Diamond Rods vs CBN Rods

[Sharp Guy]

I'm getting ready to order a set of Diamond or CBN rods for my Sharpmaker. I've read comments that they're essentially the same as far as how they cut. So my question is what's the point of Spyderco making both? Surely there must be some advantage of one over the other...right? Can someone please enlighten me? Which type do you all prefer?

[mattman]

I believe sal has said that the cbn rods were a "trial run", to test the medium, and deliberately made in the same grit range as the diamond rods for comparison purposes...

My intuition tells me that we will see more grit options in cbn in the future.

They seem to be well received, with less chance that the user can knock the grit from the binding substrate, which is a minor weakness of the diamond rods.

Cliff Stamp has a nice write-up of them somewhere...

[sal]

Hi Sharp Guy,

Whichever you select, try to remember to press lightly. The "stones" are plated to the steel and more pressure doesn't make for more metal removal, it just dislodges the stones in the plated matrix. The stones cut steel fairly easily and extra pressure is not good.

sal

[Surfingringo]

Hi Sharp Guy,

Whichever you select, try to remember to press lightly. The "stones" are plated to the steel and more pressure doesn't make for more metal removal, it just dislodges the stones in the plated matrix. The stones cut steel fairly easily and extra pressure is not good.

sal

Hey Sal, is there any chance of you guys making a set of CBN rods somewhere in between the current CBN and the medium ceramics? My vote would be for something in the 800 grit range.

[Sharp Guy]

Thanks guys for your replies. I'm still not sure which rods to get. It sounds like either will do the job. I think I'll give the CBN rods a try.

Thanks for the reminder Sal! I've read up on their use and I've used diamond hones & such before so I'll be sure to use light pressure with whichever version I choose.

[aesmith]

Hey Sal, is there any chance of you guys making a set of CBN rods somewhere in between the current CBN and the medium ceramics? My vote would be for something in the 800 grit range.

Specifically CBN rather then diamond? But either way, yes something in between would be very useful.