Recommended selections of sharpening stones
Diamond stones, resin bond, grain sizes in microns
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 20/14 - fine lapping
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 7/5 - the finest lapping
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 3/2 - polishing.
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 20/14 - fine lapping
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 7/5 - the finest lapping
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 3/2 - polishing.
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 1/0 - fine polishing.
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 0.25 / 0 - the finest polishing.
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 125/100 - rough sharpening
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 63/50 - semi-finishing
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 28/20 - fine sharpening
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 14/10 - fine lapping
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 7/5 - the finest lapping
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 3/2 - polishing.
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 125/100 - rough sharpening
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 63/50 - semi-finishing
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 28/20 - fine sharpening
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 14/10 - fine lapping
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 5/3 - polishing
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 2/1 - fine polishing.
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 0.5 / 0 - the finest polishing.
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 20/14 - fine lapping
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 7/5 - the finest lapping
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 125/100 - rough sharpening
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 63/50 - semi-finishing
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 28/20 - fine sharpening
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 14/10 - fine lapping
Diamond stone 150x25x5x2, grain size 7/5 - the finest lapping
Recommended set of 6 diamond stones, metal bond, grain size in microns::
Diamond stone 150x25x3, metal bond, 100%, grain size 160/125 - rough sharpening
Diamond stone 150x25x3, metal bond, 100%, grain size 80/63 - semi-finishing
Diamond stone 150x25x3, metal bond, 100% ,grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
Diamond stone 150x25x3, metal bond, 100%, grain size 20/14 - fine lapping
Diamond stone 150x25x3, metal bond, 100%, grain size 10/7 - the finest lapping
Diamond stone 150x25x3, metal bond, 100%, grain size 5/3 - polishing.
Recomended sets of CBN stones with resin (phenol-formaldehyde) and metal (copper-tin) bonds, grain size in microns:
Recommended set # 1:
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 20/14 - fine lapping
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 10/7 - the finest finishing
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 5/3 - polishing
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 2/1 - fine polishing.
Recommended set # 2:
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 20/14 - fine lapping
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 10/7 - the finest finishing
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 5/3 - polishing
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 2/1 - fine polishing.
CBN stone 150x25x5x2, resin bond, grain size 0.5 / 0 - the finest polishing.
Recommended set # 3:
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 20/14 - fine lapping
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 7/5 - the finest finishing
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 3/2 - polishing
Recommended set # 4:
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 20/14 - fine lapping
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond 7/5 grain size - the finest finishing
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond 3/2 grain size - polishing
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 1/0 - fine polishing.
Recommended set # 5:
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 200/160 - forming the cutting edge
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 125/100 - rough sharpening
CBN stone 150х25х3, metal bond, , grain size 63/50 - semi-finish sharpening
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 28/20 - fine finishing
CBN stone 150x25x5x2 resin bond, grain size 14/10 - fine lapping
CBN stone 150x25x5x2, resin bond, grain size 7/5 - the finest finishing
CBN stone 150x25x5x2, resin bond, grain size 3/2 - polishing.
Recommended set # 6:
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 125/100 - rough sharpening
CBN stone 150х25х3, metal bond, grain size 63/50 - semi-finish sharpening
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 28/20 - fine finishing
CBN stone 150x25x5x2, resin bond, grain size 14/10 - fine lapping
CBN stone 150x25x5x2, resin bond 7/5 grain size - the finest finishing
Recommended set # 7:
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 100/80 - rough sharpening
CBN stone 150x25x3, metal bond, grain size 40/28 - fine sharpening
CBN stone 150x25x5x2, resin bond, grain size 20/14 - fine lapping
CBN stone 150x25x5x2, resin bond, grain size 10/7 - the finest finishing
- Abrasive grains are covered with bond after sintering, so you may need to remove the layer of a bond to open abrasive grains.
- Fine grain sizes (below 5/3 micron) may form aggregates which leave scratches. So you may need to dress these stones more frequently to remove aggregates out of the bond. We guarantee no aggregates for grain sizes 2/1 micron and coarser.
- Edges of abrasive layer may appear too sharp after sintering, so you may need to flatten them.
