DMT WM8EF-WB Duosharpplus Bench Stone Extra Fine with Base Knife Sharpener, Grey
The DMT Difference
Since 1976, DMT has been in business to do just one thing: make the world’s best diamond sharpeners. Product innovations such as our signature polka-dot interrupted surface, and others with our continuous surface of high-performance diamond, are praised worldwide for their superior quality.
From pocket-sized whetstones to heavy-duty bench stones, the difference arrives time and again through our undivided pursuit of sharpening excellence.
For DMT products, no oil or pressure must be used to sharpen the tool or knife.
Quality must be manufactured, not fabricated
Diamond Coverage differs widely from one manufacturer to the next. For long-lasting performance, DMT makes certain that each sharpening surface carries the most diamonds per square inch in the industry.
Diamond Uniformity is also key to sharpener performance. DMT uses a proprietary process that ensures near-perfect consistency in grit size. The result is a micronised monocrystalline diamond that covers evenly across the sharpening surface to prove effective with every use, year after year.
Beware of imitators!
Surface Flatness can mean the difference between a well-honed tool and one that is barely serviceable. Flat surfaces maintain consistent, even contact with the edge to produce a bevel that carries the same degree of sharpness from end to end. DMT sharpeners are engineered to be the flattest on the market, and built to outlast other products, which are variable in surface, and often warped, hollowed or grooved.
DMT Benefits
- The most diamonds per square inch in the industry
- Near-perfect consistency in grit size
- The DMT sharpener produces a clean, razor-sharp edge
- Best Surface Flatness
DMT – Applications
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Home and CulinaryDMT Diamond Sharpeners will quickly sharpen the hardest stainless steel kitchen cutlery while removing a minimum of material from the blade, unlike electric sharpeners. Whether you have a Chef’s knife, a Sashimi Knife, Ceramic knife or even a steep angled meat cleaver, DMT kitchen knife sharpeners can do it all. | Gardening and LandscapingHone pruners, knives, loppers, edgers, axes, shears – even lawnmower blades. DMT sharpeners enable gardeners of all skill levels to keep all of their gardening and landscaping tools in top condition. With a sharp edge, garden and landscaping tools produce smooth, clean cuts that are better for plants. | Outdoor Sports and TacticalOutdoor Enthusiasts worldwide prefer the award winning DMT products to care for their edges. They withstand harsh environments and sharpen all kinds of knives, tools and edged equipment that hunters, hikers, rock climbers, adventurers, campers and sportsman rely on to survive and enjoy the outdoors. | WoodworkingSharp tools make every job easier. Unleash your creativity with woodworking tool sharpeners and chisel sharpeners that work with you, not against you. Our woodworking tool sharpeners are valued by woodworkers who want effective, precise sharpening for all of their tools. |
DMT – Product line
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DuoSharp and Dia-SharpThe first rule of shop maintenance is sharpen your tools. DMT Diamond Whetstones, DuoSharp Bench Stones and Dia-Sharp Bench Stones, are renowned by woodworkers and others for their remarkable sharpening speed, precision flatness and ease of use. | Diafold and Mini-SharpThe lightweight DMT Diafold and Mini-Sharp sharpeners are easy to use. The compact models are ideal for on the way. During transport, the handle is used as a protective cover for the diamond surfaces. | Guided SharpeningThe DMT grinding systems enable a professional edge care, regardless of the manual skill. Both novice and professional will enjoy precise, professional, consistent sharpening results. | Diamond SteelDMT Diamond Steel Sharpeners combine high performance diamond and ceramic sharpening surfaces with the realigning and convenience of traditional steels for sharper results! DMT sharpening steels truly sharpen- not just hone. |
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| Innovative, precision flat two grit diamond sharpener featuring both interrupted and continuous diamond sharpening. | A hardwood box of 3- 6 inches Diamond Whetstone sharpeners makes a perfect gift. | Dual purpose with compact convenience, the Double Sided Diafold Sharpener offers two 4 inches x 1 inches Diamond Whetstone surfaces in one light-weight, portable sharpener. | For professional sharpening results, regardless of skill, depend on DMT Aligner Kits and Accessories. | Fast honing diamond surface with the realigning function and convenience of traditional butcher’s steel. | DMT’s precisely engineered Dia-Sharp Bench Stone with continuous diamond surface assures consistent, even sharpening every time. | |
| Related Applications: Knifes, scissors, tools AND featuring a continuous zone for small and pointed tools | Related Applications: Woodworking, home, culinary, hunting, and more | Related Applications: Home, camping, toolbox, pavilion and more | Related Applications: Handworked, culinary and outdoor sports. | Related Applications: Chef knife, carving knife, fillet knife, paring knife, bread knife, skinning knife | Related Applications: Woodworking and culinary. | |
| Models: WM8CX, WM8FC, WM8EF, WM8EF-WB, W8EF-H-WB. | Models: W6X, W6XP, W6C, W6CP, W6F, W6FP, W6E, W6EP, W8X, W8XNB, W8C, W8CNB, W8F, W8FNB, W8E, W8ENB and available in durable plastic storage case. | Models: FWCX, FWEF, FWEEE. | Models: ADELUXE, AKFC, AKFNR. | Models: DS4F, DS2E, DSOF. | Models: D8XX, D8X, D8C, D8E, D8EE. Size: 6 inches, 8 inches, 10 inches and 11,5 inches. | |
| No oil is needed – sharpen dry or with water. | No oil is needed – sharpen dry or with water. | No oil is needed – sharpen dry or with water. | No oil is needed – sharpen dry or with water. | No oil is needed – sharpen dry or with water. | No oil is needed – sharpen dry or with water. |
| Weight: | 490 g |
| Size: | normal |
| Dimensions: | 33.66 x 33.66 x 29.21 cm; 490 Grams |
| Model: | WM8EF-WB |
| Part: | WM8EF-WB |
| Colour: | Grey |
| Pack Quantity: | 1 |
| Batteries Required: | No |
| Batteries Included: | No |
| Manufacture: | Acme United Corporation |
| Colour: | Grey |
| Quantity: | 1 |
| Size: | normal |
I highly recommend buying this set-up, in addition to a DMT course stone. With those 3 grits, and a honing strop, you’ll easily equal a 10k+ waterstone produced edge and spend a lot less time re-setting bevels, or removing large imperfections.
