/diy/ - Do It Yourself

>>1494948

Depends. Grit sizes mean different things for different kinds of stone.

Diamond: DMT (anyone try ultrasharp?) See pic.

Arkansas: see Dan's Whetstone's, the site has an explanation. Basically all novaculite Has the same grit size, and the difference is the density of how the grains are packed.

Waterstone: start with Norton. That's what people usually mean when they say grit. Shapton if you have tons of cash.

Scarysharp: wet/dry sandpaper in various grits, plus a piece of plate glass and some spray glue. You need to go to higher grits w sandpaper than a waterstone.

Get a sharpening jig. I'd start with scary sharp and master that. Once you're used to it, you'll know what to go with. They'll all work, it's just a balance of speed/convenience/money. For oil and especially waterstones, you'll need to flatten the stone to fight dishing, usually via a diamond lapping plate.

I prefer diamond stones. They last forever (in my case, 12+ years so far), don't need to be trued, and only require water (Sellers suggests Windex). 325 to create or recreate the bevel if necessary, then 600 and 1200. Then strop. Usually start with just the 600. There's a medium extra fine 4000 plate that I want to try. The plates are all good to within a thou; I don't see the point of the lapping plate that's good to half that when it's so much more $$$.

Don't worry about stropping yet. Just get the basics down.