Stones with grits finer 3 microns either require preparation (dressing) with Silicium Carbide powders (SiC), or they will be self-polished after sharpening of 30-50 knives. Then they will be of gold color and work well.
For dressing you need flat (glass or cast iron) plate and set of SiC powders. The table below shows 2 grits for dressing, but you may use 3 or more to increase productivity. SiC grits were selected from widely available on the market, but the general rule is: starting grit is twice higher than stone's grit, finishing grit - the same as stone's grit. For example for 0.5/0 stone these are F400, F800 and F1200.
Selection of SiC powders for dressing of sharpening stones
Stone | Starting grit | Finishing grit |
500/400 μ = 35/40= D501 | F16 (1230 μ) | F24 (745 μ) |
400/315 μ = 40/45= D426 | F16 (1230 μ) | F46 (370 μ) |
315/250 μ = 50/60= D301 | F24 (745 μ) | F46 (370 μ) |
250/200 μ = 60/70= D251 | F24 (745 μ) | F60 (260 μ) |
200/160 μ = 70/80= D213 | F36 (525 μ) | F60 (260 μ) |
160/125 μ = 100/120= D151 | F46 (370 μ) | F80 (180 μ) |
125/100 μ = 120/140= D126 | F60 (260 μ) | F100 (129 μ) |
100/80 μ = 140/170= D107 | F60 (260 μ) | F120 (109 μ) |
80/63 μ = 170/200= D91 | F80 (180 μ) | F150 (82 μ) |
63/50 μ = 230/270= D64 | F100 (129 μ) | F180 (69 μ) |
50/40 μ = 270/325= D54 | F120 (109 μ) | F220 (58 μ) |
40/28 μ = 550= M40 | F150 (82 μ) | F240 (46 μ) |
28/20 μ = 650= M25 | F180 (69 μ) | F320 (30 μ) |
20/14 μ = 1100= M20 | F240 (46 μ) | F400 (18 μ) |
14/10 μ = 1500= M16 | F320 (30 μ) | F400 (18 μ) |
10/7 μ = 1700= M10 | F400 (18 μ) | F600 (10 μ) |
7/5 μ = 3000= M6.3 | F600 (10 μ) | F800 (6,7 μ) |
5/3 μ = 4000= M4 | F600 (10 μ) | F800 (6,7 μ) |
3/2 μ = 6000= M1.5 | F800 (6,7 μ) | F1200 (3 μ) |
2/1 μ = 10000 | F800 (6,7 μ) | F1200 (3 μ) |
1/0 μ | F800 (6,7 μ) | F1200 (3 μ) |
0.5/0 μ | F800 (6,7 μ) | F1200 (3 μ) |
Also use method with CBN pastes on 3 iron plates. One iron plate for each grit size set (60/40 and 28/20, 14/10 and 7/5, 3/2 and 1/0), total working time 1 hour. This method is more expensive, but more effective.
If you have no previous experience with preparation, better leave this job to professionals. We stopped preparing stones because of war.
How to attach stone to blank.
Metal bond stone may be used without blank, but if you need more rigid surface or to maintain the same thickness of stones in the set (which is very convenient), attach to stone aluminum blank:
- attach marked area to blank (marked area is "damaged" with letters);
- use double sided tape, so you can easily remove and service stone with time if needed.
- if there's no such tape on sale (70 mm width), attach tape 25 mm width three times;
- attach tape to stone first, then to blank.
Use and cleaning
Use any comfortable oil (baby, olive..) to prevent glazing. And your sharpening stone would not glaze.
But if it glazed - clean with alcohol and toothbrush.
Maintenance is only needed every year or two, when you may need to flatten stone.
Resin and combined bond stones may be flattened with SiC powders.
Metal bond stones may be flattened also with FeCl (Ferric chloride), although SiC is OK too:
- 20 mins setting in 25% mixture (25 gr FeCl per 75 gr of water),
- few minutes polish movements (carefully draw "8") on glass plate.
That's all, you do not need special chemicals, tools, or equipment, see the video.
Presentation of CBN sharpening stones, combined bond and how to prepare them for the first use.
Knife sharpening with CBN combined bond stones
Sharpening with Poltava diamond and CBN stones