Best 7 Diamond Stones for Sharpening Knives Review
Wood Carving Tools reviews 25.08.2021 Jeff Richardson 0
As a woodcarver, I am always searching for the best sharpening stone – a reliable tool for all my carving blades that will achieve the razor-sharp level of the edges and is durable at the same time.
I have come to conclude that the best diamond sharpening stone is a good investment, but it took some time to learn how to choose them. Finally, here are diamond sharpening stone reviews straight from my workshop, based on my experience with each of these stones on the list.
- SHARPAL 156N Diamond Whetstone Knife Sharpener with Storage Base
- Best for the price. It comes with a storage box with a non-slippery pad that allows you to use it as a base, so it is quite practical.
- $44.99
- 3-6-in. Diamond Whetstone Models Sharpener in Hard Wood Box
- Best set for every use. Three different coarseness allow you to sharpen the dullest blades to a razor-sharp level.
- $84.90
- Trend DWS/CP8/FC Classic Pro Double-Sided Diamond Sharpening Stone
- Best for sharpening specific blade types. However, despite the quality and durability, this is a very expensive tool.
- $91.92
- Ultra Sharp Diamond Sharpening Stone Set
- Best purchase. When we consider what is included with this set (three grit stones of excellent quality), this is a great product to have around.
- $138.95
- 8-in. Dia-Sharp Bench Stone Extra-Fine Sharpener
- Best diamond stone for honing. It will not disappoint if you need a honing stone, but the extra-fine grit is the only one you get with this product.
- $53.34
- Smiths Diamond Combo Bench Stone
- Best sharpening stone for traveling. This two-grit stone is designed to be carried with you, and it is very cheap as well.
- $19.22
- DMT WM8EF-WB 8-Inch DuoSharp Plus Bench Stone
- Best for fine sharpening. You’ll be able to get all your blades super sharp and ready to go after you have polished them additionally.
- $76.48
What is a diamond sharpening stone?
A diamond stone is a metal plate for sharpening with small diamonds attached on it. These industrial stones have a much harder surface than any other stone used for sharpening, which makes these tools very long-lasting and they remain flat when using repeatedly.
In this post, I will guide you through my search for the best sharpening stone. If you are new to sharpening your tools, you can check out my guide on How to Sharpen and Stropping Wood Carving Tools, and also this Sharpening Wood Carving Tools Pictures Guide is available on my blog.
A Diamond stone sharpener is only the first step I take when maintaining my blades. Upon sharpening a tool, I always polish it with a leather strop. In fact, this is something I also wrote about in my article Top 6 Leather Strops Reviews, so feel free to take a look.
Types and grits of diamond stones
Diamond sharpening stones are generally divided into three categories, based on the coarseness of each one. So, we have Coarse, which is used for very dull edges, Fine, designed to sharpen slightly dull edges, and Extra Fine, to accomplish a razor-sharp edge of any blade.
The technology and material of which the diamond stones are made can also vary. Here we have micronized monocrystalline diamond surfaces that are very abrasive, the ones made with MirrorFlat technology such as SHARPAL 156N Diamond Whetstone, and other variants.
It is worth mentioning that some diamond sharpening stones are made with blocks of steel or aluminum formed around diamond chips. Others are made with diamond sharpening plates glued to aluminum blocks, and with the third type, we find plastic or metal foils studded with diamond chips, attached to a backing block.
Whichever diamond stone you choose, however, the advantages over the basic sharpening stones are many. First and foremost, they last much longer will handle the job a lot faster, and in general, they are worth the buy even though they tend to be more pricey.
What to consider before buying a diamond sharpening stone
When looking for the best diamond sharpening stone, there are some key aspects of each product I was relying on when evaluating each one.
The main criteria I find important for the products in this article are:
- Git Coarseness
- Durability
- Quality
- Price
- Overall Value
Like with any other stone, diamond stones sharpening depends mostly on the grit coarseness of the surface. Considering that you will probably need a whole palette of grits, it is up to you to decide whether you will use a diamond sharpener for every purpose and purchase different ones. Sometimes the manufacturers create a special offer for purchasing three grit stones in one product, and I will address this further in this article.
