Diamond stone I recommend► Trend 300/1000 grit stone: amzn.to/2nBdaq5 Trend lapping fluid: amzn.to/2nknjF8 Trend Tool & Bit cleaner: amzn.to/2dZkJl3 Trend Kit/C (for router bits, forstner bits, etc.): amzn.to/2nhNLi7 Video about sharpening router bits: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pZpxp9V_vbiZeas.html Video about sharpening forstner bits: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/qLKfeNidpprRfWw.html (We may benefit financially if you use the above affiliate links.) HELP KEEP OUR VIDEOS FREE! Please support those who support us by visiting their websites and having a quick look around- Trend: www.trend-uk.com/en/US/

No annoying loud music, incredibly thorough and comprehensive information. I love your channel!

What a pleasure to watch/listen to a knowledgeable professional, who has prepared an excellent script, and presents it so clearly - with NO distracting background music, no "hey Yo - whats up KZfaq". This is as good as teaching gets. Not just an advertisement to entice clicking of affiliate links - just good, solid, dependable information. Well done!

Good advice on stopping at 1k then stropping. I go to 200k (Yes, really), but I essentially only do that as a ritual at this point - the process is relaxing to me. It's cool to see how sharp you can really get something, and the mirror edges are really nice as well. But, I'll be the first to confirm... I've taken a knife to that level of sharpness, cut up all the cardboard boxes for my weekly trash haul, and already been back to a point where even shaving is a struggle. It's cool, but it doesn't last.

I'm a hobbyist knife maker, I have set of DMT brand stones with the yellow plastic backing like you show. You call them cheap and sub par, (they cost around $75 per stone) but I've used them for a decade now. Sharpened many hundreds of knives using water... with no problems. 🤷‍♂️ But if/when they ever wear out, I might try a "Trend" brand. Looks like they cost around $20 more. Not sure I'd bother with fancy fluids though. That seems like a real pain, IMO.

Atoma is the best and lasts the longest, tried all of them, at least for all kind of knives. For polish Ing i use higher grit japanese Water stones, suehiro, shapton and my favourite: naniwa chosera. Depending on the usecase of the knife, i go up to 3k-8k and strop them a few times on the rough leather side up after that. If i want to get a toothy edge, i strop one side of the edge a few times over a 3k stone or a leather with a 4k diamond compound. I fixed and regrinded a ton of knives on my 400 grit atoma, after wearing in, it doesnt seem to be as aggressive to the touch of my finger as new, as soon as i put a blade on it, it still cuts a lot faster than any other stone. I like diamond plates only, if it has to be fast, i need to fix something deep, reprofiling or i need a very toothy edge, otherwise i prefer proper whetstones. The edge of a diamond sharpened tool isnt the same as sharpend on a whetstone.

He is correct in describing " serviceable sharpness" I however am one of those who find joy in the art of creating an edge worthy of superlatives. Learning everything I can in the pursuit of the perfect edge... Necessary? Probably not. But there's nothing wrong with the pursuit of perfection.

Personally i love sharpening my knives, chilling out listening to music. It's relaxing 😁

This is the common sense channel. Quite simply the best I've seen so far. There's no superfluous rubbish- it's straight to the point. Excellent advice. You're well up on every subject you advise on. I was brought up on oilstones, but am considering the diamond stone option. Thank you for your sharing your knowledge. Greetings from France.

This was one of the best, most concise explanations that I have yet to see. Thanks so much.

Thank you so much for making this video. I tried the cheap diamond stones and thought I just sucked at sharpening because of how difficult it was to get the chisels razor sharp on diamond stones. I saw this and bought ones which had the electro process described, now I'm a weirdo who enjoys sharpening and I'm gonna get near all the sharp objects!

Love this video. A comment, recent reviews of cheap double-sided diamond plates show that the coarse sides are contaminated with larger diamond particles, which make them coarse at the end of the day

I used a coarse (Harbor Freight) diamond plate to level a stone, I've been using the stone for 60 years.

I have had 3 diamond stones (400, 800, 1200) similar to the yellow plastic one that was shown in the video for almost 20 years. I epoxied each of them to a flat smooth piece of 3/4" granite that were off-cuts from a kitchen renovation I did. I cut each piece of granite the size of the diamond plates (about 2 1/4" x 6") & then epoxied them to the top. The result is a very flat solid set of diamond sharpening stones that have lasted for a couple decades so far. I also applied grip tape, used on stair treads or skateboards, to the bottom of each stone so they stay in place while using them. I have used them often over the years & still use them regularly for almost all my sharpening tasks (depending on the tool, axe, knife or chisel etc) & I have always used a solution of windex & water or simple green. I rinse them in hot water after each use, occasionally I'll use a brush as well (finger nail brush or vegetable brush) while rinsing & then let them air dry on their sides. I have never had a problem with them rusting or delaminating & they still cut just fine.

