I Bought The Most Recommended Sharpening Stones 

Try soaking a kitchen towel, then wring it damp…Place it under your tray…Old restaurant trick to stabilize cutting boards.

Tip for the tip. Use the 4 corners on the stone (the areas the get the least use during sharpening) when you’re working on the tip. Just to get a bit more even distribution of the wear on the stone. Great vid as usual. 😂 Basil!

The zen is important to get with the sharpy stones. Nicely done 👍 Mr. Pete.

As someone else pointed out, the Kuromaku 2k is the best stone in the series, and in my case the only one I use. I might use something around 600-1000 to begin honing. After the 2k, the only thing I use is a Japanese natural Suita stone of medium hardness, maybe 7 or 8 out of 10 on a conventional scale that many retailers use. Those stones, when clean (high quality) do everything you need to erase any mid-range marks on light to medium slurry. To finish, they just need the tiniest bit of slurry (some call this trace slurry) and you end up with a shaving edge. They are very expensive stones and rightfully so, as they replace 3 or 4 synthetics and your finishing stone. I’d highly recommend you try one out. It’s super fun

Getting a mirror that's not gray or cloudy is all about the proper grit progression and removing the prior scratch pattern out with the next stone. If you make too big a jump in grit, its too difficult to hide the deeper scratches from the prior stone. Also helps to use techniques like different scratch direction on each stone. Finishing in the idea direction of course. Alternating directions will allow you to verify the prior scratch pattern was removed more easily.

Videos lately have been fantastic! Love seeing sharpening stone videos. This is my jam!

I use a dressing stone for my splash and go stones ro keep them clean. They would help with the surface beading also.

Pete. Just wanted to let you know you inspired me to start freehand sharpening. The hardest part for me is not comparing the edges to the ones I got on my KME. I know I have a long way to go still.

Really enjoying this series. I'm presently on a similar jag, trying to get proficient at freehanding after decades of half-assing it. Picked up one of those two-sided Sharpals that Alex recommended and I'm quite liking it. Never got on with diamond plates before that. Also got an astounding 400 grit vitrified diamond from Japan. That one is a steel destroyer, in the best way possible.

I use a house plant spray bottle to wet my stones, quick and easy.

Whatever you do theres always someone to tell you that you did it wrong. My take, as with anything, do whatever works for you, refine whatever method you use, and most importantly, enjoy yourself. Thanks for the video. P.S. Basil Cam is ❤‍🔥!

It’s funny how some people are commenting on these videos as if you have no idea or experience with truly sharp edges. You know as if you haven’t sharpened countless knives/steels on fixed angle systems, oh and then tested them for edge retention. Keep on keepin on Pete, it’s fun to watch you progress and learn!

Cool! Careful with getting a bunch of stones from different brands and made of different abrasives into your progression. A 2K Shapton glass can be as fine as a 3K Naniwa, etc. There isn’t a consistent grit rating, I find, with nearly all of the stones in the market. That’s why folks (myself included) buy an array of stones of a certain model, from a specific manufacturer and use them in a progression of sharpening/ honing. You can achieve great results by mixing them up, but you’ll have to go through a bunch of trial and error; and at times you’ll have stones that achieve a similar finish / cut similarly, after spending hundreds of dollars of ‘em.

Maybe put a damp towel underneath your tray?

Ha! I have that exact set of stones. Haven’t tried them yet though, I keep putting it off. (Scared to try the Scandi grind). Loved the cat footage btw.

Basil Cam is really nice!

Good film once again. I like how you show, film, your progress and share your thoughts. Also, I like how you make me jumpy. Wiping the blade in your newish hoodie. WD40 onto the strop. Just slapping the stone down in a baking tray, etc. Because, none of those things really matter. If you don't care how your sleeve looks, then why should I care? I can use a rag to wipe my blades with...or more likely; a pant leg! 😂

Thanks for your content. I find it enjoyable and interesting. I have a 6 set of those Shapton stones and I thought I might offer something to think about to those thinking of buying them or expanding their sets like you mentioned. The most expensive stones in the set are the finer grit stones. I've also found that I end up using the finest grit stones by far the least since their grit range overlaps a lot of the different strops I use. Before you fork over the big bucks on the fine stones carefully consider how you use strops and if you are buying an expensive stone that you might not use as much because you tend to strop a lot. Then again if you never use stops and are a stone purest or just like them and can afford them go right ahead. I think that the range you bought is the best 3 to start with and might be all most will use if they strop most of their blades. Good luck to all!

lmao. Loved the breaking news bits. I'm no expert either but your pivoting to get the belly & tip looked just fine.

