WATCH THIS before you buy diamond stones for tool/knife sharpening! 

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: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-o4AtrNXR5Iw.html Video about sharpening forstner bits: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-rLoEulA4mM8.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 RU-vid". This is as good as teaching gets. Not just an advertisement to entice clicking of affiliate links - just good, solid, dependable information. Well done!

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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!

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!

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

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.

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

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!

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

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!

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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 like sharpening things :( I find it relaxing

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

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

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.

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.

Never too old to keep learning Perfect guidance thank you 👍

Great introduction to sharpening stone. Thank you 👍🏻

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

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!

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

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

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 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.

Great info on Sharpening knives! Thank you.

Very helpful video. Thank you.

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

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

Very good presentation. Thank you.

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

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

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.

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

Thanks James! Good info and well timed for my uses too.... I've been wondering about that.

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.

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 video! Love the level of detail.

Well done! Just the information I was looking for!

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

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.

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

Good video. Good presentation and very informative. Thank you for putting your video on RU-vid.

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

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!

This was a very informative video. Thanks so much.

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

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

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.

Excellent expository style. Well done.

thanks! you answered all my questions!

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.

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.

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 learned many things, thank you for your very informative video!

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

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

Honest, concise, to the point. Cheers!

Extremely informative. Thank you!

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

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.

Very informative and clear. Thanks.

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

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 ?)

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.

Thanks. Very helpful without time wasting in words.

Awesome video and so dsimply explained and straight to the point 👌

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.

“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.

Very useful - thanks for posting.

What a fantastic video You're quickly becoming my favourite RU-vid channel