Thread: Sigma Power Select II whetsone, first impression

Schtoo has posted on this as part of his whetstone comparo and on the basis of that I ordered a #3000. It sits between a Bester #1000 and Sigma Power #8000 in my kit.

His experience was that it cut anything fast and was ideal for harder steels. It's straight abrasive, no binder, IIRC.

This first test is on a VG10 Nakirri veg. knife which had acquired a few nicks. This is pretty much a single bevel knife so I started at #1000 to continue to flatten the inside face and continue to dress out some remaining maker's grindstone marks, and to reform the bevel. Then onto the PS II.

It took just a few sprays of water, the slurry formed quickly - grey green cream all over the place - and cut quickly. No stiction on the flattish back, no hydroplaning or juddering. I dropped the bevel angle a good deal and didn't raise a sweat. When finished, the stone was wiped with tough paper towel and there was no trace of steel left at all.

So, VG10 is hard (for stainless) and the stone was well up to it. Green and mean ;-} Looks like a keeper.

Prob. the next test will be flattening the back of one of Helmut's M2 plane blades, when it arrives. Or one of the Japanese blue steel knives that I'm almost tempted to abuse just to see how they'd go

Many thanks to Stu for his sound and patient advice.

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