I use all of those regularly , and the green 2000 in between. They are excellent stones.. wear very slow, and after about a year have not dished or deformed at all… te 320 does like to take a bit more water than your traditional splash and go, and is only needed when doin a decent reprofilling… all in all my favourite is the yellow 1000, and is used for most of my needs. The 5000 is very prone to clogging though and would really recommend hitting it with a nagiri stone every few polished to clean it off. Compared to king stones, they are way better

I have been searching different stones on and off for that last week or so. The Kuromako are definitely on the 'hmm could be' list

I dont think you spent too much time on the coarse stones. These are not fast stones and getting your bevel shaped correctly is really important for this style of sharpening. Most people spend far too little time on coarse stones.

You got the 320, which SIC and the finest course stone in the SP line. This stone has excellent cutting power and it's going to be much more friable than the other stones, it will wear faster and release more grit. Keep it flushed and dont let too much mud form for the best experience. The 1k, which is actually about 700 grit and the coarsest medium aka sharpening stone in the line. and the 5k which is the lowest grit finishing stone in the line. All of which are great stones. The 5k is known for very very hard and almost glassy. Soak it for a few minutes to make it a little creamier in use, if you want even more polishing power you can even lap it to create some slurry in addition or alternative to soaking as well. This stone is obviously for finishing and will remove burrs.

If you grab the 2000 it will let you polish out those 1000 grit scratches a lot quicker on the 5

Nice sharpening! However,I've noticed that you don't really clean your knife between each grit. Doesn't that lead to grit cross contamination,especially with the strop?

Yeah most all stones, including those and even Venevs, Poltava, Hapstone, etc. come with a factory glaze you gotta lap or wear off by sharpening.

Nice 👌 zen state haha he has become one with the water stone.... adventure music was fun ✌basil looks like he's ready to kill !!

I love the Shapton Pro/Kuramaki stones. The 320 blue black seems more aggressive to me than the 120 for some reason, but the 320 is great for bushcraft & Scandi grinds knives. Just amazing performing stones at a good price (not including the 30K stone of course).

The Kuromaku 320 is a great stone. The 1000 always finishes closer to a 700-800 grit stone.

Damn, FFIX, FFVII, and Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance music. Immaculate taste

Pete my friend, one suggestion if I may- mind your cross contamination of the different grits so usually sharpenings with the Japanese waterstones is done near a faucet so you're able to wash the blade thoroughly in between grit progressions and also I personally try to keep things as clean as possible never allowing quite so much of a slurry or mud to build up until your final polishing stages or you will not get as clean an apex also making multiple times over the work needed to get to the next step as a lot of mud buildup will likely round over your apex as you're trying to create a burr so you continue going and going... Just a couple of pointers from an edge snob who has been sharpening for over 30yrs love the content keep it up brother...

If you translate the package that it comes with, it does recommend soaking the stones 5 to 8 minutes before the first use and then just splash and go after that.

Are you gonna do a side by side rope cut? Hand vs fixed now that you’re getting a little more seasoned. I would be curious if the ultra precise fixed angle actually made a tangible difference

That's the whole point enjoyable/relaxing whilst still acheiving a useable result. Very nice!

Mate, that edge looked wicked!

I love these stones I also use the 2k excellent on s30 s35 s45 and 3v . Keep up the good work I love what you are doing . Gave my hobby a spark .

Scandi are "easy" to sharpen in regards to the angle, but are insaaanely inefficient as there is so much steel to remove for the slightest edge damage. Something shallow with a microbevel edge would have took 60sec for the same depth of damage... I concider everything with an edge height of more than 0.2mm as a waste of my lifetime... 😅

great choice, and they don't want to turn back to sand like the naniwa pro's

I don't get the obsession with water stones. I used dmt, Spyderco ceramic and then I used 3M lapping film in place of water stones. The lapping film is so much cheaper, and there is very little upkeep - you just get new films when the old stuff gets loaded up

Pete dropping tons of content and I love it!!!!

