still prefere to use the apex. and i like the way it fold up in a small nylon bag, ibought too much of what i did not need. but i learning my lesson.i dont even think i would use nainwas or shapton for sharpening, polishing an edge if used for out door feild dreesing of a legal Kill of deer would be the only reason for such a fine polished edge, it makes the knife glide without pressure and pressure in the field and a slip is something you don't need

[@sour7786]

Just bought one. I think I'm going to try think and then maybe hit it in a regular 3k. Hopefully that would shape the carbides and then the other stone refine just a little. The go to my diamond past and sprays

[@FearNoSteel]

Sour yup, that's what I do too. I just skip the 3k though even though it makes the edge gourgous

[@trubadyr99]

I personally prefer using Edge Pro better than the free-hand sharpening. There are also Edge Pro compatible diamond stones of different grits by Venev from Russia available as well.

[@barkingspider2007]

Gritomatic has a 400 / 800 and 800 / 1200. I have Spyderco Medium Fine and UF bench ceramic stones. Would you recommend the 400/800. Or the 800/1200? I'm planning on ordering one of the stones to try them out. I have 6 diamond plates from 240 to 1200. I just wanted to see how these cut. I like the diamond Matrix stones from Edge Pro. Are they similar? Thanks for the video 😎👍

[@kevindeuschle3413]

I made it to the end, and it's 2022. loveing my venev setup so far. benched all my choseras, suehiros, and natural stones for a bit just to get a feel for em. they do put incredibly bighty crisp edges on knives for sure... and to addendum I'm sharpening my personal work knife kit as a chef, and my current edc a pm2 in s45vn and a creely mako in 3v. I've got tons on experience with other kitchen cutlery steels, blue super from several different makers, AEBL from the master devin thomas himself, R2 from Yu Kurosaki, whatever sandvick steel they use in the suisin inox honyaki, Ive had the 270 gyuto and 240 sujihiki as some of my daily drivers at work for 10 ish years and they've all responded reaaly reaaaaaaly well to the venev stones so far. my stones are of the updated ocb binder don't know how much of a difference that would make for kitchen cutlery context.

[@Serenewave777]

As someone coming from working with Japanese steel and abrasives, this is a really helpful description!

[@kevindeuschle3413]

Still enjoying them quite a bit, haven't had to flatten them yet either. Really nice no fuss solution. Similar to sharpening on diamond plates, but better in almost every way. Also I haven't really had any load up issues either. I've been using a mixture of Dawn dish soap and water in a spray bottle and it's been doing a good job of floating away the steel particles.

[@Serenewave777]

@@kevindeuschle3413 Awesome to hear that! After going through a Naniwa Traditional 220 and a Nanohone 200 after thinning just two knives, I would like something more slow wearing. I was looking at the Shapton Pro 120/220 but the Venev seem better in almost every way

[@kevindeuschle3413]

@@Serenewave777 if you're looking to do some really hardcore thinning, I don't think Id want to do it on the venev's. One stone that isn't really expensive that I have actually enjoyed thinning on, and isn't super fast wearing is the Suehiro debado 200. When I want to thin a knife the MD20 - is what I go to. It cuts really fast, but also somewhat hard and wear resistant. Also a "splash and go" stone, but being so course is does benefit from a couple minute soak.

[@Serenewave777]

@@kevindeuschle3413 Makes sense, since the Venev's seem to cut a little slower

[@blueline5614]

I just sharpened my 940-1 on these today (1200/2000) stone. The feedback was better than my DMT's but they cut slower. Maybe the binder is what gives better feedback? After 1 micron DMT paste on wood, it was able to whittle hair. Great stones.

[@FearNoSteel]

blueline561 nice, I would like to try the 1200/2k someday. Yes the feedback on the DMT EEF is horrible haha

[@gunny4029]

best wood is balsom

[@EDCwithAaron]

I always make it to the end!

[@ureasmith3049]

You got them stones at a good time. They've doubled in price now.

[@lindboknifeandtool]

Damn it

[@dimmacommunication]

Yeah... Russians are slick eheheh

[@PapawHasThis1]

The Phoenixes start at $81. The Dragons, which are have twice the cutting thickness, are twice as much. Mine were shipped straight from Gritomatic in the United States, but this video is over four years old from the time I’m writing this. They are good stones and worth the money. For the really hard steels a very smart investment. Even medium hard steels, not a necessity but a really nice stone to have. Love them.

