Carvers must find a system of sharpening that works for them. The sharpening stones we sell work for most carvers and are especially adapted for edging our crooked knives and gutter adze blades. I am very pleased with this selection of sharpening aids. Use these stones for sharpening other tools as well.

Spyderco Ceramic Stones

These are manufactured sapphire, next under diamond in hardness. You can cut hard Arkansas with these ceramic files. Spyderco stones can't be compared to other ceramics. High quality, they cut fast and leave a polished edge. The factory recommends cleaning a dirty stone with a Scotchbirte pad and water. My favorite stone is the teardrop. This stone tapers from 1/4″ to less than 1/8″ in 1/2″ width. With its flat area and two different radii, this is a very useful stone. The fine grit cuts like India but leaves a polish like hard white Arkansas.

Spyderco Slipstone: 5″ x 1/2″ teardrop cross-section. Fine grit 400FSP $16.00

Spyderco Bench Stone: A great bench stone in a tough plastic box. I have tried them all from Arkansas to waterstones to diamond. This is the best. The medium is comparable to soft Arkansas but cuts way faster and is anything but soft. The fine stone is comparable to a hard white Arkansas stone but cuts several times faster. The ultra-fine stone feels like a baby's butt, yet cuts like crazy (don't ask me why it is so much more expensive). Size = 2″ x 8″
Medium: 302M $44.00
Fine: 302F $44.00
Ultra-fine: 302VF $64.00

Other Sharpening Supplies

Kershaw Ultra-Tek

A 600 grit diamond sharpener that stores in the aluminum handle and screws onto it for use. Use when you have serious metal to remove and follow up with the Spyderco. Especially good for edging adzes and it works on the no-so-crooked knives as well. Nice toolbox tool. Cuts fast! Very cool. $28.00

Kersahw Ultra-Tek diamond sharpener

Strop: A strop is a must for edge maintenance. I use no abrasives when stropping as I feel the leather is abrasive enough. Using stropping compounds does bring up an edge faster, but it also rounds it off, making stoning and ultimately edge maintenance more difficult. The leather overhangs for stropping our tools.
$16.00
Strop Leather: Make your own strop. Glue with rubber cement to a 3/8″ board a little narrower than the leather for stropping the inside of crooked knives, etc. 1 3/4″ x 9″ leather strip. $3.00

Honing Oil. 3 oz squirt bottle of a highly refined light oil for use when sharpening. Convenient in the tool box. $4.95