As I mentioned before, diamond stones are generally more durable than other sharpening stones. However, different types of sharpening stones may last longer than the other, and this is another important aspect to consider.
When it comes to the quality of the diamond sharpening stone set, the best ones are the ones made of aluminum formed around diamonds. However, when we combine this feature with the price and durability of the tool, and overall value of the best sharpening stones might not be equal to the quality itself.
How to use and store diamond stones
DMT diamond stone or any other sharpening stone is used in the same way. Based on the features of each product, you either slide the knife over the stone or the stone over the knife, in clean simple strokes.
When it comes to caring for and storing diamond stones or plates, the best tip I can give you is to store them separately. For example, I put them into ziplock bags individually and then stack them. As for cleaning, I wash them in the sink, dry them with a wet towel, and then leave them outside to air dry fully. I always clean them before stacking them, which I recommend you do as well.
SHARPAL 156N Diamond Whetstone Knife Sharpener with Storage Base – Two grit coarseness for heavy sharpening and honing
This diamond whetstone comes with two opposite grits – a heavy coarse grit for rough sharpening, and superfine grit for delicate work on the edges.
What I like about these diamond whetstones is that the package includes a storage box with non-slippery pads that can also be used as a base to hold the stone, plus three years warranty by the manufacturer.
The tool is very durable and also quite affordable. The downside is that the package includes hard and fine grit, but nothing in between.
- Great quality tool.
- Two different grit surfaces.
- A durable tool with a 3-year warranty.
- Storage box that can also be used as a base.
- Two grits are included, but the medium grit needs to be purchased separately.
To Sum Up
This diamond stone knife sharpener is a good purchase for the price. The quality is excellent, and even if you need to buy a semi-fine grit sharpening stone on the side, the price is very good overall, so it is budget-friendly.
3-6-in. Diamond Whetstone Models Sharpener in Hard Wood Box – 3 in 1 package of monocrystalline diamond sharpening stones
Coarse, Fine, and Extra Fine grit coarse stones are included in this package, making it everything you need in a single purchase.
Each of these DMT sharpening stones is high-quality and extremely durable, but the price is super high for one product overall.
These stones are handy to use in any condition (oil, water), and simple to sharpen any knife in only a few strokes, so they will last a lifetime.
- Three grit coarseness stones for all steps of sharpening a blade.
- High-quality stones that last very long.
- Comes in a wooden box for storing the stones.
- Very expensive.
To Sum Up
Although this package of diamond sharpeners might be everything you will ever need to sharpen every knife in your workshop, the price is conveniently high. It is worth looking for these sharpening stones for sale, as even if they have been used before, they are still of good quality and can be sufficient even as second-hand.
Trend DWS/CP8/FC Classic Pro Double-Sided Diamond Sharpening Stone – Handy and durable coarse diamond stone
If the previous set was made as expensive, this trend diamond stone is even further up the scale. This brand is quite popular and very well-known, but it doesn’t always live up to expectations.
This trend diamond sharpening kit includes a pouch, a non-slippery mat, as well as a cleaning block. The main quality of this coarse stone is its flatness, which should guarantee the ability to sharpen any blade possible.
However, these products can be damaged by the manufacturer, and the flatness is not guaranteed.
- Flat coarse stone for sharpening any blade type.
- The package includes a pouch for storage.
- It comes with a non-slippery base.
- Good size, easy to use.
- Very expensive for the price.
- The flatness is not 100% guaranteed.
To Sum Up
This brand is a good example of a product that is blown out of proportion. The stone itself is durable and good-quality, but all things considered, it is way more expensive than it should be.
Ultra Sharp Diamond Sharpening Stone Set – Three different grit stones, extremely good quality
Now, this set includes the best diamond sharpening stones – flat and in all grit coarseness. You got flat tiles for shaping, sharpening, and honing all your blades.