[@ureasmith3049]

@@PapawHasThis1 The cheapest I see on their site for 8x3 double sided Venev brand (the size he was using) is 119.00.

[@tayloralbrecht8362]

Would you choose the Venev over any diamond plate (dmt, Atoma etc)?

[@kevindeuschle3413]

yes

[@dylanemeraldgrey]

Hey, I've been enjoying your vids. I'm a newbie, but I might be getting bit by the proverbial bug. I got some cheapie water stones and then realized I needed something for profiling, so I just picked up a Shapton glass 120. I was surprised that there was a good sized patch that was rougher than the rest. Didn't seem to affect performance, but I did not expect that with their reputation. The 400/800 Venev seems like a good next step for me. I can put it between the Shapton and the cheapie King 1000/6000 (l also picked up the cheapie BLUESUN 600/2000 and 3000/8000). I have a bunch of kitchen knives, an old Spyderco Seki G2, and, well, a bunch of other stuff, including chisels and planes. It seems I can get a lot done with the set-up I have, but the cheapie stones dish fast. Ok, questions: Do you think throwing the Venev in this mix is a great idea? How can I cheaply flatten the Shapton 120 and the Venev? Can I then use them to flatten the cheapie stones? Right now I'm mostly using a 220 Drywall screen that seems to do the trick on the cheapies, but i imagine even a 120 screen may not be the way to go for the shapton and venev. I don't want to spend a lot more money - especially if I'm going to pull the trigger on the Venev. I know there is also an ongoing discussion about the whole contamination thing, but it seems a little overblown to me. Then again, I'm a newbie. Anyway, thanks again for the vids.

[@FearNoSteel]

Dylan Grey this question deserves a video man

[@dylanemeraldgrey]

For a newbie? Sweeeeet bruddah bear! I'll definitely look forward to that. Pulled the trigger on the Venev and just tried it. I reprofiled the Delica on the Shapton glass 120, then ran it over both sides of the Venev 400/800, then leather strop with green compound, then accidentally sliced my finger. I just had to laugh. The thing is a total razor now (but the action still sucks. Anything I can do about that btw? Nothing to adjust...). First take on the Venev is that it is much slower than I expected, but I really like the feel and feedback - and the size is great. Can't wait to get some chef knives on there. Maybe it would have been a little faster if I applied more pressure, but I didn't want to go crazy right off the bat. I guess I'm a little gun shy because the Shapton glass 120 dished more than I thought it would after first use when I reprofiled a bruiser hand-made chef's knife from the '70's. Maybe I'm just expecting too much from all the hype. I'm not ready to dis the 120 just yet. I know the Venev won't wear like ceramic, but I know I'll have to flatten it sooner than later. Hopefully you'll be able to point me in the right direction there. Anyway, thanks for the recommendation. So far so good. I'm learning a lot from your vids. I'm glad you decided to double down instead of slowing down. These things can take a long time to develop - and you never know what could hit and bump up your subscriber numbers. Whoops, didn't mean to take up so much room. I guess the bug probably bit...might have to join a forum or something... ;)

[@707SonomaComa]

What's the best stone for S35VN , like cold stone knives?

[@gunny4029]

seems like a very acute angle but for that steel it is ok plus all hand sharpening leaves a convex , edge, much better than a pure v edge. i do v edges on sharpening guided systems for expensive folders like chris reeves

[@tacticalcenter8658]

