Introduction to Woodcarving - Honing and Sharpening Part 2
Diamond Stones!
I was looking for a light, easily moveable, and quick-to-use sharpening system for gouges, chisels, and knives. The mobility of the sharpening system was essential to me as a starting woodcarver since I was always trying to figure out when I would have the time or space to carve and quick-to-use so I wouldn't have that as an excuse. The only product I found that met my requirements was diamond stones.
There are several other benefits to using diamond stones. First, traditional stones are prone to wear over time, developing a hollow where tools have been sharpened. Diamond stones will remain flat throughout their usage and don't require maintenance to become flat again. Some metals used for particularly tough tools, i.e., HSS (High-speed Steel), cannot be sharpened with traditional water stones but can be sharpened on a diamond stone. Another benefit is that the diamond stones remove material very quickly, allowing you to return your tools to a usable state much faster. While there are applications where a water stone may beat out a diamond stone, a diamond stone can also be used to maintain a water stone's flat surface.
Of course, there are differing quality levels for the diamond stones. Some diamond stones have diamonds grafted to the surface of an accurately machined metal block, some have it set into thin plates, and you can even purchase diamond foil. Each of these has its benefits. A metal block can be made very accurately and flat, but generally requires more time and tools to produce than a thin plate or a pressure-active adhesive foil. The foil is simply more fragile, resulting in tears and less of a lifetime. If you have the funds, DMT and Shapton make excellent diamond stones that are wonderfully flat, use monocrystalline diamonds that will stay sharp for a more extended period, and have tight quality control processes. Otherwise, there are some fantastic inexpensive diamond plates that you can purchase, with the only added downsides being less than a flat surface and that the diamond stone will likely need to be replaced eventually.
To oil or not to oil?
When it comes to sharpening, a lubricant will provide two significant benefits. First, it allows the fine metal dust to float freely in the liquid rather than building up and clogging the coarse surface of your sharpening stone. This makes sharpening much faster and reduces the need to clean your diamond stones. Second, it will reduce the wear and damage done to the stones both by letting the steel glide along the surface easier and by reducing the amount of cleaning necessary to maintain the stones' effectiveness. I recommend using light oil, like the one linked below, or just water.
Other Options
Traditional water stones, from Japanese water stones to Arkansas stones, and any other stone hard enough to sharpen steel without too much rare, will be much easier to find used than diamond stones just due to the length of time that they have been in use. If you can find these used or already have them, these will do perfectly for keeping things sharp until you can discover your preferences for your sharpening solution. There are also times when a good quality Japanese water stone that is recently flattened will get you a better surface and sharpness than a diamond stone but also require more skill and practice.
WorkSharp Sharpening Systems -
Many other options are available for those who might prefer something other than sharpening by hand or would like the process to go faster. Worksharp makes a fantastic sharpening tool. The WS3000 is the current model sold by Worksharp and offers a couple of wonderful options for carvers, turners, and anyone else who benefits from a well-sharpened tool. This tool uses airflow to provide cooling to WS3000 and the tool being sharpened. While you will need to keep an eye on the heat of the steel, this can help prolong how long you can leave the tool on the sharpening surface and reduce the risk of overheating the metal. This tool uses a tempered glass wheel to ensure that you have a perfectly flat surface that needs no maintenance. Additionally, there are several tool rests and options to help ensure you get the correct angle for chisels and plane irons.
Bench Grinders!
Bench grinders are an excellent tool for sharpening. However, they can remove material very, very quickly. For most people who are only woodcarving, a bench grinder could be overkill. Rarely do our tools require such heavy grinding, so you risk removing too much of the steel and wasting some of your gouges or knives. However, this can be a fantastic option if you are interested in exploring turning or have other uses for a bench grinder.
Overall, many options are available for sharpening your tools, but for a starting woodcarver, I recommend keeping it simple. The first few years of your woodcarving journey will likely include experimenting with different tools, techniques, and methods, so I always recommend a good medium quality and remaining budget friendly. Then, when those tools wear out, you can replace them with something of higher quality; if they don't, you never needed the better tool in the first place. In this case, a strop or hone is essential. This will keep your sharp tools sharp for a very long time, and if you are careful and use softer woods, this may be the only tool you need. But if you need more sharpening muscle, you can't go wrong with some inexpensive diamond stones.
Information on using your whetstone/diamond stone wet and dry
More information on diamond stones
