Traveling Stone

[rickbern]

Hi all,

I'm planning on going away for 2 months, staying at airBNB's. I'm sure I'll be doing this more in the future.

I'm looking for a one stone solution to sharpen crappy rental knives that's a small form factor. Not looking for refinement, just basic sharpening. I'm thinking something in the 500-1000 range. I pulled out my shapton pro 1000 and said, ugh, I'm not looking to drag this brick around the world with me.

Any great ideas?

Thanks

Rick

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

If a stone holder isn't an issue, I'd strongly consider an UltraSharp 300 diamond for this work. Even a 6" would probably be enough for a working edge. But they are thin so you'll need something to put it on or learn in-hand sharpening.

 

[Rangen]

When I did this for a week, I took along two Venev 1x6" (Edge Pro size) diamond stones, 400 and 1200. Very compact. The 1200 was useful on a couple of knives that were actually decent for airBNB, a couple of notches below Wusthof quality.

Sharpening knives on a 1" wide stone is not the most fun I ever had, but it worked well, and I was very glad I brought them.

 

[mengwong]

I’d be tempted to try a Glass Stone Seven 25 micron (approx 600). Or pack my own knife so I don’t have to think about the house knives. Last trip I brought a 1000 Niwaki convex stone for in-hand, tiny and light and I didn’t use it in the end.

 

[rickbern]

Thanks all. That small shapton sounds like just what I had in mind! I was thinking of bringing my glass 500 but it's a scooch big, and I'd cry if I broke it.

I'm kinda old and shaky to start fooling around with inhand sharpening and the venev idea, while appealing, requires two stones which I'd rather not do.

 

[M1k3]

I’d be tempted to try a Glass Stone Seven 25 micron (approx 600). Or pack my own knife so I don’t have to think about the house knives. Last trip I brought a 1000 Niwaki convex stone for in-hand, tiny and light and I didn’t use it in the end.

This is what I was thinking of recommending also.

Otherwise one of the 4x1 Venev stones. Like the 240/400 one.

 

[spaceconvoy]

2 x 6 soft arkansas?

 

[iimi]

I think a king deluxe 300 wouldn't be bad, it's cheap and doesn't dish fast at all

 

[cotedupy]

I’d take a Medium India, which you can get in basically any dimensions and thickness you care to think of. They’re a fair bit cheaper than the SG500 / SG7-25, far longer lasting, and at least as good.

(Possibly even - whisper it quietly - better. And I’m a fully paid up member of the SG500 fan club!)

 

[Nemo]

I’d take a Medium India, which you can get in basically any dimensions and thickness you care to think of. They’re a fair bit cheaper than the SG500 / SG7-25, far longer lasting, and at least as good.

(Possibly even - whisper it quietly - better. And I’m a fully paid up member of the SG500 fan club!)

Use it with oil or water?

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

In any scenario where you still need something to set the stone on (doesn't come with it's holder) I still go with the diamond. Fast, good for gummy stainless, no flattening, wet or dry.

 

[Legion74]

This is my stone for travel, camping etc. 2x5.5” Washita.

 

[rickbern]

Use it with oil or water?

Excellent question. I don’t really want to throw an oil stone in my bag.

 

[cotedupy]

Use it with oil or water?

Excellent question. I don’t really want to throw an oil stone in my bag.

Can use with water, though I do personally slightly prefer oil. It has almost no porosity though, so you can just wipe the oil off without it getting grimy, and switch between water and oil if you want. Probably in fact a less messy whetstone than the SG500.

I did a in-depth, side by side comparison of the two a few months ago, which I got half way through writing something about. I'll try to finish it and post it in the next couple of days. But the long and short is: They're two of the best synths ever made (imo), and you can't really go wrong with either.

 

[Nemo]

Can use with water, though I do personally slightly prefer oil. It has almost no porosity though, so you can just wipe the oil off without it getting grimy, and switch between water and oil if you want. Probably in fact a less messy whetstone than the SG500.

I did a in-depth, side by side comparison of the two a few months ago, which I got half way through writing something about. I'll try to finish it and post it in the next couple of days. But the long and short is: They're two of the best synths ever made (imo), and you can't really go wrong with either.

