Trend Diamond Sharpening Kit
By Paul Lapczynski
Sharp tools make the job go easier; you’re less likely to injure yourself and also less likely to damage the tool and whatever you’re working on. My last system was a good set of water stones, but keeping the stones flat was a hassle. This Trend Diamond Sharpening Kit looks like a complete set that might be easier to maintain.
The kit comes with a small combination diamond stone, consisting of a 600 grit (25 micron) and 340 grit (40 micron) stone, and also a diamond bench stone in 1,000 grit (15 micron) and 340 grit (40 micron) that’s 7″ by 2-1/2″. The diamond cutters will handle chisels, plane blades, carving tools, and almost anything that needs sharpening.
The kit includes a tool holder, cleaning block, a non-slip mat for your convenience, and some lapping fluid (sounds like something my dogs would use) to help keep the sharpening surface clear of debris and to prevent rust on your freshly honed edges.
The Trend Diamond Sharpening Kit sells for about $230.
Diamond Sharpening Kit [Trend]
Street Pricing [Google]
April 23rd, 2009 at 1:51 pm
I think you could do better with a set of stones (http://toolmonger.com/2009/02/23/dealmonger-dia-sharp-6-diamond-bench-stone/) for ~$60, a Veritas Mark II Honing Guide (http://toolmonger.com/2006/10/10/finds-mk-ii-honing-guide/) for ~$45 and Leonard Lee’s Sharpening Book (http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Guide-Sharpening-Leonard-Lee/dp/1561581259/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1240516101&sr=8-1) for ~$16 - Total cost before shipping ~$121 - almost half price.
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Nice setup however I like to use sandpaper and plate glass. It’s cheaper and works just as well.
It’s called “Scary Sharp” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scary_sharp.
I use it to sharpen all my chisels, and planer blades. I’ve even used it to flatten a couple of planes.
Another interesting read: http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/w00003.asp?
April 23rd, 2009 at 5:56 pm
You can buy a lot of diamond stones for that much money. I always use the DMT pocket stones, but I hardly ever have to sharpen planner blades.
April 23rd, 2009 at 9:05 pm
$230 will buy a lot of scary sharp sandpaper, too…
cl
April 24th, 2009 at 6:03 am
I’m with Chris. My tools stay sharp, from the bush hog blades to lathe tooling, to the best chisel I have, but I need nothing more than a dressed grinding wheel, basic stones, sandpaper, and glass, using whichever is necessary to get how good of an edge I need.
April 24th, 2009 at 7:37 am
I did scary sharp for years, but have recently moved to diamond stones - partially because I started using my wife’s stones (she’s a carver). The diamond stones don’t load up like sandpaper and I find I can go from completely dull to razor sharp much faster - like when rehabbing an old chisel. For maintenance sharpening however, I haven’t noticed much of a difference. I also use the DMT stones.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:28 am
I also think keeping the waterstones flat is a hassle that is until I saw this video. He uses a diamond stone to flatten the waterstones - magic.
Sharpening a bench plane iron with waterstones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__DT-YwGHgc
He also shows the “ruler trick”.