touch ups: long/skinny stone vs. ceramic rod?

[benomatic42]

I've been using a ~4k grit ceramic for touch ups, and it does the job okay, but it doesn't feel fantastic: angle setting / hold, wary of too much pressure on the single point, result ... better but meh.

Since that I've seen a couple vids of people ( @stringer ?) using a narrow long-enough (15cm / 6"?) stone for touch ups... and this feels like a far superior option, especially keeping the stone feel and movements.


Are there others out there using a small stone as main touch up? Suggestions on stones?

I am in the Netherlands, and getting a BBW and/or coti seems intuitive, but thought I'd check here before clicking that dreaded/loved Buy button.

 

[Benuser]

Curious about that 4k ceramic rod. That's quite a high grit.
Well, I use a small BBW for daily maintenance of all my knives, except with German soft stainless, who don't hold a somewhat polished edge. The fun about BBW is that their garnets do abrade a burr, without raising a new one.

 

[benomatic42]

Curious about that 4k ceramic rod. That's quite a high grit.

This was the claim at meesterslijpers... I was/am also skeptical, but it definitely feels quite fine.
I haven't compared enough yet to stropping either but that seems likely to be far finer and thus at a different level.

Basically I want a quick in-hand option for when an onion or tomato just isn't cutting right. The BBW is sounding more an more attractive.

 

[Benuser]

A have BBW in different sizes, but a 15 x 4cm in the kitchen, for in-hand reviving an edge. It's by far my most used BBW.

 

[Yoshi]

A have BBW in different sizes, but a 15 x 4cm in the kitchen, for in-hand reviving an edge. It's by far my most used BBW.

Do you strop with the bbw or raise a bit of mud for quick sharpening?

 

[Benuser]

Do you strop with the bbw or raise a bit of mud for quick sharpening?

Neither! Only edge leading, as with deburring, but starting a bit behind the edge. All my edges are convexed. Once a year or so I deglaze with a worn-in Atoma, or in the rare cases I want indeed to rase more mud. I should add I use — very old school — saliva instead of water.

 

[Matt Jacobs]

Have you looked at the Nanostrop from Nanohone? I havent tried one but they come in multiple grits and hit the "long narrow" stone you are asking about.

 

[Pie]

Long narrow stone ftw. Actually whatever shape, but stone for sure. Infinitely more fun.

I’m currently using a mystery coarse suita or a marou shiro if I want to get smoother.

 

[Yoshi]

Neither! Only edge leading, as with deburring, but starting a bit behind the edge. All my edges are convexed. Once a year or so I deglaze with a worn-in Atoma, or in the rare cases I want indeed to rase more mud. I should add I use — very old school — saliva instead of water.

Do you not find bbw is quite slow without mud tho?

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

I keep an 8x2 BBW and stone holder right at my workspace. It serves duty as both my general finishing stone and for my maintenance touchups. For touchups, meaning just a couple strop type passes, I use it as is and you could easily do it in hand. For an edge refresh or sharpening finish, I raise mud.

 

[Benuser]

Do you not find bbw is quite slow without mud tho?

Not exactly, at least not for my use of it. If I start behind the edge I do raise a bit of mud. Anyway, with this kind of maintenance the art is in performing it in time, and not insisting if you're too late. If I can't easily get a smooth edge with a few BBW strokes I go to a coarser stone, a Chosera 2k. If I can't get it OK with a few Chosera strokes, there must be a more serious trouble. Perhaps time for a full sharpening, starting by thinning behind the edge with a SG500.

 

[benomatic42]

Have you looked at the Nanostrop from Nanohone? I havent tried one but they come in multiple grits and hit the "long narrow" stone you are asking about.

Interesting, I hadn't! I have a pref for a stone over sprays, but it definitely targets what I'm doing!


I'm being sold quickly on the BBW though, may just have to go for it and move on

 

[azn_knives_4l]

Interesting, I hadn't! I have a pref for a stone over sprays, but it definitely targets what I'm doing!


I'm being sold quickly on the BBW though, may just have to go for it and move on

I'm going to second the Nano Strop. Not that I've used it? But I've settled on similar design principles for apexing and touchups. Width is important for wider bevels, thinning/polishing, and push/pull but don't do anything for me with the sweeping strokes I use for light edge work. Enough surface to not be point-wise is enough. Can be more convenient, too, but maybe not.

 

[Pie]

Long narrow touch up stones. Don’t get used nearly as much as they should.

 

[Benuser]

Just found a 10 x 3cm BBW I'd never used before. Works just as fine for in-hand touching–up as longer ones. My edge leading strokes are short — some 1cm, 3/8".

 

[benomatic42]

Just found a 10 x 3cm BBW I'd never used before. Works just as fine for in-hand touching–up as longer ones. My edge leading strokes are short — some 1cm, 3/8".

Nice! Mine arrived yesterday so I'll beer trying it after the long pentecost weekend. I figured since i was ordering I'd go for the 20cm even though I suspect 15 or 10 would also work fine.

 

[benomatic42]

I'm going to second the Nano Strop. Not that I've used it? But I've settled on similar design principles for apexing and touchups.

With you there in terms of design principle. I just prefer a stone over a truly manufactured product if meets my needs.

 

[Benuser]

Nice! Mine arrived yesterday so I'll beer trying it after the long pentecost weekend. I figured since i was ordering I'd go for the 20cm even though I suspect 15 or 10 would also work fine.

Much more fun: more versatile. Not just for deburring or touching-up. Have fun exploring its possibilities!