Question for KME knife Sharpener Owners

[Autumnarcher]

I'm thinking Im gonna get one of these sets, but looking at their site, I'm not sure about which stones to get.

So, my questions are - should I go with the standard set with the silicon oxide stones, or the diamond stones?

Which ones hold up the longest? Make the est edge? or doesnt it really matter?

[amar911]

Get the set with the stones and then add a coarser diamond sharpener if you need to remove more metal to put an initial bevel on the broadhead before going to the stones.

Allan

[Ryman Cat]

Thanks this is good advise because I was wondering the same myself what to get?

[Mike Vines]

I got the diamond stones.  Ron (KME) tried talking me into the natural stones, but I hate the mess of oil.  With the diamond stones, you use water.  Do not push down.  You will cut the diamonds right off the steel.

A file will be your friend when it comes to nocking off the extra metal to get your initial bevel.  DO NOT use the stones to grind away metal.  All the stones/diamonds do is polish the metal.

[Ryman Cat]

Well I don't like the oil either myself so now you gave me something else to think about Mike. And here I thought I was resolved? I use files now and a leather strop. I cut myself open pretty good in Caribou camp several years ago.TG for a Nam medic on the trip he took care of me and I didn't have to go to the eskomo hospitol there.

[Mike Vines]

I borrowed Steve O's natural stones and when they were in my truck on a 90 degree plus day, the oils seeped right out, soaking the paper towels they were in.  I have nothing but good things to say about the diamond stones.  Just remember pushing down on the stones does nothing but ruin the stones.  Pressure is your enemy when sharpening.  Just use the weight of the sharpener itself, and you will be utterly amazed.  I know I was.

[Bladepeek]

Another thing you who are opposed to oil might want to try is some diluted Simple Green. Works fine, smells good, cleans up easy etc, etc. You shouldn't mix water and oil, but I let my old oil stones soak in a plastic container filled with the soap solution and they work great - better than with honing oil.
Ron

[Sharpster]

Wow, If we  had  a payroll, I'd have to put Allen, Mike and a whole lot of other people on it!  

Generally speaking, I think Allen nailed it: Standard stones with maybe one coarse diamond for tough jobs. No matter which type of stone I'm using, I almost always sharpen dry... no water or oil at all. I'll use some oil (can even be vegetable oil) to  clean    the stones when they get cruddy but that's about the only time I use oil at all.

Mike and I talked about the oil seeping from his ceramic stones when they were locked in the hot truck... That's the only way I know to get them to ever seep or bleed: high heat. I found this out by laying one on my woodstove one day after the fire had been out for an hour or so. Normally this is not an issue though.

The standard ceramic/Arkansas stones are $20 cheaper than the diamonds, last far longer, and produce superior finished edges too. That's my recomendation for most people. Thanks again guys!

Ron

[danderson]

Ron, i love this sharpening system!I was an idiot and started getting sharpening happy 2 weeks ago though, put an edge on everyones kitchen knives in the townhouse! ruined my course stone though because i used it to set the bevels, lot of pressure and metal removal.

[Sharpster]

Originally posted by danderson:
Ron, i love this sharpening system!I was an idiot and started getting sharpening happy 2 weeks ago though, put an edge on everyones kitchen knives in the townhouse! ruined my course stone though because i used it to set the bevels, lot of pressure and metal removal.

Dan, glad to hear that you're getting them "tuned"!    Although I understand that it is temping, adding pressure is never a good idea. Let the stones do the work (they will) no pressure needed and applying pressure will actually make it more difficult if not impossible to achieve a sharp edge. Thanks,

Ron

[COOCH]

Listen to Ron Mr Anderson You will be amazed. If you need a lesson ya'll know where to find me.

Now stop sharpening Knives and go get one of those Big Berkshire Bucks.  

[NoCams]

TTT for Sharpster and best tool ever developed on this planet !

Ron, I do love the extra course diamnond I bought last year it is a metal hog ! I get everything very sharp with it then switch to red india, then white arkansas. Poured that, "stinks to high heaven honing oil", out and refilled with olive oil. Arms and legs nice and slick now for huntin' season !

[PowDuck]

Not sure what hole I've been crawled up in. Never heard about not using pressure. That could be the reason for my headaches with sharpening.

[kenn1320]

Bump for a great product! I bought the deluxe kit from Ron with the 3 stones. I can now shave hair with my Tuskers! One thing I do when setting the initial bevel is to put the head in the kme holder and I have a spacer under it that is the same height as my file. This allows me to get the same angle on the file as I will on the stones. Works Great, thanks Ron!!!

[JV Rooster]

You got to love them KME'S.

[KEverts]

Just thought I'd share another oil to try... I learned how to sharpen years ago by a blacksmith. He steered me to Mineral Oil. You can buy it in any pharmacy department. It's cheap, okay for human consumption, works great and it has little to no smell. This is all I've ever used.