With the four DMT stones Extra Course/Course/Fine/Extra Fine, I was able to restore a #6 Siegler Plane I picked up at the Flea market for $10. I’ve never restored a plane before, and the blade on this one was chipped pretty bad. After about 30 minutes working through the stones with a honing guide, I just got my first full width shaving on the first plane I ever owned. Love these stones!!! (Now time to see what they can do for chisels.)
What a great tool! I use this on my plane irons, chisels, and kitchen knives and have nothing but love for it. Unless your blades are damaged (big chips or nicks) or you want to reset the angle of a bevel on your plane iron, this is probably the only sharpening tool you’ll need. I have a set of Norton waterstones that I’ve been using for a little over a year but they have worn down very quickly and get out of square easily even with diligent use of a flattening stone. I needed something else for my woodworking tools.
The DMT DuoSharp is very, very quick–no mess, easy to use. I used to take my blades over to the Norton waterstone 8000 grit to put a final finish on them after using the DuoSharp, but honestly, now I just strop my blades after using the Green “very fine” side of the DMT stone. Your blades come out razor sharp in two minutes or less if you know what you’re doing.
Get this for sharpening, you won’t be sorry!
I bought this to sharpen my kitchen knives. I have Global knives they are professional knives but they dull quickly, I love to cook and I like my knives to be sharp with this I will keep my knives sharp and ready to go. Highly recommended.
I bought this to sharpen my kitchen knives. I have Global knives they are professional knives but they dull quickly, I love to cook and I like my knives to be sharp with this I will keep my knives sharp and ready to go. Highly recommended.
I tried regular stones, drag-through sharpeners, and an off-brand diamond. I tried fancy sharpening systems on display in the major sporting good store. Every time it would roll the edge, or just plain not get a cut on this blade. This stone from DMT did perfectly, and fast!
Received two times a coarse + fine, labeled as fine+extra fine, but i’m tired of shipping back, so i kept it. Great quality though!
Received two times a coarse + fine, labeled as fine+extra fine, but i’m tired of shipping back, so i kept it. Great quality though!
I bought it for lapping and bevel setting, but when I lap shapton 220 with the coarse side of dmt, there were significant wears on the diamond. I suggest if you buy it for flattening, please do not flatten stones that coarser than the 325 grit/mesh. For the fine size (600 mesh), is really scratchy, for me is a definitely no no for my japanese knives and straight razors (has to refine on water stones), but for average home cook maybe is enough
The cons is of course quite expensive…..
These are well-crafted and durable products from DMT. My only complaint is about the item’s packaging – why is an item sold as new arriving with the manufacturer’s packaging torn open, leaving me to wonder was it a return, and resold, and if so, why? I notice a trend of this, and I am just enough of a stickler that I expect an item purchased and paid for as new to be that – including the packaging being intact. Otherwise I’d buy on eBay…
For the price this stones does exactly what I want it to do. I collect knives, do leather work, and just started wood working. I am using this stone to sharpen quite a bunch of different style blades, chisels, and steels. It is a fantastic product and anyone can learn to sharpen well with it, if they practice.
I purchased this dual sided diamond stone to replace an old one I’ve had for years. It is an excellent product with a well designed base that allows you to flip the stone from coarse to fine easily. I use the stone to do the initial sharpening on my chisels and plane blades before taking them to my water stones. I have save my old diamond plate to keep my water stones flat.
I am a sucker for sharpening stones, sharpening gadgets and gizmos–anything that promises razor-sharp knives. With this purchase, however, I think I’ve come to the end of my quest. I learned about this diamond impregnated device from Rudolf Dick’s “Japanese Knife Sharpening,” which is a must for any would-be sharpener. Stones demand work to make sure they are perfectly smooth and level. The diamond sharpeners are far more care-free. Become a steel-master with this book and stone.