What an excellent, informative, well-presented video. Even concisely summarised at the end! Well done and thank you.

Awesome video! Thank you for bringing clarity to sharpening. This is the best lesson and sharpening I’ve seen in 30 years.

Excellent advice without any time-wasting nonsense, Thank you Stumpy Nubs!

I used the Trend lubricant but found it no better than the rubbing alcohol I have used for years. And yes, lubricating makes a great difference.

Thank you so much for this! I've been trying to make heads or tails of this sharpening "stone" jungle. This is perfect for me.

Thanks James. I have been struggling with all the "expert" advice that is out there. This was clear and easy to understand. You have answered more than one of my questions on this topic. The UP thanks you, eh.

This is great. Answers all the questions I ever had about these stones. Thanks!

Cheers for sharing your knowledge in such a straight forward and easy to get the gist of life lessons you have learned. Thanks from an Australian Shed Dweller.

I will spend a whole day of blistfull zen I find sharpening very relaxing and stress relieving!

Guess I'm one of those weirdos who enjoys sharpening. Great video, really helpful discussion about lubricants and why the price difference in diamond stones.

Thanks, I have watched lots of sharpening videos and tried all types of sharpeners. Your video has reassured me that one stone can do it all. Marvellous!

Thanks again for your great explaination of using the diamond stone and undertanding the details.. I really enjoyed meeting you and talking to you at the TREND booth at the NOVI, MI WOODWORKING SHOW. As always, great information....

I I love sharpening my kitchen knives! I find it rewarding and relaxing🤔

This just showed up on my home page. Great organization and presentation. Especially appreciated your recap at the end with key takeaway points.

Diamond stones are a man's best friend.

Hi Thank you for posting this video. Got my Trend from Amazon and today was my first chance to try diamond stone on some hand planes and I was very impressed with the results. The process of sharpening took less than all the things I tried in the past and I don't have to worry about need to flatining me stone etc. So thank you again and will keep watching your videos.

I love to sharpen and have used most types of stones and brands over the past 50 years. I have been using the "cheap" yellow DMT product(s) shown in your video since the early 80's and have never had a problem with ANY of them!

Beautifully done video, most comprehensive I've seen on the topic. Thank you!

For lubricant on my diamond stones I use 1 cap full of Honeright Gold w/ distilled water in a 250ml spray bottle. Plate doesn't rust, it's reasonably priced, thin enough film thickness for 400 and 1200 grit Atoma plate and 250ml is enought for a year of home sharpening and cleaning the stones after use. BTW the 300/400 grit stones also can be used to flatten water stones.

Something more important to protecting your diamond stones than oil and water: Avoid high pressure on the stone. If you bear down too hard, say 20 pounds on something like a narrow chisel, you could get 1000 PSI at the point of contact, causing damage to the stone. Remember, when the contact area goes down, the PSI goes up!

I am genuinely astounded at the quantity of idiotic and spiteful comments. Personally I really enjoy your videos mate, I always learn some useful tidbits and your style of presentation is concise, clear and light hearted. Keep up the awesome work Mr Nubs! PS, please do more videos where you discuss the construction and style of period furniture, they are fascinating and your passion for woodworking really shines in those videos.

Wuauuu! You have managed in a single video to clarify all doubts regarding the diamond stones. Thanks so much, your channel is really useful and full of knowledge.

Glad I came across this before I purchased my first plates. You probably saved me a lot of cash in the long run. Thanks so much.

I have a very good EZE Lap diamond plate embedded on a wood base. I sharpen by hand and I hold the stone and knife in my hands when I sharpen. (It's how I learned) The wood base is helpful to keep me from slipping and scratching the blades. It started as a medium grit, but is now medium fine, but then again it is 16 years old. I use water on it as its a stainless metal. I use my diamond first and then finish with a hard Arkansas stone just to polish the edge up. Most of my cutting tools get a working edge or a butcher's edge. A polished edge so sharp you can shave your face with is too sharp for many applications, although I do polish the edges on my leather tools. I make knives for a profitable hobby and have done so for 25 years now. A diamond stone is a necessity for some of the high vanadium steels as they are very wear resistant. I made a knife from D2 tool steel and found sharpening it with a regular stone took way too long and then I found out about diamond stones.

Thanks heaps very interesting and I agree whole heartedly re "excessive" sharpness.

Been using an Atoma japanese diamond lapping plate for 4 years now. It has an aluminum base with a replaceable pad. Held on by adhesive. Still within 1/10k of an inch. I know your against them but I would give it a try. Best tolerances on the market imo.

