Spyderco's Sharpening Gems: Slipstone, Doublestuff & 302 Benchstones

[JD Spydo]

I've spoke about these great sharpening tools of Spyderco's in the past but there are so many new folks here at Spyderville that I think it's time to chat about them again. I'm speaking of Spyderco's great sharpening tools. They are one of the few knife companies that has the distinction of having just as high of quality sharpening tools as they do high quality blades.

In the past year I've added the Slipstone to my line up of great sharpening tools and I'm here to tell you that is one extremely versatile tool. I even touched up a straight razor the other day with it and it worked like a charm. Not to mention the great job it can do on recurve blades and plain edged Hawkbill blades. So how many of you have discovered that Spyderco has some really special sharpening tools in their line up?

Also many people overlook Spyderco's great set of model 302 Benchstones. If you have the skill of sharpening on benchstones and I won't lie to you because it does takes some serious practice then I can't think of too many benchstones out there on the open market that I would put ahead of the fine, ultra-fine and medium grit 302 Benchstones that Spyderco offers.

Last but in no way "least" is my good ol' faithful Spyderco "Doublestuff" small sharpening stone. I actually carry mine in the leather case almost daily just to keep my EDC folder in top razor sharp shape at all times. To me a "Doublestuff" should be in everyone's survival bug out bag or prep kit. OK let's talk sharpening tools>> Spyderco in particular. And if there are any other sharpening tools in the Spyderco line up you want to chat about by all means go ahead.

[KNaB]

I love my benchstones. The uf bench stone is a wonderful thing. I wish it had more real estate when finishing longer blades, but they are all great.

[xceptnl]

I placed my order today for a full set of the benchstones, 302M, 302F & 302UF. Looking forward to working on my skills with something other than the 701 stones. I figure the skills will mostly translate and the wider stone will make the job easier.

[sir_mike]

I placed my order today for a full set of the benchstones, 302M, 302F & 302UF. Looking forward to working on my skills with something other than the 701 stones. I figure the skills will mostly translate and the wider stone will make the job easier.

Can I ask where you got them from and did you get a good price? I was thinking about the medium and fine ones.

[xceptnl]

I got all three for less than $135 shipped. Jeff Loffer at Cutlery shoppe always has great pricing and with the coupon code you get free shipping.

[Clip]

I placed my order today for a full set of the benchstones, 302M, 302F & 302UF. Looking forward to working on my skills with something other than the 701 stones. I figure the skills will mostly translate and the wider stone will make the job easier.

Congrats! Looking forward to comparing freehand edges.

[JD Spydo]

I love my benchstones. The uf bench stone is a wonderful thing. I wish it had more real estate when finishing longer blades, but they are all great.

Yeah I'm wanting to get that larger Ultra-Fine stone here in the near future. The SLIPSTONE has more sharpening advantages than most people realize. I can take the pointed end of the SLIPSTONE and use it to sharpen the "spike" part of most Spyderco serrated blades. It seems to fit perfectly with most of the serration spikes out there. On the other hand the curved end of the stone is really great for plain edged Hawkbills and it gives you excellent control on recurve blades.

As far as the 302 Benchstones go I'm using them about equal to what I use the 204 Sharpmaker for. When it comes to larger fixed blades I highly prefer the 302 Benchstones over most any other sharpening tool.

For the Brother that snagged all 3 of the model 302 Benchstones for $135>> all I can say is that you made out like a bandit on that deal. I've seen the UF stone alone go for $80 + at some dealers.

[xceptnl]

Already got shipping notice. Nothing like fast, top notch service!

[JD Spydo]

Already got shipping notice. Nothing like fast, top notch service!

Keep us posted and let us know how they turn out for you. Unless you've had some experience by using benchstones freehanded I advise you to get some fixed blade kitchen knives and cheap folders from some local garage sales, flea markets or thrift stores and learn to sharpen the "el-cheapo" blades before trying out your new stones on high quality Spyders or any other super high quality cutlery for that matter.

You might want to get the "Razor Edge Book Of Sharpening" by John Juranitch which has some valuable information on proper angle for sharpening and that company also has some great clamp on angle control devices which I like to use on occasion. But do get some practice before you tackle one of your highly cherished Spyders.

I'm surprised that more of you haven't chimed in about the SLIPSTONE. This is one extremely handy sharpening tool and has a lot of advantages to a normal benchstone as far as the variety of different edged tools you can use it on.

[xceptnl]

I have lots of experience sharpening freehand, but not lots with creating polished freehand bevels. This is my goal as well as being free of angle guided systems. I will keep you posted via this thread or another.