Second purchase of the same exact bench diamond part. Works extremely well. You must remember not to push down too hard on your blade as you use this. Let the diamonds do the work. Very light pressure only. I had to get another one of these and another stand alone coarse just because I was used to using a stone and pushed down too hard. My old fine flat is now “extra fine” LOL.
This product is the WAY TO GO when it comes to sharpening your kitchen blades, or pocket knives. Its worth every penny. I strongly recommend the DMT products. The cost may seem a bit high, but if you use light pressure and keep the flat wet, this part will last you for years if not decades. Get it!
5 strokes in either direction is all it takes on either side. Excellent product, without a doubt the best way to maintain sharp Chef’s knives. It makes sharpening your knives so easy that you have to remind yourself that they only should be sharpened about 4 times a year. The rest of the time use your steel to realign the edge.
Amazing stone great product I am a professional chef of 12 years and wasted hundereds of dollars on sharpening stones and tools in the bast bye far this is the best I have ever purchased super easy to put a scary sharp edge on a knife. Buy one
Amazing stone great product I am a professional chef of 12 years and wasted hundereds of dollars on sharpening stones and tools in the bast bye far this is the best I have ever purchased super easy to put a scary sharp edge on a knife. Buy one
For years, I’ve used a pair of ceramic sticks for fine sharpening of my knives, and they have provided excellent service.
After using this unit for a couple of months now, I can’t believe what crude, dull edges I have been allowing myself to live with!
This unit is fantastic, and I am not afraid to use it aggressively on any of my knives.
The key to success is to strop with green finishing compound as a final stage. I made a homemade strop with a bit of vegetable-tanned cowhide I picked up at Tandy Leather, epoxied onto a piece of scrap 2×4, and it REALLY makes a difference to the finished edge. Therefore, as great as the edge produced by the Extra Fine DMT stone is, you can’t really appreciate it until you have stropped out all the burrs and put the final polish on the edge with a strop covered with the green finishing compound — an easy, simple and cheap necessity for fine sharpening.
The little plastic stand included with this package is essential to use this stone to its maximum potential.
Finally, the shipping and packaging were excellent.
All in all, this product has actually made sharpening fun — almost to the point of being a therapeutic activity after a long day. This is why I don’t hesitate to give Five Stars.
For woodworking chisels and panes, unless in terrible shape, I use the DuoSharp, first a few passes on the fine side and then more on the 1200 mesh side. I finish off with a Shapton 5000 stone. I use to take my tools in to be sharpen but now am using this method. This method appears to work well. I restored by grandfathers plane, 1903, that I found in an old tool box. After rust removal, I flaten the sole with a progressive sandpaper, sharpen the blade to 5000 and also worked the cap iron a bit on the DMT fine side. It is my best plane. My kitchen knives are now very sharp after a few swipes on the DMT. My advice is once a sharping session is over, to dry the DMT before storing.
This is great for kitchen knives as it quickly reshapes nicked edges and leaves a nice toothy edges whether off the fine or extra fine side. Diamonds (and ceramic hone like the Spyderco’s) will spoil you with their ease of use( none of the silly flattening and mess) and consistent reliable results. If I want truly hair whittling refined polished edges I will continue after the DMT extra fine on my Spyderco fine ceramic bench hone then the ultra fine, then sometimes a 1 micron boron carbide loaded balsa strop if I want to do sharpness tricks with my pocket knife like shave my face etc. The other great thing about this rig is setting other stones right on top of it and continue sharpening. The spydercos sit nicely on top and the feet get very good traction on the table.
I have 2 other DMT combo stones and couldn’t be without them. They sharpen true and flat and seem to be very long lived.
I have 2 other DMT combo stones and couldn’t be without them. They sharpen true and flat and seem to be very long lived.
A good sharpener for your knives that have a decent (but dull) blade. The holder and “stone” are good quality, holding the “stone” firmly and being stiff. It’s taking a little “getting used to” to sharpen my knives with this diamond stone (vs the traditional honing stone), but after a few less than successful attempts I finally have the hang of it and can (and have) put a decent edge on all the kitchen straight knives and my pocket knives.
Don’t try to use this with a serrated blade, it won’t work, otherwise, it’s goof for most normal blade lengths.
You may want to consider a sharpening guide if you’re getting this, like me, without much experience. The guide will help you avoid scratching the finished surface of the blade (if that’s important to you) and will help put the right angle on the cutting edge so you don’t round the current one or blunt the edge.
Convenient and useful right out of the box. I don’t know how long it will last or how I will know if it is worn out, but right now it is an excellent product. I use it to set my primary bevel on chisels.
i am a novice at knife sharpening and this tool did an incredible job of sharpening my very old carbon steel kitchen knives. admittedly there is a learning curve involved with the process which is important, due to the effectiveness of the diamond stones. “you tube” is a good source. but now i was able to put aside the “low end” set of stainless steel wusthof knives that i was getting by with in favor of the resurrected and much sharper vintage knives.
Excellent product, easy to use and quick to clean using water and a towel. Made a wooden jig to help with the angle.
Excellent diamond stone, really like the two grits in one. Not so impressed with the plastic base. While it does hold the stone well, it can be a chore taking off the plastic stop to release the stone if you’re going to change sides. Save your money, just buy the plate itself. I made a relief cutout in wood, mounted it in that, which made it much quicker and easier to flip over the stone.