The Venev stones are cheap in comparison to other diamond stones imho. i got the venev KME stones. best investment ever. F80, F150, F240 and F280. i had to flatten them, but wasn't that bad at all. just some SiC powder and a flat surface and a bit of water, swirl it around and good to go. got mine from Gritomatic too. i feel these would be very good for beginners who want to upgrade from SiC to Diamond for faster cutting on CPM steel's and less often flattening. i just got the lower grits for cutting. they leave an amazing scratch pattern and really really crisp edges. The selection for the kme that gritomatic offers feel like much finer grits in comparison to other diamond stones. the feeling is better than diamond stones too. with coarse diamond stones you feel all the bumps and for beginners that can be really off putting. These have a completely different sound and feeling. also beginners could pull off diamonds of regular stones with too much pressure. not with the venev bonded diamond stones. you can use some pressure and its even needed to refresh the edge for new diamonds to show through the organic bonding. i was reading Constantine say these were not idea for very fine grits like the F2000. its probably best left to going to strops at that point. tbo after that F280 its a really really nice edge. not anywhere near mirror tho. with just those 4 stones it was super super cheap. its like 15-25$ a stone on the kme (well, im sure prices are subject to change, thats about what i saw them at when i bought them). the kme stones are too small for me to use freehand, at least from what i tried (didnt practice at all). recently got an edge pro, so ill have to eventually get some of these once my SiC stones wear out.

[@FearNoSteel]

Yes the 2000 grit is plenty fine for a double bevel user knife

[@jasonerickson1033]

Great video thanks for the info bro can I flatten it with a atoma I watched your bid and agent and got one on amazon

[@FearNoSteel]

Jason Erickson nah, too aggressive. Use a SiC flattener or just clean load up with a nagura.

[@anthonycapo1998]

You think these stones are good for beginners? Do they last a while?

[@williams.1130]

Man I cant believe those were only 60 dollars not so long ago. Looking at gritomatic theyre 300 dollars now per stone. Ive been foaming at the mouth over Venevs for a year now. makes me want to cry

[@georgeyoung4292]

You can use them with oil as well.. Konstantin from Gritomatic said that some of Russians use them with oil witch they say make cleaning lot easier.. But i prefer water and soap(Better feedback imo)

[@volcanowb]

I made it to the end!

[@FearNoSteel]

No: Six I'm proud of you, haha nice.

[@TheDuckofDoom.]

Odd that they gave 600 and 800 as estimates. The nearest FEPA-F and JIS to those Gost classifications are F400/JIS700 and F700/JIS2000

[@TheDuckofDoom.]

Those "micron" numbers are actually GOST standards, GOST is the Russian eqivelent of JIS ANSI or FEPA grit standards. 14/20 only refers to the primary fraction or at least 50% of the particles, the grade allows 95% of particle to fall between 10/20 with the remaining 5% between 7 and 28. Gost has the advantage that it has a more stringent absolute cap on oversized particles. (JIS actually has no limit on the absolute largest particle size in a grade, though JIS does limit oversized particles as a total percentage of the weight. FEPA is between the two.)

[@PaulK390S90V]

How flat is your venev f400/f800 8x3? Mine has a slight curve towards one end. Should I try to lap it and lose some of it to make it flat or just go with it? Or return it and try again...does it matter too much with free hand really?

[@toddburdick1]

What did you decide to do?

[@PaulK390S90V]

@@toddburdick1 I flattened it. And since then I have returned all 3 of the old venev legacy 100/240, 400/800, and 800/1200 to Amazon and got a refund and bought the new venev 80/150, 240/400, and OCB 800/1200 and holy crap I love them. The 80/150 and 240/400 do a.much better job and finish and then the new OCB Binder 800/1200 give a legit 10k chosera mirror polish. They are incredible. But to.your question I have one.of those large 10x4" sic flattening stones from sharpening supplies.com and it does a great job. Faster than when I tried to lap them with a diamond plate which wasn't.a great idea. You may be able to.find one on eBay for cheap. Its like a 220/325 two sided 10x4" with SiC on one side and on the finer side possibly Aluminim oxide or maybe SiC still. But it does a phenomenal job. Even if you have the old venev full size and if you could.replace just one then 100000% get rid it the 1200/2000 since it technically can't leave a better edge than the 800 because the binder has abrasives in it that are about the 800 grit size. But you will be amazed with the new OCB one, I can't recommend it enough.

[@PaulK390S90V]

@@toddburdick1 I also at the very least recommend getting a 220 grit Sic 4x1" KME stone off of Amazon or gritomatic for 12". It gets rid of all the loading and marks and makes a fresh surface for when you sharpen next. At the very least if you use that 4x1" stone each time it will be flat enough to work well. I also got off amazon a 6ftx1"x1/4" piece of aluminum and I cut a 4" piece and rubber cemented it to the kme 220 sic stone so its easier to use when using it on the stones. The naniwa diamond waterstones come with one similar and that's what made me realize that it would work the best. It just strips the binder out and not the diamonds basically so it exposes them and makes it ready to rock.