[sir_mike]

JD Spydo - Do you use Spyderco stones, sharpmaker, equipment only to sharpen or do you use waterstones and/or other name brand products?

Just curious if you are Spyderco excluusive and if their products fit all your sharpening needs. :D

[rodloos]

I'm surprised that more of you haven't chimed in about the SLIPSTONE. This is one extremely handy sharpening tool and has a lot of advantages to a normal benchstone as far as the variety of different edged tools you can use it on.

I think the Slip Stone is about the only Spyderco stone I don't have, I may have to remedy that :) . Looks like many of my preferred retailers don't carry it, I'd guess it has been a slow moving product? Is it discontinued yet? Being that it is FINE grit, I guess it would be more for light touch-up rather than for very dulled edges? I do have a 303F (kind of like the FINE half of a Double Stuff) and I have used it's edge for touching up in the scallops of an SE blade. It's sort-of rounded at the edge.

[sir_mike]

I have lots of experience sharpening freehand, but not lots with creating polished freehand bevels. This is my goal as well as being free of angle guided systems. I will keep you posted via this thread or another.

Just curious but I see that the 306uf is only $20 more than the 302uf so why didnt you get the bigger UF stone? Do you think it isnt worth the extra $20?

[xceptnl]

Just curious but I see that the 306uf is only $20 more than the 302uf so why didnt you get the bigger UF stone? Do you think it isnt worth the extra $20?

My OCD wouldn't let me buy a larger stone because my technique will be identical for all three. If the 302M & 302F were available as 306M & 306F I would have purchased them as a trio! I did struggle with that decision, but in the end the size being the same made more sense for me as of today.

[sir_mike]

My OCD wouldn't let me buy a larger stone because my technique will be identical for all three. If the 302M & 302F were available as 306M & 306F I would have purchased them as a trio! I did struggle with that decision, but in the end the size being the same made more sense for me as of today.

Yeah, I get that and thanks for the reply. I was just thinking that the 306uf one gives you alittle more real estate and you can use the leather pouch for a strop! :D

Personally if I buy a set it would probably just be the med and fine ones. I dont see the need for the ultra fine ones, for me anyway! :D

[JD Spydo]

JD Spydo - Do you use Spyderco stones, sharpmaker, equipment only to sharpen or do you use waterstones and/or other name brand products?

Just curious if you are Spyderco excluusive and if their products fit all your sharpening needs. :D

No not at all>> I use a myriad of different sharpening tools. I have stuff made by 3M, Norton, DMT, Razor Edge Systems, and probably about a dozen other sharpening tools from different companies. Not to mention I have a lot of the older novaculite ( ARkansas Stones) benchstones as well as many of the older straight razor stones you don't hear much about.

But as far as one company putting out a wide range of really good sharpening tools I will admit that Spyderco is by far my favorite. I have 2 of the 204 Sharpmnaker units. I have just about everything Spyderco has ever made in their line of sharpening tools. I like to experiment a lot with edged tools. I also have a TORMEK unit which is a grinder that continually dips the grinding wheel into water.

I'm open to any sharpening gear that will make life easier. But I think Spyderco truly is the leader in the market of sharpening equipment. I use Spyderco's probably a lot more than the rest of it. But I still think even they have room for improvement of their present products.

But I like to talk about sharpening because a dull knife is about a completely useless tool all together. So sharpening is extremely important to me

[jackknifeh]

I'd like to add my praise to Spyderco's sharpening products. Also, I truely wish Spyderco made the fine and medium grit stones in 3" wide size. This is really benificial when sharpening long knives like 6" and longer kitchen knives. It's a lot easier or at least more comfortable for me when the stone is wider. I just wish Spyderco had 3" wide stones in all grits. I'm sure they made the size decision after giving it much consideration. I just think they should make them 3" wide and have them ready to purchase tomorrow. :) While I'm at it I'll request they charge $10 total for each stone. :) Maybe even $25 for the set of all three. D: I'm joking of course. IMO the prices and quality of Spyderco's sharpening stones and products is about as fair pricing as I've seen.

[xceptnl]

Yeah, I get that and thanks for the reply. I was just thinking that the 306uf one gives you alittle more real estate and you can use the leather pouch for a strop! :D

Personally if I buy a set it would probably just be the med and fine ones. I dont see the need for the ultra fine ones, for me anyway! :D

I currently use the (now discontinued) Spyderco Profile 701MF set which is the same compound as the matching benchstones. These only have the real estate that the sharpmaker rods do so they should seem like a huge improvement in sharpening area. The other factor (that was minor) was the stone thickness. If I drop the 302 it should be less likely to break than the 306 due to increased thickness.