Thanks! I'm completely new to this because sharpening is actually pretty relaxing and helps me sort my thoughts. I already used water on my diamond plates but they were cheaper ones so I'm fine for the next single double sided one I'll get. Gonna get that Trend Fluid, wanna keep doing it and I intend to do it right

Brilliant video as usual! Thanks. Can't understand why some folks take exception at a light hearted presentation done so informatively

I'm a weirdo, love to sharpen my blades, I find it relaxing.

Thanks for the explanation. This explains some of the issues I have had with my diamond stones.

I'm kinda shocked at how good that was! Thank you. I'll be going deeper down this rabbit hole...

I also cut gem stones and use numerous diamond laps. A well made lap should be fine with water based lubricants. If a lap rusts it was not plated very well. The nickel plating should be bonded to the steel plate affording protection from rust. Believe me, the volume of lubricant needed for cutting gems, you are not going to be buying tiny bottles of expensive honing fluid. A little liquid dish soap or Simple Green in water is fine. Paul Sellers has been using the same laps for years with nothing more than glass cleaner. I do concur on not needing more than 1000 mesh. My finest mesh is 1200 for cutting gems. I go straight from that to a Lucite lap charged with aluminum oxide for mirror polishing on gem stones a lot harder than any steel. Charge your strop with white diamond (aluminum oxide ) compound or green compound (chromium oxide). These both come in hard blocks you can rub on your leather for charging.

FYI, I'm one of those weirdos that love to sharpen their tools and find it a moment of zen. :)

After viewing this video sometime ago, I purchased a Trend Diamond stone. I use it all the time and it is everything that you said about it. Thank you and best wishes.

I bought that same 300 grit and 1000 grit diamond steel and been using it for two years and you are absolutely right

I use an ammonia free glass cleaner on my diamond plates and wet or dry sandpaper as recommended by Paul Sellers. I get it at Dollar General for $1.00 a bottle. Works great, doesn't cause rust and is cheap.

I love my mind to be numbed. I love sharpening knives. My favorite is stropping, lol. 😀 So I started stropping while watching your video. A Mora this time

Great clarity! Loved that your videos contain no long pauses and backtracks and ums , and ahhhh etc that so many videos contain today. Those types of videos are painful yo watch.Great job! Thanks!

Excellent advice...straight, simple and to the point...no pun intended 👍👍

I like sharpening things :( I find it relaxing

Dear Stumpy, I am so sad to hear you are not experiencing the fantastic feeling of Zen tranquility that comes from becoming one with your sharpest edge!

What a fantastic video, informative and to the point. Thank you.

Just ordered the stone you recommended. Can't wait to try it.

I sharpen knives for the ladies in my neighborhood. I'm very popular. It blows my mind how dull most people's knives are.

I always enjoy your Vid's and this one is no exception. As a matter of fact it was rather timely so I'm off to spend my and with your help I will spend much less (in the long run) Mr. Nubbs I hope you have a grand day

Hey, I'm one of those that enjoy my Zen moment sharpening blunt blades, and the five cuts on my hand prove that sometimes I "Zen" out a little too much! But that workshop of yours with all those tools in the background. There is no such thing as too many blades.

Great video! Learned a lot! Thanks so much for putting in the time to make this.

A lot of people whining about him calling some of us "lunatics" and so... relax, people. I think he is being sarcastic referring to himself, too.

My zen is sharpening things. Mirror edge finish with a strop!

Never too old to keep learning Perfect guidance thank you 👍

It's such an informative and interesting video that I watched all of it, when in fact I don't have any sharpening to do except my kitchen knives from time to time on an old fashioned two-grit sharpening stone.

I find myself sharpening my tools even when they are razor sharp, it is very satisfying and relaxing. I'm certainly one of the "weirdos" that find it enjoyable

Great information, thanks for sharing! I think some are giving you a hard time about the lunatic joke because your delivery was flatter than those monocrystaline stones you are raving about!

Great informative video. Straight and to the point. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge.

Really good info, and perfectly AMAZING timing!! I was just looking LAST NIGHT for a diamond sharpening kit/set. and after a while of looking felt like I would never find what I needed. lol THANK YOU!!!

Question: which is better for dressing my grinding wheel, a dressing stone or those "T" shaped dressing tools with diamonds?

Excellent video... Thanks James! My 2 cents... have had great luck with Windex... dries fast on its own and has very little thickness

Great introduction to sharpening stone. Thank you 👍🏻

Thank you for taking the time to make the video. I have definitely learned something.

I wish you posted this about a month ago! I just dropped $140.00 on the Norton Water Stone starter kit. Oh, well. I always enjoy your videos.