Great combo for knives and chisels alike. Easy and fast to switch sides in the base!
Great combo for knives and chisels alike. Easy and fast to switch sides in the base!
With the base it is easy to use on your counter top to sharpen most of your knives. No messy water and worn out sharpening stones. The course stone works for most people’s needs. Rotary sharpeners can ruin your knives this method is what professionals use.
With the base it is easy to use on your counter top to sharpen most of your knives. No messy water and worn out sharpening stones. The course stone works for most people’s needs. Rotary sharpeners can ruin your knives this method is what professionals use.
Wow this tool is amazing! My knives are like new, with the exception of my kitchen shears. That was a lesson learned, and completely my error. I did not realize I would ruin them at the time of sharpening all my other knives. I was so excited about the results of my knives there might have been some overkill to my shears. lol This product refreshed my knives like a new set and I would totally buy it again.
This is the real deal. Industrial diamonds cut like nothing else. If you’re like me and have a drawer full of blunt knives, this will change all that. I don’t have the patience to sharpen knives to a fine edge with chinese sharpening stones. They can be used after initial sharpening with these stones if you wish and you’ll get as much as you’re willing to work for. This is not just for kitchen knives though. The Duo in duo sharp provides an area on the stone for sharpening chisels and scissors or whatever you can think of. I’m very satisfied.
This is the real deal. Industrial diamonds cut like nothing else. If you’re like me and have a drawer full of blunt knives, this will change all that. I don’t have the patience to sharpen knives to a fine edge with chinese sharpening stones. They can be used after initial sharpening with these stones if you wish and you’ll get as much as you’re willing to work for. This is not just for kitchen knives though. The Duo in duo sharp provides an area on the stone for sharpening chisels and scissors or whatever you can think of. I’m very satisfied.
Great for getting a practice razor with a medium quality steel blade ‘shave ready’. It takes some time, but learning to hone a straight razor shouldn’t be attempted on a cheap blade or on a worn stone. Once the edge takes on the “Fine”, you can go to “Extra Fine” and finish the edge to minimal ‘shave ready’. I use honing cream on my canvas strop (before I use the leather strop) to help with the edge and keep it sharp for nearly a month…I’ve read recommendations of 1800 waterstones or finer for the last honing (I have one somewhere in the shop, as soon as I find it and flatten it I’ll make an addendum but don’t hold your breath (LOL)).
Add this set of manufactured bench stones to a Wet-Shaving-Products practice razor and you may be very pleased in a few months time after you’ve mastered all the steps. If you want to sharpen chisels and such – go for it, the 600 side does marvelous work and the 1200 – primo for almost any hand tool. I haven’t started sharpening my own planes yet, so I still have some work of my own to do!
great diamond stone and base this is all you will need to get your knives in working condition but if you need a high polish you will need some ceramics
j aime bien le s deux pierres tres efficaces pour mes couteaux de bushcraft et autres!!!!
j aime bien le s deux pierres tres efficaces pour mes couteaux de bushcraft et autres!!!!
I took a totally dull 7 inch cheap kitchen slicer knife and with a combination of the extra coarse, coarse, fine, and ultra fine diamond stones turned that knife into a scalpel. I was able to slice a ripe tomato with total ease no thicker then the blade itself, almost as thin as three sheets of paper. These stones are amazing, took about 10 passes on each grade of stone on each side of the knife. About 7 minutes total. Impressive.
This is a great sharpener. The one I purchased has a course side and a fine side. I use it sharpen my knives on a regular basis and now they are always sharp.
Best knife sharpener I’ve ever owned, and I’ve owned a lot. I hunt, fish, camp, etc. and this is a one time have it forever never need another one knife sharpener.
Suggested by relative who has one to try this tool for sharpening my SS kitchen knives. It did a great job with large and small knives. Much, much better than electric sharpene
Sharpens so fast compared to the old stone I had there is just no comparison. And the fact it is 8-inches wide and two-sided only adds to the 5 star review. It stays put, easy to flip to the other side and uses water as a lubricant. I couldn’t be more satisfied and have sharpened my knives to almost (and maybe actual) razor sharpness. Yes, you can cut paper with the knife after.
One minor drawback – no edge guide included, although they are available on Amazon.
With the various knives and single and double bevels, it isn’t hard to get a very sharp edge on any knife. I can slice a hoagie bun with a chef’s knife and hardly leave a crumb after using the sharpener and a steel for final edge straightening.
Not for use on serrated blades.
I’m not sure on the price for this level of equipment, but it works very well. The base is rigid and holds the diamond stone well. Flipping the stone on the base is quick and simple. I wish I would have found something more fine at times, but this is great for general knife sharpening with kitchen, hunting, and daily blades. i feel like a natural stone for finishing would be needed to hold an edge longer anyway, so having a finer diamond stone probably wouldn’t be too productive.
This sharpening stone is amazing. I was in the military and used to try to sharpen my knives to razor sharpness and have never achieved it until now. I’ve sharpened all our knives and revive all of them, usually we just donate them to charity, but now they are almost as good as new. I use water and make sure the sharpener is clean between every knife I sharpen. Best sharpening stone I have owned so far. Will buy again.