[sir_mike]

No not at all>> I use a myriad of different sharpening tools. I have stuff made by 3M, Norton, DMT, Razor Edge Systems, and probably about a dozen other sharpening tools from different companies. Not to mention I have a lot of the older novaculite ( ARkansas Stones) benchstones as well as many of the older straight razor stones you don't hear much about.

But as far as one company putting out a wide range of really good sharpening tools I will admit that Spyderco is by far my favorite. I have 2 of the 204 Sharpmnaker units. I have just about everything Spyderco has ever made in their line of sharpening tools. I like to experiment a lot with edged tools. I also have a TORMEK unit which is a grinder that continually dips the grinding wheel into water.

I'm open to any sharpening gear that will make life easier. But I think Spyderco truly is the leader in the market of sharpening equipment. I use Spyderco's probably a lot more than the rest of it. But I still think even they have room for improvement of their present products.

But I like to talk about sharpening because a dull knife is about a completely useless tool all together. So sharpening is extremely important to me

Okay, I see! LOL

I too hate a dull knife but for me it isnt a daily or even a weekly thing I have to deal with generally speaking as I dont get to use my knives much. Most of my knives that I do use are either SAK's or a couple of Spydies like the PM2, Delica and a couple of Salt 1's (plain and serrated ones). The thing I dont want to do is end up with a whole lot of stones, sharpeners, other sharpening equipment that just sits around here not used so trying to get what I need that works and that is it, not counting a backup set just in case! The one thing I hate worse than a dull knife is alot of stuff just sitting around unused. LOL

I am very new at sharpening so I ask alot of questions. I am always looking for the best, easiest or fastest and least messy way to get a working or sharp edge. I dont polish the edge and dont plan on shaving with it, unless the price keeps going up on the razor cartridges! So I wont ever strop or use an Ultra fine stones even though I have a set with my sharpmaker.

I am thinking about going to a free hand just to re-learn as I did some of that when I was a kid, my dad taught me but it has been a very, very long time since I did that so it the reviews are good for the 302M and 302F, then I might look at a set of those or I could just use the Double Stuff I have sitting in my desk drawer!

I too wish they made the 8x3 stone in medium and even some kind of coarse ceramic but that probably wont ever happen. :)

So with all the rambling I am doing, I guess my main idea is more of touch ups and not sharpening from dull. Should I just use a Fine stone for that if I dont get any nicks or chips in the blade?

[jackknifeh]

I am very new at sharpening so I ask alot of questions. I am always looking for the best, easiest or fastest and least messy way to get a working or sharp edge. I dont polish the edge and dont plan on shaving with it, unless the price keeps going up on the razor cartridges! So I wont ever strop or use an Ultra fine stones even though I have a set with my sharpmaker.

Buy a DMT fine grit 3"x8" stone and a Spyderco 2"x8" fine grit stone. Ok, you're done. No water or oil. Use both dry or use water on the DMT stone if you want. Either way won't damage the stone so it's a matter of what you like. I haven't used a Spyderco medium stone so I don't know how aggressive it is. But with the DMT fine grit stone you can put a very sharp edge on any knife and some very minor re-profiling. This edge is all some people want but I would prefer to have the Spyderco fine grit for a smoother, less toothy edge and also when touch ups are needed you will remove less steel than the DMT fine grit will. I believe with all my heart these two stones are all most people need. If you work on your technique and consistancy for angle accuracy you will be happy I bet. Once you are really happy with your improvement you can decide if you want or need anything else. Most of my life I got by with one medium Arkansas stone for around 20 years. Then I got into better knives and blade steels like Spyderco uses and that stone was useless. I'm sure it was very worn. I have spent hundreds of dollars in the past few years and after trying several different type stones (all great) I now use a fine and extra-fine grit DMT and a Spyderco fine grit stone. The extra-fine DMT and fine grit Spyderco produce a result close enough to each other that I believe one or the other is all you need. If I were to only use one I'd keep the Spyderco fine grit. Once all my knives are sharp (like now) I can maintain them with only one Spyderco fine grit 2"x8" stone. So, if your knives are already sharp and if you really want to go slow, buy the Spyderco fine grit and see how life is with only that one. If you find you need something coarser for really dull knives or if some of your knives need re-profiling get something coarser. Sooner or later the knives will need to be re-profiled though but that may be months or even a couple of years from now. This is just my opinion and others may disagree. I know how hard it is to decide though. Good luck.