I love keeping my tools sharp and in good condition. With diamond it's very quick. I've been using water for years with no problems. I rinse with the hottest water I can get out of my sink, dry with a paper towel and the heat drys any water I've missed. I also do my kitchen knives. I used to do my ceramic knives but I gave them away. I can actually get a better edge on steel. I think the ceramic edge crumbles microscopically even if you sharpen to a relatively coarse angle. Concerning steel tools, you get to know which ones take a really good edge and which are so, so. Even the same brand of high quality tools aren't always uniform in their ability to take and hold a sharp edge. I make pretty good violins and truly sharp tools make a big difference.

Very Professional, informative video!! Thank You. Now I know what to buy!

Fantastic video with awesome information. Not many videos like this on the tube. Thank you!

I've been using my plastic base dmt plates with water for over 10 years, no issues at all. The only one that actually isn't holding up is the 120 mesh stone which is the only one on a solid metal plate.

Hi there from Portugal, Nice info :D Obrigado(Thanks)

A veritable wealth of information Mr Nubbs. Well done sir.

Thanks. Very helpful without time wasting in words.

Your comment , of coarse , was a joke . But using WD-40 is, for sure , not a lapping matter .

I bought the Trend 300 / 1000 diamond stone. However, the $5 an ounce Trend honing fluid is off the table for me. My favorite British woodworker considers the value proposition akin to a snake oil selling. He still uses automotive glass cleaner. I hope the two sided Trend stone I just bought lasts. I am still in the breaking in mode. Amazon reviews are mostly good but the negative reviews are flatness issues and diamonds falling off. I hope the Trend warranty is not contingent upon buying and using the Chanel no. 5 priced honing fluid.

Thank you for this valuable ( New to me ) Info !

Concise and useful information. I use Arkansas, ceramic, water, and diamond. All of them will sharpen, but diamond stones will do it quicker. I generally use diamonds just for my harder-to-sharpen steel: M390, CPM-S90V, and Elmax. I use Trend stones and lapping fluid for 1000 grit and under and mineral oil for my DMT higher grit diamond stones. Since I am sharpening knives, not chisels, I care about the smooth, polished bevel; therefore, I use Arkansas, water, ceramic, and diamond stones in that order, depending upon the metal. There is a correlation between the more aggressive stones and the rougher edges.

So comprehensive - you answered all the queries that had been buzzing around in my head ever since I first saw diamond stones. I know you were a writer, and have a great deal of woodworking experience, but every time you do a video like this I am so impressed by your abilities as a communicator - and the humour (sic) adds the finishing touch. (BTW, to whom do I apply to join your fan club ?)

Informative video.But waterstones are the best way and diamond plates to flatten them.

Extremely informative. Thank you!

Thanks Stumpy as I just bought on a whim some stones from Harbor freight witch I will now return thanks to you!

I think Paul Sellers uses windex with his stones. It's in the same category as water, though -- accidentally got a few drops on my band saw table and ended up with a bit of annoying rust to clean off.

"Are they made from real diamonds?" He says no, then goes on to effectively say yes. Grown diamonds are still real diamonds.

Sonny I do like this and am so glad I have learned from it! I keep on buying stuff and regret it but now I have learned the sharpening I did not always do often well enough. I have learned and the tools are treasured and will not go anywhere while I am able to look after it. Later, God knows! The Young Ones will not have learned unless they learn NOW! Thank You Sir, You are much younger than me but your tool shed is impressive as the SHOW!

amazing video man. Thank you. You finally cleared it in my head

If you are sharpening by hand and not in a jig, the flatness of the stone is negligible. I doubt any of the viewers out there could even measure the difference. I have used the multi layered stones (DMT) for many many years and checked my work on an optical comparator, its nice having a full machine shop at your disposal. The price difference between them (multilayered) and a single piece unit is just not worth it considering the results.

What brand is that honing guide you've got there?

Thanks for the info, I have a learned a lot from your videos, keep up the great work and thanks for sharing!

I purchased three diamond sharpening plates and did not use any lubricant. I cleaned the plates after each use but, will buy the Trend oil product that you recommended. I purchased Atoma diamond plates from Japan and they work great. I also purchased arkansas stones, 3M polishing film and water stones because I want to compare each one.

“Diamonds are the hardest material on Earth.” Pffftt..... whatever. You should meet my ex. I guarantee her shriveled, black, hardened heart would slice through a diamond like butter.

7:16 "...but wood is an abrasive material and after a couple of stroke your 20000 grit edge is gonna be worn down to that 1000 grit anyway..." ......5 MINUTES STANDING OVATION.

I use your expertise quite a bit. I got an old Stanley (rather long, I’ve forgotten the name) plane last year off of EBAY. Flattened the sole starting yesterday using sand paper. OMG. Anyway it’s smooth has a mirror shine. Flattened using a sheet of glass. That said I do know there’s more to be done and the iron needs sharpening too. So I KZfaqd Stumpy - ordering the Trend lube and stone in a few… Thanks again for well presented, no bs videos.👊