Works as advertised. Takes a little practice to get to hold the knife at a constant angle, but sharpens extremely fast.
Great sharpener. Finally I have a sharpener I can keep handy in the kitchen for the kitchen knives.
Just add water. No oily mess like my old stone. It doesn’t sharpen as fine as my old stone, but it’s close. And it’s much less of a hassle and mess.
Sharpening my knives on the old stone was an ordeal, so it didn’t get done as frequently as required
This diamond sharpener his easy clean up so it’s actually a joy to sharpen up the blades.
Carefull that knife is now sharp!
Does a great job sharpening any knives I have. I should have bought one of these years ago. No “cons” that I can think of.
Just recently bought this product. Followed how-to guidelines from an online video. Product works quite well. I use it wet. Would recommend.
Just recently bought this product. Followed how-to guidelines from an online video. Product works quite well. I use it wet. Would recommend.
I used the DuoSharp on Cutco knives, Guy Fieri’s Knuckle Sandwich knives, and Chicago Cutlery. With just a few strokes on both sides of each blade, first on the fine stone, then on the extra-fine stone, I had knives that would effortlessly slice a sheet of paper. I even used the DuoSharp on a Chicago Cutlery chef’s knife that was probably 25 years old and about as sharp as a butter knife. Within a couple of minutes, it was so sharp that as I was wiping it, I sliced a layer of skin off of the tip of my index finger.
Don’t let the low price fool you — the DuoSharp will bring your blades back to life.
Started from watching a you tube video and had to have it. Works so well and fast. Nothing like a good sharp knife when you need to get the mis-en-place!
This is the sweetest thing since rock salt. You just slide the blade across the diamond surface, and Wow. Sharpness. That
‘s it. A sharp blade.
While some might find that price to be high, keep in mind that you’re getting a large 3″ x 8″ double-sided diamond sharpener (one side is fine 600-grit for all around sharpening, the other is extra fine 1200-grit for getting your blades to a razor sharp edge). Unlike natural stones, the polymer base also won’t deform. It stays perfectly flat over time. And the sharpening goes MUCH faster. 10 swipes on this stone is roughly equivalent to about 50 swipes on an Arkansas stone. Not only do you save time and energy, but it’s much easier to maintain a very consistent blade angle (crucial to effective sharpening) for 10 strokes than it is for 50.
This model includes the robust plastic base as well. The stone snaps into the base very snugly (no looseness) and the wide feet provide for a very stable platform while sharpening. For added security, you can fasten the base to a workbench or other large surface. However, I found the base stable enough on its own to be perfectly serviceable on a kitchen countertop. It would be nice if the base had grippy rubberized feet to reduce slippage on smooth surfaces for those like me who don’t want to permanently affix it to a workbench, but if you brace one end of the base against something (such as the edge of the sink or the stove) and draw the knife in that direction, it works fine and won’t slip.
I’ve used this stone to sharpen everything from my smallest Swiss Army blade (2″ stainless) up to my Ka-Bar/Becker BK7 blade (7″ 1095 cro-van steel). Sharpening a large 7″ knife on this stone is very easy. The general rule of thumb is that your stone should be at least as long as your blade, so if you have knife blades longer than 8″, you may want to spend more for the 10-inch version of this stone (which at the time of this review, is inexplicably listed at nearly three times the price!?). For my needs, the 8 inch stone is plenty long.
There’s nothing to complain about with regard to the quality and functionality of this product. It’s first rate and will do a very good job sharpening your knives, assuming you take time to learn the proper technique. Throw in an old belt with sharpening compound for stropping, and you will have the tools to put a scary sharp edge on most any knife.
The only shortcoming I notice with this product is the ambiguity of the stone in determining which side is fine (600-grit) and which extra fine (1200-grit). As it turns out, it is color coded by a small circle at one end of the stone, which then can be cross-compared with a list on the packaging to determine the grit. But it’s strange to me that they didn’t just stamp “600-grit” and “1200-grit” on the respective sides instead of the color-coding–which would be clearer and more convenient. I simply wrote the proper grit (with an appropriately pointed arrow) on either side of the stone in permanent black ink. Technically, you can tell by feel as well. Regardless, some people are sure to be inexperienced and inadvertently use the extra fine side to initially sharpen a very dull blade, and then will get dismayed by the slowness. The fine (600-grit) side will restore a fairly dull blade very quickly, however, and is probably the best “general purpose” grit for knives. For quick blade touch ups, you could skip using the extra fine side altogether unless you really need to get your blades shaving sharp or just enjoy bringing the edge up to a more polished look.
All in all, this is a great product and well worth the price. Sure, natural stone sets with comparable grits can be had for half as much money, but they require more effort and care, and thus, introduce more room for error. This is your best bet for faster, superb sharpening results. If idiot-proof convenience is your priority, you may prefer a pull-through sharpener. However, keep in mind that those kind will not put nearly as nice or as long-lasting of an edge on your knives. They are convenient thought. In my opinion, a diamond stone like this one is the best way to do it right.