The size of the tiles is 8”x3”, making them easy to use, and even easier to swop when you are treating your blade edges from very dull to razor-sharp.
A stone holder is also included, and a very fancy one, so this product is overall top-notch without a doubt.
- Coarse, fine, and extra-fine grits included.
- Flat diamond stones for sharpening all blade types.
- A stone holder is included in the package.
- Easy to use.
- Despite a good value, this set is still quite expensive for most carvers.
To Sum Up
I personally love these stones as they have proven to be of great quality. The good thing is when you have three different stone grits, so you are able to simply execute any level of sharpening for any blade.
8-in. Dia-Sharp Bench Stone Extra-Fine Sharpener – Excellent sharpening stone for honing the edges
This extra fine DMT sharpening stone is a good buy for those craftsmen who only practice honing and on a regular basis.
If the only thing you are looking for is a superb fine grit stone, this could be a good match for you. It is a flat tile, very handy to use, excellent quality, and very durable.
The bottom of the tile has non-slippery support, so you can either hold it or use it as a based sharpening stone – both are equally practical.
- Extra fine grit stone.
- Great quality diamond sharpening tool.
- It can be used in hand or as a based stone.
- It is an expensive purchase if you need other grit coarseness as well.
To Sum Up
Although this is the best diamond stone for honing, you might be looking for a product that can sharpen very dull tools as well. In this case, I rather recommend a DMT diamond stone set instead, with at least two grit levels included.
Smith’s Diamond Combo Bench Stone – Traveling set of two-grit sharpening stone
This is a handy portable tool that might be among the easiest ones to use. It comes in handy when you need to carry a sharpening stone with you.
This Smith diamond sharpener comes with two grit sizes – one coarse and one fine, on each side of the stone. The handle is very comfortable for a soft grip, it has a thumb guard, and it has a plastic cover for protection of the stone while in transport.
Smith’s diamond sharpening stone is ideal for adventurous folks who enjoy wood carving while camping and need this kind of tool in their pocket.
- Portable two-grit sharpening stone.
- Easy to use and comfortable to hold.
- Very cheap.
- Not the greatest quality.
- Only two grit sizes are included.
- The tool is not very durable.
To Sum Up
This is a great purchase if you need a travel sharpening kit. You can pack it and carry it everywhere, plus it is the cheapest tool you will find. The downside is it doesn’t last long, but since it is lightweight and cheap it is worth the buy.
DMT WM8EF-WB 8-Inch DuoSharp Plus Bench Stone
DMT diamond stones are among the best ones on the market, and so with any of these products, you will probably be satisfied. However, let me share what I think about this particular tool.
This is a bench diamond sharpening stone designed for fine and very fine sharpening, so you can achieve a razor-sharp blade and polish it additionally.
The size is designed for smaller blades, which makes it a good fit for wood carving knives and chisels. Excellent quality and durability are guaranteed, so you shouldn’t be disappointed with this diamond stone.
- Great fit for wood carving tools.
- Bench stone with fine and extra-fine grits.
- Easy to use, clean, and store.
- A tad pricey and doesn’t include a coarse sharpening stone.
To Sum Up
Bench diamond stones are generally very easy to use, and this particular set is designed for sharpening semi-sharp edges. It is not performing well if you have a dull tool, so you must have another coarse stone on the side. This is also why it might be pricey considering the grits it includes.
It didn’t take me a long time to get the hang of what these tools are and how to use them in the best way. When looking for the best diamond sharpening stone, you must know what you need it for, in order to look for those grit sizes in a single set.
Each diamond sharpening stone review in this article is based on my experience on what the tool is good for, and what it is missing. In general, the diamond stone is the best sharpening stone overall, because it will last for many projects and it will pay off in the long run.
Jeff Richardson Editor
Passionate about wood carving since high school. Always been able to relax while carving. 7 years ago, I decided to dedicate my whole time to wood carving; this is when I started my blog. I am a fan of DIY, fitness, and crafts. Also, I love to spend time with my friends, carving something out of wood. I hope you enjoy my articles.
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