Interesting.

Do you need to flatten it?

 

[M1k3]

Interesting.

Do you need to flatten it?

Eventually.

 

[HumbleHomeCook]

Interesting.

Do you need to flatten it?

I'm a big of India's and like @cotedupy I prefer them with oil as that is how they are intended to be used. Yes, you can do some water sessions but oil is best in my opinion.

The bigger problem is glazing/loading.

 

[Legion74]

Interesting.

Do you need to flatten it?

India stones are probably about the hardest, least dishing stones I can think of.

 

[esoo]

Naniwa Diamond in pocket size along with the stand? Available at a decent price via Buyee.

 

[bsfsu]

A Boss Barber razor hone, or something similar, there are some that are not too bad as knife stones (some are really bad as knife stones). There are double sided/grit versions too and they weigh nothing.

 

[bsfsu]

A Boss Barber razor hone, or something similar, there are some that are not too bad as knife stones (some are really bad as knife stones). There are double sided/grit versions too and they weigh nothing.

Generally around $10 but I saw one recently go for close to $500NZD, I think it was a brand that is sought-after by competition axe people.

 

[The_Real_Self]

Naniwa Pocket Pro Stone. With the caveat that you'll need to make note that these aren't the most durable stones out there as many have found.

 

[Legion74]

Generally around $10 but I saw one recently go for close to $500NZD, I think it was a brand that is sought-after by competition axe people.

That would be one of the red/black Nortons.

 

[bsfsu]

That would be one of the red/black Nortons.

Similar or the same? the "Victor's/Vic's" are really sort after by the competition axe people in Australasia, there were a few early 20 century hand hones they looked out for but the Vic's went for 3 times the price of the norton . They were probably made by Norton though .

I need to find an axe competitor to ask.

 

[Legion74]

Similar or the same? the "Victor's/Vic's" are really sort after by the competition axe people in Australasia, there were a few early 20 century hand hones they looked out for but the Vic's went for 3 times the price of the norton . They were probably made by Norton though .View attachment 220577View attachment 220578
I need to find an axe competitor to ask.

They are different (but how different, practically speaking when sharpening an axe I have no idea). Punjab is another brand that sells for a lot. The Nortons sometimes go for over $1k, if you get two or more numpties bidding them up.

I believe it is all based on folk law and superstition. Probably, once upon a time there was a champion who used XYZ stone on his axe. Now the legend of the magic stone has been passed down and modern competitors want a piece of it.

 

[cotedupy]

Interesting.

Do you need to flatten it?

As Legion said - almost never. The one I was using to compare with the SG500 actually had date of manufacture stamp on it from 1909. It was dished less than 1mm when I got it, and I doubt had ever been flattened.

I've never had glazing issues with the Med or Fine Indias, but I do get it sometimes with the Coarse.

 

[Case_D]

I usually carry around a Spyderco Doublestuff 2 or an Edge Pro size (6"x1") stone. I went to Slovenia for about 5 weeks and sharpened probably 2 dozen assorted knives and tools at an archaeological dig. The edge pro size stone I took was a 400 grit (40/28 micron) Poltava Metallic Bonded CBN stone. When traveling it's good to have something that won't dish and doesn't always require water or oil.

 

[deltaplex]

As Legion said - almost never. The one I was using to compare with the SG500 actually had date of manufacture stamp on it from 1909. It was dished less than 1mm when I got it, and I doubt had ever been flattened.

I've never had glazing issues with the Med or Fine Indias, but I do get it sometimes with the Coarse.

Medium for life; few things are as no nonsense as that stone for accomplishing their intended task.

 

[gc0220]

DMT dia-fold double sided pocket sharpener and a paint stir stick that's covered in 5k diamond compound.

Bonus tip, put little score marks into the paint stick. See what happens.

If you really want a whetstone, I'd just bring a little shapton seven stone, or a little venev 1x6 double sided guy. Either way I'm brining a stick of wood covered in diamond compound.

 

[rickbern]

Got my shapton 7 series 25 stone. Just what I wanted. Shown next to a glass 500 for scale. About the same thickness