I Have used everything listed below. Bought and paid for with my own money.

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Check below for everything from knife sharpening equipment, to knife making, to knives and other must have’s. A mini review is listed next to each recommendation. Ill be adding to this list as time goes on.

I personally have all of the above sharpening stones. If you can only get one id recommended the DMT FINE stone listed above.

It will feel very coarse when new, but will break in over time. If getting two stones id get the DMT COARSE stone listed above. It will aid in profiling, and sharpening very dull blades.

Lastly I would get the spyderco ceramics in order of grit medium to super fine. These are great stones but do lack “feed back” when sharpening. However, they do leave an outstanding finish, and you can whittle hair right off the ULTRA FINE stone!

Also, listed above is a great value double sided DMT Coarse/fine sharpening stone. Although more expensive than cheap aluminum oxide stones, this diamond stone is simple to use, and will sharpen any steel. This is another recommendation if you can only buy ONE stone.

Lastly I listed spyderco’s CBN stone. I also have this stone and it works great. It is a double sided stone and is very similar to the DMT Coarse / fine stones. I would personally get the DMT single stones over the spyderco CBN stone, since I don’t really like double sided stones (just personal preference).

Not all strop compounds are created equal! Be aware of cheap diamond compounds. The cheaper the diamond compound, the less diamond, and the more filler you get. Less diamond means more filler (usually an oil based emulsion or paste). This means you will have to apply more compound to get enough diamonds on the surface to do the stropping. As you apply compound you get more and more of the “filler” as well. Too much filler and not enough diamond will leave the strop feeling gummy, or sticky. And overall less effective over multiple stroppings. A quality diamond compound, spray, or emulsion, will last a very long time with one application. Applying lightly, and only add when necessary, will leave a very smooth, effective stropping surface, that requires less pressure, and overall better results.

Stay away from these CHEAP Chinese sharpening stone kits. They may seem like a good deal, however what you are actually buying is SUPER CHEAP stone, and some worthless accessories. These stones are either aluminum oxide or silicon carbide. These companies buys these stones in bulk from places like Alibaba for PENNIES! I found the exact kit listed above on Alibaba for $7.20! A single aluminum oxide stone can be bought as cheap as $3.00 from Alibaba. These are NOT quality stones. Ive bought multiple stones just like these, and have found them to be very poorly put together. The grit is very inconsistent, and the binder used is very loose, giving the feeling of sharpening on sand. They will also dish out very quickly. Literally one sharpening will cause significant dishing. These stones also require a water soak before use. They will absorb tons of water, and then fall apart as you are sharpening, leaving quite the mess. Because they dish out so quickly, and build up such a slurry from a poor binder, they are not beginner friendly stones. Save your money, and time, and buy something quality! YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!

The Bucktool 4x36 belt sander is a great sander for the money. I personally own this sander (paid for with my own money) and have used it extensively. It is a direct drive sander with a 3/4hp motor, so it has much more power than the ordinary big box store 4x36. For the money its hard to beat. Be sure to shop around for price as I found this grinder for a couple different prices.

I have been using red label abrasives ceramic belts for years. They are a quality belt and have been very happy with them. I left links above for 2x72 as well as 4x36. Use ceramic for metal, and aluminum oxide for handle materials / wood. Make sure to check prices on Amazon, and on Red label abrasives site to determine the cheapest option in regards to shipping and whatnot.