Coarse to Extra Fine (DC-250 to DE-250)

[Swemek]

Hello all,

I got a good deal on these two Tormek diamond wheels and do mostly knife sharpening for myself, friends and colleagues.

While waiting for the wheels I thought I'd ask here if anyone has experience skipping DF (fine) the stone between the two? I know the scratch pattern differs from the original stone, with which I often go from course to the leather wheel.

I have owned DF (400 grit) once and found it very effective and thought I'd try jumping from 360 (DC) to EF which I believe is 1000 grit, before going all in on three wheels.

Much interested in your thoughts on this.

Cheers!

[Royale]

I have all 3 diamond grindstones for my sharpening business.

I typically use the DC-250 (360G) to reshape/reprofile blades, and sharpen with the DF-250 (600G). Only when the customer wants a finer edge (and willing to pay more), do I use the DE-250 (1200G)

From personal experience... Going from the DC-250 to DE-250 is going to add a lot of time to your sharpening. Some factors to be considered are hardness of the steel, and what level of sharpness you're trying to achieve.

I spend most of the time at the DC-250, lesser time with the DF-250, and the least time with the DE-250.

So it's definitely a possibility, but the time take  is going to be hella long.

[Swemek]

I have all 3 diamond grindstones for my sharpening business.

I typically use the DC-250 (360G) to reshape/reprofile blades, and sharpen with the DF-250 (600G). Only when the customer wants a finer edge (and willing to pay more), do I use the DE-250 (1200G)

From personal experience... Going from the DC-250 to DE-250 is going to add a lot of time to your sharpening. Some factors to be considered are hardness of the steel, and what level of sharpness you're trying to achieve.

I spend most of the time at the DC-250, lesser time with the DF-250, and the least time with the DE-250.

So it's definitely a possibility, but the time take  is going to be hella long.

Great input, thanks!
Maybe I should replace the DE for for an DE. For how long have you owned the DC, does it keep its 360 grit spec well since it was broken in?

I guess I was thinking that I could use the DE to get rid of most om the burr from DC, and that I could live with the scratch pattern DF-250 otherwise would have lessened.

Also on more traditional and high carbide knives, rather than m390, s30v, my plan was to use SG-250 as course as possible as first step and than DE before honing.

But I guess I'll end up with the DF as well.

[Royale]

I've used my DC-250 since... December last year? It still cuts very well for 360G, but for faster reprofiling, I still use my SG-250 (graded to 220G)

Every 1-2 weeks I clean all my diamond grindstones in my ultrasonic cleaner, then "rinse" them in the ACC-150 solution by mounting it on my T8, then running it through the water trough for a few minutes.

I would recommend getting a combination of SG-250, DC-250, and DF-250. These should cover almost all knives (and scissors) you can throw at it. I chose to use mainly diamond grindstones because I wanted to speed up grit progression by using the same diameter grindstones (and also to sharpen ceramic knives)

Most knives I sharpen with the DF-250 (600G), I barely see the scratch pattern after honing on the LA-220 leather wheel. If you're pursuing a mirror-like finish, then the DE-250 (1200G) would be an economical and practical choice.

I do use my DE-250 (1200G) and SJ-250 (4000G) for commercial chefs (and some customers) who request for it, but that's far and few in between.

[Swemek]

Thank you Royale, that is really useful info!

I'll sleep on it and get black when I know.

[Swemek]

Thanks to Royale I canceled the order, it didn't make sense.

[Ken S]

As an aside, years ago, when I was testing CBN wheels (Diamond wheels had not been introduced then), I tried going directly from my 80 grit CBN wheel to my leather honing wheel with PA-70. After longer honing with full pressure, I achieved a respectable BESS reading of 135 with my chisel. I then sharpened another identical chisel with SG-250 coarse, then fine, then leather honing wheel with PA-70. This produced BESS 100, a noticeable improvement with possibly less wear on the leather wheel. I filed the direct 80 to leather wheel under "possible, but not practical".

Ken