Have you tried having 40 years experience sharpening on natural stones mined first hand? Love your stuff Pete ❤️

I'm not sure if first knife has a "true" scandi on it, if it does I'm sure you would like to keep it that way as much as possible. If you don't care about it too much, I strongly recommend using a convex sharpening technique on the stones. Yes it would turn it into a "scandi vex" but that's not a bad thing. Just use the natural rocking back and forth hand motion on it. Not so much trying to keep a consistent angle. (It looks like you may have been doing this in the video but I can't tell for sure) either way you did a good job. I own several bark rivers, I use the chosera stones on them. After the 3k grit and a little strop on the black compound I feel they are sharper than even the results I get on the kme with my pocket knives. And I use the venev stones and gunny juice on them. If it fancys you, try this method. In time you will get sharper results. And it's much easier IMO. Faster too. The trick for me however is to use edge trailing strokes after each stone to really cut off the burr before stropping. I can clean shave after the 3k grit stones without a strop. And yes, I learned this from the famous Virtouvice. Cheers

Legit advice, do all your stone work and finish with sand paper to remove any fogginess in the mirror polish. I haven't had the best luck with getting perfect mirrors on stones. I know it's possible but I do not have all day to get every little imperfection.

They make sticky type of grippy material for keeping throw carpets from sliding. Will work great under your tray and stones. Your wife will love it ,it comes in large sizes but if needed you could cut a peice off without her noticing. 😊😊

Get the KC-01 by Lionsteel while there is still some! I am not a dealer, but I know you will love it!

I like it when you use the USB microscope. I recently bought a USB microscope; it helps a lot. A decent USB microscope is only around 40 USD. When it comes to knife sharpening it's a good investment.

man that mirror edge is nice!!

Please buy these shapton individually, not as a set, because they can be had for much cheaper that way. The 320 can be had for as low as $30. The 5000 grit can be had for $50 or less. Also, these stones tend to glaze if insufficient pressure is used and especially for supersteels like k390

Perfect example of knife sharpening ruining a cat video. 🤪

Pete makes a better score for his videos than Disney and Amazon Prime combined

That thumbnail is special torture when you're sitting on the waiting list.

aren't you supposed to put pressure on the upstroke so the knife does not cut into the stone?

I think the Shaptons are pretty good. If you were picking a Japanese Waterstone these or the glass are a good choice. Though I'll still argue you really want diamond if you know you will be sharpening stuff with vanadium carbide. Not that these won't work at all, the diamond will just be better.

Yeah thats what im running but with an atoma 400 diamond as the starting grit.... nice.

My friend, you MUST try the Shapton Pro grain 1500. It's much, much better than the 1000

That’s some impressive work! Do you always sharpen the entire scandi bevel or just put a new edge on the very edge?

Basil, International cat of mystery !!

*Anyone know where I can get fine grit diamond cylindrical rods for sharpening high vanadium "super steel" serrations?*

The Black Mages, nice.

Great, thank you. Lg Gerry

I think you did a great job. Finally you're starting to sound like Bob Ross a little bit.

And the cat is back!

I have this set i love it

The Shapton Pro Ceramic Stones are really good and inexpensive.

Question: should one soak the shapton stones before use rather than just apply water to them before use? Also, should we be using water more often than what was seen here to keep the abrasive unloaded?

Hey Pete, you're doing it wrong. What you should be doing......LOL ! Just a joke 😃! Looks like you are going to be very happy with your new stones. I'm thinking you will soon be giving your fixed systems a break & just freehand most of the time. BTW your "Bteeking News" is somewhat more interesting than my local news channels breaking news segments.

Jenova never stood a chance.

I really enjoy my veneve stones, expensive, hard to get now and made in Russia. Last works great on super steel knives.

looks good

Never Like corse whetstones maybe not even medium ones. They are so messy, dish out fast, and are less effective on high HRC super steels.

Silicon baking mat under your tray will stop the sliding.

Need a link to that FFVII song my dude.

Nice!

The wisdom on the internet is that you need diamond or cbn to get edge retention on high vanadium steels. What do you think?

How is Basil holding up after the loss?

Tenta trocar para a mão esquerda quanto rodas a faca!...

I absolutely hate sharpening scandis

I AM SO UPSET AND OFFENDED

and peple still calling scandi easy to sharp? They must be talking about some scandi sheep foots?

Who's Ada ?

HELLO

Yor doing it rong. - Love, the Internet.

final fantasy is distracting me