[UPDATE 4-1-2014: I’ve been using this sharpener a lot for a month and a half now and it is the best diamond sharpener I’ve ever owned. It works very quickly on every blade and steel I’ve tried, and can take a blade from very dull to very sharp in only a few dozen strokes. The trick is to keep the sharpening angle consistent for each stroke (I sharpen at 21 degrees for wilderness knives, and about 17 degrees for kitchen knives), and apply the right amount of pressure as you stroke. Once you get a feel for it, this sharpener works superbly.]
While some might find that price to be high, keep in mind that you’re getting a large 3″ x 8″ double-sided diamond sharpener (one side is fine 600-grit for all around sharpening, the other is extra fine 1200-grit for getting your blades to a razor sharp edge). Unlike natural stones, the polymer base also won’t deform. It stays perfectly flat over time. And the sharpening goes MUCH faster. 10 swipes on this stone is roughly equivalent to about 50 swipes on an Arkansas stone. Not only do you save time and energy, but it’s much easier to maintain a very consistent blade angle (crucial to effective sharpening) for 10 strokes than it is for 50.
This model includes the robust plastic base as well. The stone snaps into the base very snugly (no looseness) and the wide feet provide for a very stable platform while sharpening. For added security, you can fasten the base to a workbench or other large surface. However, I found the base stable enough on its own to be perfectly serviceable on a kitchen countertop. It would be nice if the base had grippy rubberized feet to reduce slippage on smooth surfaces for those like me who don’t want to permanently affix it to a workbench, but if you brace one end of the base against something (such as the edge of the sink or the stove) and draw the knife in that direction, it works fine and won’t slip.
I’ve used this stone to sharpen everything from my smallest Swiss Army blade (2″ stainless) up to my Ka-Bar/Becker BK7 blade (7″ 1095 cro-van steel). Sharpening a large 7″ knife on this stone is very easy. The general rule of thumb is that your stone should be at least as long as your blade, so if you have knife blades longer than 8″, you may want to spend more for the 10-inch version of this stone (which at the time of this review, is inexplicably listed at nearly three times the price!?). For my needs, the 8 inch stone is plenty long.
There’s nothing to complain about with regard to the quality and functionality of this product. It’s first rate and will do a very good job sharpening your knives, assuming you take time to learn the proper technique. Throw in an old belt with sharpening compound for stropping, and you will have the tools to put a scary sharp edge on most any knife.
The only shortcoming I notice with this product is the ambiguity of the stone in determining which side is fine (600-grit) and which extra fine (1200-grit). As it turns out, it is color coded by a small circle at one end of the stone, which then can be cross-compared with a list on the packaging to determine the grit. But it’s strange to me that they didn’t just stamp “600-grit” and “1200-grit” on the respective sides instead of the color-coding–which would be clearer and more convenient. I simply wrote the proper grit (with an appropriately pointed arrow) on either side of the stone in permanent black ink. Technically, you can tell by feel as well. Regardless, some people are sure to be inexperienced and inadvertently use the extra fine side to initially sharpen a very dull blade, and then will get dismayed by the slowness. The fine (600-grit) side will restore a fairly dull blade very quickly, however, and is probably the best “general purpose” grit for knives. For quick blade touch ups, you could skip using the extra fine side altogether unless you really need to get your blades shaving sharp or just enjoy bringing the edge up to a more polished look.
All in all, this is a great product and well worth the price. Sure, natural stone sets with comparable grits can be had for half as much money, but they require more effort and care, and thus, introduce more room for error. This is your best bet for faster, superb sharpening results. If idiot-proof convenience is your priority, you may prefer a pull-through sharpener. However, keep in mind that those kind will not put nearly as nice or as long-lasting of an edge on your knives. They are convenient thought. In my opinion, a diamond stone like this one is the best way to do it right.
[UPDATE 4-1-2014: I’ve been using this sharpener a lot for a month and a half now and it is the best diamond sharpener I’ve ever owned. It works very quickly on every blade and steel I’ve tried, and can take a blade from very dull to very sharp in only a few dozen strokes. The trick is to keep the sharpening angle consistent for each stroke (I sharpen at 21 degrees for wilderness knives, and about 17 degrees for kitchen knives), and apply the right amount of pressure as you stroke. Once you get a feel for it, this sharpener works superbly.]
Quickly sharpened 6 dull kitchen knives of various sizes, including a butcher knife. When I started none of them could cut paper, now they all slice through paper with ease. This sharpener has a large sharpening surface and is great for sharpening knives of any size. The directions say you can use it dry or with water. I recommend spraying the surface with water, the sharpening movement will feel smoother.
I must have a dozen tools I have used over the years and this is the one I use when I need to set up the edge.
The coarse side will remove any nicks and sets you up for the fine finish.
For what it is worth, I then move to a ceramic and finish with a strop for an incredibly sharp edge.
Excellent option instead of course Whetstones! I wouldn’t rate this as Fine/Course but Course/Medium Coarse. There is no way a 600 grit is considered fine in knife sharpening, perhaps chisel, but not knife. The diamond mesh doesn’t load up and moves material easily and efficiently. 600 grit gives a toothy edge, fine for most kitchen and pocket knife duties.