[@michaell397]

@@PaulK390S90V Never-ever lap a venev with a diamond plate! EVER!!! KnifeMaker

[@hermanharon7130]

Did you just add a compound on the plates?

[@FearNoSteel]

no, only on leather

[@LosRiji]

Use window/glass cleaner icw water use cheap 6000 waterstone for dressing up after use. Not leave high carbon non stainless slurr on them. It'll rust

[@Deoffred]

would you reccomend venev for s90 and s110v?

[@michaell397]

Exactly what I'm using the Venev's for! ;

[@JackGreystoke]

Great vid. Watched the lot. Bought the stone....! Go invoice gritomatic 😊!

[@Nate196501]

Hey buddy! Have you used these a bit more since you got them to fully determine there quality? I want to get a diamond stone or two...contemplating it.

[@FearNoSteel]

Great for the money bro

[@carlosmatos9848]

Hey Shawn, obvious price difference aside, which stones do you like better Venev diamond or the metallic bonded CBN? Is the performance pretty equal on harder stuff like 110v, D2, Maxamet?

[@gunny4029]

300.$ for a stone , in the met. cbn. i would not just buy i would have to feel it in a show

[@sour7786]

Favorite thin leather strop?

[@FearNoSteel]

Sour hrmmm. What ever is cheapest hahaha

[@BlueF350]

I use a 12 dollar harbor freight nickel bonded diamond hone block and finish it off with shapton glass, I sharpen all of my co workers knives and you can't argue with the results. Lots of respect to the hobby but you don't have to spend much to get razor blade results with full blown edge refinement to the maximum limitations in life. If someone would attack you, you could take them out man one swipe they are done

[@LosRiji]

I spent 300€ easily on waterstones and what not. Venev phoenix and stoppy stuff diamond emulsions from the get go

[@frankmartin4799]

It is too bad that I look at the website and Gritomatic states that it is sold out..

[@FearNoSteel]

Frank Martin they will come back

[@whateman12408]

Lego so true lol

[@butchthompson4279]

But we're talking friendly huggable type,right ?

[@FearNoSteel]

butch thompson I couldn't hurt a fly

[@MikeUman]

Ummm...I was looking at these on Amazon last night.

[@tacticalcenter8658]

Those are probably the ones from Gritomatic. when i ordered from the site it shipped them from Amazon. was at my door in two days since they were in stock.

[@MikeUman]

Those are the ones!

[@korollev23]

Watched all 20:46 of it. 👍👊

[@FearNoSteel]

Robert Sydenstricker you're a trooper haha

[@korollev23]

Big Brown Bear I've actually wanted to buy that stone ever since watching the video the first time. 😊 But they were (and as of a few days ago) sold out. ☹️

[@VolkovYouTube]

Hello. You can buy stones from the manufacturer on the site vidbrusok.ru If you have any questions, you can write to [e-mail]

[@gunny4029]

400, 800, i never saw 600/800, maybe lst year or so but know it is 400/800,---100/240---1200/2000, i would just get the 400/600 and just maybe the others. knife sharpening is either hated or enjoyed,

[@gunny4029]

to sharpen free hand and no scratch. i can do it but i know i will get at least one little scratch on face and it pisses me off.

[@LosRiji]

Clean it with El cheapo Alu oxide stones

[@CliffStamp]

I am not sure of the purpose of these stones. They seem to combine the worst properties of hard bonded stones and diamond plates.

[@FearNoSteel]

Cliff Stamp do you want to try one?

[@CliffStamp]

Sure, I live in Canada however.

[@FearNoSteel]

Cliff Stamp [e-mail]

[@westsenkovec]

Don't send it to him unless he agrees to make a video about it 😉

[@butchthompson4279]

So you went from a guy to a bear ???

[@FearNoSteel]

butch thompson I was always a bear at heart

[@sour7786]

Nothing can or will ever out cut a sabenza duh 🙄

[@sour7786]

And why are you bear now and not a guy?

[@FearNoSteel]

Sour cuz bears are koo