Chistle & plane sharpeners

[Bernie Summers]

I'm looking to buy a diamond sharpening tool for sharpening chistles & plane blades. (The old stone is beyond it's use by date!) Any advise on the better chioce? The ads for Eze-Lap & DMT Whetstones look good, which is better? Are they good value for money or am I better off buying a number of stones? Any other options?

[ubeaut]

Better late than never.

Forget the diamond lap and if you can aford it get a couple of Japanese water stones. They don't come much better than that.

I have found the diamond laps to be initially too harsh in the tools and later they lose their cutting quality and can't be restored. A stone can be restored over and over again and will give a consistent cut for many, many years if used correctly.

This is just my opinion. We all have our own preferences. I personally do not own a Japanese water stone. Instead, I have for some 20 odd years, use natural Scotish stones and Arkansas. But I do admit to having a bit of a longing for the water stones. Maybe some time in the next 20 years I'll wear out the ones I have and then I'll get me one.

Neil http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

[STEPHEN MILLER]

I HAVE FLEXOVIT SILICONE CARBIDE OILSTONE FOR NO. OF YEARS ,IT WORKS VERY WELL AND EASILY CLEANED WITH A GOOD FLUSH WITH KEROSENE ,ALSO MY BROTHER HAS A WATERSTONE THAT CAME WITH A MAKITA PLANER THAT IS DOUBLE SIDED IT HAS BEEN IN SEVICE FOR 15 YEARS AND STILL WORKS WELL. DIAMOND TOOLS ARE GOOD FOR THINGS LIKE REFACING BENCH GRINDER WHEELS AND DIAMOND TIP SAW BLADES BUT ROUND OFF AND LOSE THEIR EDGE , AND HAVING BEEN IN TO MANUFACTURER OF DIAMOND TIP TOOLS TO WORK ON EQUIPMENT THEY ONLY LIKE MAKING TIPS BECAUSE THE PRODUCT IS MORE CONSISTENT BECAUSE OF THE SMALL SIZE OF DIAMOND THAN THAT USED IN STONES.
STEVE

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[Shane Watson]

MMmmmmm with all this talk of Diamond stones has made me wonder...... If they lose there edge after a while, why are they so expensive?, and I know thats a totally stupid question considering the diamonds, but when you guys say you have had your waterstones etc for 15, 20 + years, it would seem to make more economical sense. I always thought a diamond stone would be great but have never been keen on spending the money when me elcheapo oil stone has always been adiquate. Mind you now I have gone and bought a tormek so go figure http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif ... By the way it seems to do a great job......Don't think I need to buy any more razors anyway http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

Anyway, just my 5cents worth today http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

Cheers

Shane.....

P.S. And while we are on sharpening! How long should a good quality tool keep its edge?