Got this for my father in law for Christmas and he loves it. I have an old DMT sharpener that belonged to my Dad who passed away in 1999 and I still use it and it is the best. But you can bet that I am asking my wife for one of these sharpeners next year.
urns an incredibly dull knife amazingly shard couldnt get it sharp any other way and this is soo easy to take care of
urns an incredibly dull knife amazingly shard couldnt get it sharp any other way and this is soo easy to take care of
Well I bought this guy and the Dmt d8ee 8inch dia sharp continuos diamond (extra extra sharp) for the finish result, however I’m just talking about this one in this review. First of I purchase this stone with the purpose to sharpen my chefs knife. it is an awesome product it will sharpen your knife super quick, may take a try or 2 to get use to it but is well worth the purchase, don’t be afraid of purchasing diamonds, only advice is to no apply pressure let the diamond do the work. The result of both stones is a razor shaving sharp edge! good luck!
I love these diamond sharpening stones. This one cuts fast and does a good job sharpening. Obviously, if I was better at holding the correct angle I’d do a better job, but that’s my weakness, not this stone. I’ll keep practicing!!
The diamond stone wears well, doesn’t wear a “curve” like a rock stone, so it will last a LONG time! And having the course on one side and fine on the other is great; just flip the stone to continue to a finer edge.
I found the DuoSharp easy to use. I am a man with little spare time and need my edge to come back fast. With the two sided fine/course, I have it all right there. If you want to just get basic kitchen/field sharp, this will work by itself. If you want to get knife geek sharp/polished, you still need to get a finer stone and maybe even mix in a strop. The stand works great and doesn’t move. I have sharpened my 10 inch kitchen knives with ease.works well on the small stuff too. Bria
My only note is that the base can provide, essentially, too much stability for some purposes. Allowing the stone to rock back and forth ensures that the surface is in contact with the blade. With the base, you’ll often find yourself using only the edge of the stone as the blade isn’t perfectly parallel. A simple solution is to put something like a couple towels below the stone such that it can move with the blade.
I ended up buying this, along with an extra-course, course, and extra-extra fine stone (and the DMT Wave, too :)). I’ve sharpened about 7 lathe chisels and a kitchen knife and am very happy with the results. With the kitchen knife, I took it all the way from extra course to extra extra fine, and finished by honing on a leather belt… and it really came out with a very nice, sharp edge. Very happy with the stones, can’t wait for them to get “broken in” after prolonged use.
1. Diamond Systems (e.g., DMT): Mess & Effort (Low), Sharpening Quality (Very High), Skill required (Moderate)
2. Arkansas stones: Mess & Effort (Moderate), Sharpening Quality (High, not good for steels >60HRC), Skill required (Moderate)
3. Japanese Waterstones: Mess & Effort (Very High), Sharpening Quality (The Best), Skill required (High)
4. Ceramic sharpening systems: Mess & Effort (Low), Sharpening Quality (High, touch up only), Skill required (Low)
I use dish detergent and water on the DMT plates to sharpen, having found that better than other solutions. It keeps everything clean as well. The DMT plates sharpen aggressively, so compared to the other systems, you will sharpen faster and with less effort.
I have seen several complaints about DMT plates not being perfectly flat, but I think these are bogus. I have considerable experience inspecting optical flats (these usually need to be flatter than 1/4 wave, which is quite flat) and used the same techniques to eyeball my plates. The extra fine plate is easy to inspect, since rainbow refractions from the diamonds show off any ripples; additionally, the regular pattern of pits on the plates highlights any unevenness. My plates are very flat. But interestingly enough, not one of my knives (not even my brand new Miyabi) is perfectly flat; certainly not as flat as the plate. Even if there were ripples, I couldn’t see them being more significant than you would get on a worn waterstone or Arkansas stone. Maybe there is the occasional bad plate; just send it back and get a new one. The DMT system is in my opinion a much less error prone approach to sharpening than other options.
Overall the cost is low for all the DMT plates you need: perhaps ~ $200. Add a ceramic steel, and/or strop pad for the final edge, and you will have a very effective system for sharpening your knives better than you received them from the factory.
If you are looking for the best sharpener, look no further. I purchased this to sharpen my forged Victorinox knives, and this sharpener is extremely easy to use and quickly brings the edge back to factory sharp, possibly sharper. Just follow the instructions found at the DMT website, as technique is important – especially due to the efficiency of obtaining an edge with this stone.
I have tried all of the different whetstones out there, as well as sharpening stones, honing rods, etc..
I always sharpen my own tools and also my own chef’s knives as well as a few camping knives. This is the best diamond sharpening “stone” on the market. For example I must have used my first one for over four years and just a month ago bought this one to replace it! And I use this a lot. I do a lot of high end residential installation, so all of my equipment, as in cutting pliers, pocket knives, (we uncrate and unwrap tons of expensive art pieces) razor knives, and I even sharpen my awls. With this diamond bench stone I can get the edge back on my pocket knife to razor sharp in about 5 minutes.
