There are two main types of diamond stone styles. The more common style contains holes in the diamond surface to capture the swarf. These stones cut very fast and are very simple to use. The next type is the continuous diamond surface. These stones are preferred when you are sharpening tools with points that might get caught in the recesses of the non-continuous diamond surface. Both types of diamond stones are available in mono-crystalline and poly-crystalline diamonds. The mono-crystalline diamonds are more desirable as they will last longer.

The two greatest advantages of the diamond stone are the very fast cutting that the diamonds provide and the flatness that is retained by the diamond stone. In fact, coarse diamond stones are often used to flatten oil or water stones. The main disadvantage of the diamond stone is its initial cost. While these stones are the most expensive, they will also last a long time, so the long-term cost can be comparable to other stones.

There are good reasons why there are different types of sharpening stones available. There is not one type of stone that is best for everyone. Selecting the right one starts by finding the stone with the best combination of advantages for your particular sharpening needs.

current JYD run:

* BRAMEL 901
* KnifeGuy 812
* StabbyJoe 776
* LeatherDog 613
* KnifeParty 519
* Prince of Peace 508
* SSCamaro99_3 491
* bigocean 457
* rvogster 448
* Rich 356
* pitman 297

One not mentioned is those electric kitchen sharpeners, good for grinding your good kitchen knives down to toothpics. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Whoo Hoo! I'm in fourth place and running hard! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

My grandfather was fond of firing up the bench grinder for his knife and tool sharpening. I have one of his pocket knives with that familiar dish shape. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I can sharpen a hoe or shovel with a bench grinder, but never could get the nack of sharpening a lawn mower blade. I always put them out of balance, especially the mulching variety, those are fussy.

Uh ,oh, I'm getting "Website too busy" messages!!!

Lotsa people here today eh?

Holy Cow! if you finish today and make JYD, you will be the longest person to make JYD, 294 days!!! beating Rooikat-261 and Rat Finkenstein-245! dammmmmmm <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />