Just ordered a KME sharpening kit. A friend has it, and easily gets a hair popping mirrored edge. I spent $242 for everything.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
harbor freight 1x30 belt sander with a few belts up to 1000-2000 grit. Then use a 1x30 leather strop with polishing compound. Once you practice a bit you can sharpen a knife to razor sharp in minutes. It's also a great tool to have in the shop for many other uses. The whole setup is under $100 or so and I've gotten years of use out of mine.That's the one my boss had I believe. Like I say, I like it but when most of my blades are relatively inexpensive edc knives it just feels hard to justify. $900 in sharpening supplies for a couple $50-$100 knives feels a bit like buying silver bullets to shoot through a highpoint. Haha
Above comment is for general sharpening: For edge tools, plane blades and chisels especially, it is important to keep the stone surface a flat as possible. For this, I use a 1200 grit diamond stone for flattening natural or ceramic stones. A piece of 100 grit wet and dry sandpaper, duck-taped to a table saw or other flat surface, is satisfactory for all Japanese style water stones.as Spider John Koerner said in his song "rent party rag" ......."they's all kinna ways ispose".
For general use, a quality combination india/hard arkansas oil stone can be had for $30-$50. I prefer Japanese water stones. A combo 800/1200 grit finished with a 2000 grit, followed by a leather strop charged with jeweler's rouge will put a scary-sharp blade on a fine grain tool steel knife. Bear in mind that one really cannot sharpen any steel well if the grain size of the steel is larger than that of the abrasive being used.