Stone progression for stainless/semi-stainless PM

[yomafacio]

Hi all! I'm picking up some new knives and currently only have a cheap king 1k/6k combo block, so I'd like to get some nicer stones as well (and pass on the combo to family). I'll mostly deal with HAP-40 and SLD in a home kitchen, and I have limited experience sharpening. My current thought process is getting a ~1k and ~5k stone:

• ~1k
  • Shapton Pro 1k: Seems like a good match for my HAP-40, but I'm a bit concerned by the lack of feedback
  • Cerax 1k: Only needs a quick soak, but dishes quickly?
  • Bester 1200: Would prefer splash and go
  • Shapton Glass 500 AND shapton Pro 2k: Seems like the best option, but I'd rather have fewer stones. Still open to this if it's way better of a system
  • Naniwa Diamond 3k: Based off of this review, seems ideal for HAP-40. Seems too aggressive for other steels though, unless doing major rework. Also expensive
  • Edit: King Neo 800: Not sure about wear resistance, but SiC instead of AlO might preform better on harder steels
• ~5k
  • Shapton Pro 5k: Heard mixed reviews (a bit rubbery?)
  • Rika 5k: Heard great reviews, but maybe it's too soft for sharpening PMs? Also would prefer splash and go
  • Arashiyama 6K: Heard it's nice and fast
  • Naiwa Diamond 6k: Same concerns as 3k above

I've been mostly looking at this thread on CKTG, but also some threads here on HAP-40.
Do these choices sound about right? Interested in hearing people's preferences, especially on dealing with HAP-40.

 

[Nemo]

For HAP40, I like the Chosera 1k, Naniwa Diamond 6k progression. I also use this for other highly alloyed steels (knives with lots of V, W ir Ni). I wonder whether a 3k Diamond would work as well or better.

For other steels, I use Chosera 1k, Chosera 3k (or BBW).

Shaptons would also work well, bur with less feedback than the Chosera.

Although I have limited experience with them, the JKI Diamond stones are also very well regarded. As are many of the Gesshin line of stones.

 

[M1k3]

Shapton Glass 500+4k or Venev 400/800 (or 240/400 if you will be regularly sharpening really dull knives).

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

I haven't sharpened HAP40 but I've sharpened a lot of different stainless and I concur with @M1k3 in starting with a SG500.

I don't go on there anymore but when I did, I found CKTG to be heavily influenced by the late Ken Schwartz who was enamored with 1k stones. That's fine but I've never bought in. I prefer to drop down and then jump up.

I'd be strongly inclined to add a lower grit synthetic or diamond to go with the SG500 and then maybe something in the 2k range later.

 

[Dan-]

I can tell you that a 5k Shapton pro on a HAP-40 knife feels terrible. Have both. I also would not bother going under 500, but I’d go Venev.

 

[yomafacio]

@Nemo have you heard anything (or tried) NSK Hakuto diamond stones? They seem fairly high quality but I've only found comparisons to BBB's vitrified stones (which in their own league and pricing territory).

It seems like a diamond stone at higher grits is required to best sharpen HAP-40, so I'm thinking of using a chosera 800 or SG500, NSK hakuto (1) #3000, and snow white 8k progression (since I have the opportunity to buy the #3000 variant). Ideally I'd finish with a naiwa diamond 6k instead, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to buy so many diamond stones yet.

 

[stringer]

I haven't sharpened HAP40 but I've sharpened a lot of different stainless and I concur with @M1k3 in starting with a SG500.

I don't go on there anymore but when I did, I found CKTG to be heavily influenced by the late Ken Schwartz who was enamored with 1k stones. That's fine but I've never bought in. I prefer to drop down and then jump up.

I'd be strongly inclined to add a lower grit synthetic or diamond to go with the SG500 and then maybe something in the 2k range later.

I very rarely use synthetic water stones at all anymore. But when I did I only used one 1k stone regularly and that was to mainly to help flatten my 500 and 2k stones.

 

[Nemo]

@Nemo have you heard anything (or tried) NSK Hakuto diamond stones? They seem fairly high quality but I've only found comparisons to BBB's vitrified stones (which in their own league and pricing territory).

It seems like a diamond stone at higher grits is required to best sharpen HAP-40, so I'm thinking of using a chosera 800 or SG500, NSK hakuto (1) #3000, and snow white 8k progression (since I have the opportunity to buy the #3000 variant). Ideally I'd finish with a naiwa diamond 6k instead, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to buy so many diamond stones yet.

Not familiar with those stones, sorry.

I do feel like the edge on HAP40 (Gihei's HT) is better with a diamond fine stone. Not to say that you can't get a functional or even a good edge with an AlOx fine stone- you definitely can. We are really splitting hairs here (pun not really planned). Then again, you can get a pretty decent edge off a 1k stone as well if you deburr carefully.

 

[SwampDonkey]

I haven't sharpened HAP40 but I've sharpened a lot of different stainless and I concur with @M1k3 in starting with a SG500.

I don't go on there anymore but when I did, I found CKTG to be heavily influenced by the late Ken Schwartz who was enamored with 1k stones. That's fine but I've never bought in. I prefer to drop down and then jump up.

I'd be strongly inclined to add a lower grit synthetic or diamond to go with the SG500 and then maybe something in the 2k range later.

How do you compare HAP40 to SG2 for sharpening? Significantly harder to sharpen? Pure curiosity as SG2 is the the closest thing I've sharpened a bunch on standard stones and I like the edge a Chosera 3k puts on it. Curious if that wouldn't work for the HAP40.

My S30V pocket knife usually stays at SG1k and a mu fastest coti to finish if I'm feeling cheeky.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

How do you compare HAP40 to SG2 for sharpening? Significantly harder to sharpen? Pure curiosity as SG2 is the the closest thing I've sharpened a bunch on standard stones and I like the edge a Chosera 3k puts on it. Curious if that wouldn't work for the HAP40.

My S30V pocket knife usually stays at SG1k and a mu fastest coti to finish if I'm feeling cheeky.

Sorry buddy, I haven't done HAP40. SG2 I didn't find too bad at all. It's been awhile but with the thin blade of the kitchen knife I'd say it was easier than S30V. I don't know for sure but I'd guess HAP40 is more like ZDP-189. I've only sharpened that in Spyderco pocket knives and it always fought me but I think the thicker grinds played a role there.

My pocket knives rarely go above 500-600 any more regardless of steel.

 

[SwampDonkey]

Sorry buddy, I haven't done HAP40. SG2 I didn't find too bad at all. It's been awhile but with the thin blade of the kitchen knife I'd say it was easier than S30V. I don't know for sure but I'd guess HAP40 is more like ZDP-189. I've only sharpened that in Spyderco pocket knives and it always fought me but I think the thicker grinds played a role there.

My pocket knives rarely go above 500-600 any more regardless of steel.

Ah whoops I misread the first part of your post. I haven't even cracked a beer yet!

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Ah whoops I misread the first part of your post. I haven't even cracked a beer yet!

Well there's your problem right there!

 

[Steve56]

It seems like a diamond stone at higher grits is required to best sharpen HAP-40,

I only have one HAP 40 blade, but a Shapton Glass Stone HR (or G7) will have no problems cutting it. Cutting hard, wear-resistant steels is what the Glass Stone HR were designed to do.