Sharpening

[chook]

At the show I saw a chap using a 12000 grit water stone.

My question is this. DMT make an 8000 grit diamond stone. Could I get by using that alone ir do I really need to get a 12000 grit water stone as well? Would an 8000 grit diamond stone (from DMT) cut as well as an 8000 grit water stone? It seems that if you have a water stone you need a method of flattening it often any way so just getting a water stone alone does not seem to be an option. You need some other stone to flatten it.

[Ball Peen]

I've been getting by 35 years with a Hard Black Arkansas. Near as anyone can tell 1000 - 1200.

Grit level of Arkansas Translucent stone (http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/121329-Grit-level-of-Arkansas-Translucent-stone)

[rustynail]

It very much depends on what you are sharpening. For normal woodworking hand tools you can get by with a 1000-6000 double sided waterstone. The diamond stone will cope with a wider range of steels. 8000 grit would be a finishing stone, so you may still require a courser stone as well. yes ,waterstones do require flattening and it is easy to take divets out with careless use. Their sacrificial nature is part of their sharpening process. They are very easy to flatten, you dont require another stone for this, they can be done on a piece of glass. I love 'em.

[Superbunny]

I do all my tools (chisels plane blades etc) on a 1000 and then on a 6000 and I still get scary sharp. HNT Gordon only use up to 6000 for there plane blades and if it's good for them then it's good for me.:D:D

SB