Think you can do it all with your bench stone? It’s got your knives, shovels, chisels and other woodworking tools covered, right?
To a degree, yes, but you’re missing something. If you have any recurved or inwardly curved blades, a flat benchstone will prove entirely insufficient to bring back the edge.
Here’s why you will also need a diamond knife sharpener rod in addition to your benchstone.
Why a Sharpening Rod Is Imperative
There are two things a diamond knife sharpener rod can do that a flat benchstone cannot do.
One is that a sharpening rod can sharpen an inwardly curved blade or a recurved blade. Because you cannot adjust the angle at which a stone contacts the edge of an inwardly curved blade adequately, a rod is necessary.
This applies not just to all recurved blades, but any that have an inward curve, such as linoleum knives, hawkbill and talon knives, and karambits.
The other thing a sharpening rod can do that a flat bench stone cannot do is sharpen serrations.
Now here’s the thing and it is an important caveat; serrations are all different, in depth and width. You need a rod that is appropriately sized to sharpen the serrations. If you use the wrong one you can ruin the knife.
All the same, the right rod can restore the edge to a serrated knife quickly, whereas a flat sharpening stone would be little help.
It’s also important to take note of how the knife is sharpened. Often, serrated knives are only beveled, and therefore sharpened, on one side.
Attempting to sharpen on both sides, while it can theoretically be useful, will ruin the knife if you don’t know what you’re doing because it will counteract the edge geometry.
Therefore, if you have a serrated knife, make sure to sharpen only the side that is ground or beveled with your diamond knife sharpener rod.
The same goes for inwardly curved and recurved blades, especially if they are only ground on one side.
All in all, there are numerous reasons why you might want to keep some specialized sharpening essentials, like a few diamond rods, on hand in addition to your bench stones.
It’s also important that you know how to use them properly, so if you are unsure, do a little research before you use them so that you don’t ruin the edges on your knives.
Where to Get a Diamond Knife Sharpener
Here because you need some knife sharpening essentials? Whether you are looking for a large, coarse bench stone or need a diamond knife sharpener rod, take a closer look at what’s available online at White Mountain Knives.
In addition to representing the best brands in the knife industry, White Mountain Knives also carries a wide range of knife sharpening essentials, including natural and synthetic stones, sharpening rods, diamond stones, and whole knife sharpening systems. Visit their website and if you have any questions about anything they sell, get in touch with them at [email protected].
