UF or Diamond Rods for the Sharpmaker

[PARATOM]

Im trying to complete my sharpening system and im looking to see how important are each of the mention stones are to the Sharpmaker. Which ones do you think should be purchased first?


Will just getting the UF stones give me a mirror edge? Without a strop?

Thank you In advance...

[chuck_roxas45]

I'd say go for the diamonds first. The fine rods can make your knife plenty sharp. The UF won't do a thing except make an already sharp edge sharper. You can use a sharp knife will a less than polished edge but using a dull knife is plenty unpleasant.

[Blerv]

Definitely diamonds. UF's are a labor of love. Not having a way of removing steel at a decent pace is just...labor.

[chuck_roxas45]

Definitely diamonds. UF's are a labor of love. Not having a way of removing steel at a decent pace is just...labor.

Sig line material Blerv!

[Blerv]

Sig line material Blerv!

Haha!

[KBR]

I agree with Chuck and Blerv.....diamonds first, UF second, but eventually getting both will let you use the Sharpmaker to its' full potential.

[sir_mike]

+1 for what everyone else says. The diamond ones first.

However, you have to get both cause that is how we all roll!

[PARATOM]

thank you for all the responses. it looks like ill be getting the diamond rods first.

starting with the diamonds will also help make sure all my knives are at the appropriate angle when going through the stones right?

[iamme]

If you want to set your angle first, then yes, the diamond rods will help you do that quicker. There is a considerable difference in the metal removal rate from the brown stones to the diamond ones. Re-profiling an edge with the brown ones only can take an awfully long time.

[Donut]

I have no idea which ones I got first, but they are both very useful.

[jackknifeh]

For a complete sharpening set both sets are essential IMO. You should stop reading this and order both sets. If it's a which to get first situation that depends on your needs. Do you find yourself needing to reprofile knife edges very often? Do you have to sharpen knives that are very dull and need a lot of work to get them sharp? If that is the case I think you need the diamond rods first. Get the UF rods later. Another reason I feel the UF rods can be delayed is that the fine grit will get a knife very very very sharp. By getting very dull knives sharp quicker and getting all knives very very very sharp with the fine stones you will get more use out of your knives and your time by having the coarse diamond rods first IMO. The UF rods will be nice to get the hair whittling polished edges and bevels that some people (me) love. However, this level of sharp is a luxury IMO and not as important as taking care of the reprofiling and very dull knife issues. Without the coarse stones these knives will take MUCH time to get the results you need which is a sharp, useful knife.

Another thing to consider is there are alternatives to the UF stones for getting a hair whittling polished edge. Stropping for example. Personnally, I prefer strops to an UF stone for mirror polished bevels and hair popping edges. Personal preference is all that is. If you have a good strop that is another reason the UF stones can be delayed IMO.

I believe the coarse stones (or an alternative) are NEEDED if you need to remove a lot of steel often. I don't believe the UF stones are NEEDED if you want very very very sharp knives. The fine grit stones are already up to doing a great job. So, the question boils down to what do you have the need for more often? The question also applies to all sharpening, not just the Sharpmaker I think.

Jack