One of my installers gets a kick shaving in front of the crew with one of my pocket knives that has an exceptionally good blade right after I sharpen it. I also cook a lot and I always sharpen my cooking knife set either before of after I used them. Depends on how many times I have used them that month. This bench stone does such a great job that I really have to remind myself not to put to much pressure on the edge of the blade as I stroke it along the bench stone.
Sooo… If you get one of these you will know what I am trying to describe in a minute. This bench stone is so useful, it works so well, and also so quickly that it is just a pleasure to sit down and use it. And don’t think that just because it has some diamond abrasive materials that it will ruin your blades. It is quite the opposite. The fact that you can really only use light strokes with very little pressure allows your blades a much longer “use” time. By like double or triple its usual lifetime. And that is because you aren’t grinding down the overall steel as much as you would using anything else every time you use it!
If you ever have your tools or knives sharpened by grinding, that process, although it gives you an incredibly sharp edge, also reduces the width of your blade each time it has been sharpened by grinding. And you can get a very very similar incredibly sharp edge just using this bench stone without losing any of your steel.
So I really love this bench stone. I couldn’t run my business without it. I really recommend trying this one out. And I am probably understating how long I had it before I replaced it. I probably used it for closer to six years now that I am writing and thinking about it.
Had some seriously dull good quality knives and this stone brought them back to life. Easy to use once a week to keep them staying sharp. Highly recommended!
Great product! With help from training videos the Duo Sharp Plus has proved easy to use and incredibly effective. Thanks DMT…
Great product! With help from training videos the Duo Sharp Plus has proved easy to use and incredibly effective. Thanks DMT…
Success for me relied on two things: the correct angle and the correct pressure per pass. I used the recommended “lay two quarters on top of one another” in the manual to get the feel of the angle. Once I got the feel I don’t use them anymore. Initially I was putting about the amount of force I used to use with sharpening stones. It was too much. Now I used just enough pressure to keep the knife on the surface (either red or green). And by that I mean almost no pressure. If you have a kitchen scale I find about 1-2 oz of pressure works best for me. Any more than that and I just hone off good steel. It seems I use less pressure each time and the diamond surface works perfectly. I expect to get even better and the knives even sharper.
This sharpening system is definitely worth the price. Highly recommended. Use it for two weeks and relegate your old systems to your favorite charitable donation site.
Note: I also use the DMT 12″ Diamond Steel between sharpenings. (see my separate review). I use it while paring and carving AND to sharpen my serated bread knife. I can now slice warm bread again.
Update 2/3/13 Tried the fine/extra fine stones on three no longer used knives. I suspect we stopped using them because they were so dull. The fine/extra fine really couldn’t set a new edge (they were too far gone). So I picked up up a second stone (Extra Course (black) / Course (blue)to use with my original base. I went to work on the knives starting with the extra coarse to see if I could resurrect my lost causes. Six passes on each side first with the black and then six passes per side with the blue and a new edge was set (1 knife needed 4 more each side with the black). Now all three are in the every-other-week rotation for fine tuning edges. Maybe I could have worked at using the fine/extra fine (aka red and green) but I decided to do it right. Plus I intend to begin working on my shop tools (planes, chisels, etc) and these will get work there.
Granted these are not inexpensive tools. But, both bench stones and the base set me back roughly the cost of just one of my knives: a 10″ Global chef.
I thought this would be the best product to sharpen plane irons and thus far it has performed to my expectations. I thought it would get them fairly sharp, but it doesn’t get them razor sharp. I will have to buy a high grit waterstone to achieve the level of sharpness I’m looking for. I would recommend this for all types of sharpening. The plastic holder has a handle on the back side so it is versatile.
Received the product promptly and I’ve got to say, I’m impressed. I’ve used a decent number of tools and techniques for sharpening knives over the last couple of years (oil-stones, water-stones, alum. oxide, multi-thousand grit automotive sanding papers, etc…) and this is one of the faster and more efficient products I’ve used. It took me all of ten minutes to go through a number of knives that I had started sharpening up and put a fairly good edge on them. I think I could do with some finer stones for polishing, but so far I don’t see a need beyond professional pride.
This stone is LARGE– enough to accommodate even my biggest kitchen knives in one pass of the blade. A few (maybe 10-15 on each side, alternating 5 at a time) passes are sufficient to restore a paper (or tomato) cutting edge on my knives. This does make it more bulky for actually taking camping (I’d probably stick with one of the smaller and more portable options), but for the right tool at the right time, this can’t be beat.
Because I like to sharpen my knives regularly, I find myself using the extra-fine side the most– great for quick touch-ups for restoring that ‘shaving’ edge.
I would note that this (both the fine and extra-fine sides) is not necessarily recommended for setting the initial edge on a very dull blade. I’ve tried that before and it takes forever– you’ll want a coarser option for doing that. And you probably would want the extra-extra-fine (or a leather strop– not that I’m experienced enough to have tried either) for putting on the truly hair-splitting edge, but for all of my uses this works great.
I’m not a professional chef, I don’t spend hours in the kitchen BUT I do like a sharp knife when I go slice a beautiful ripe tomato out of my garden or reach for my pocket knife. I’m not skilled at use of a regular sharpening stone– just takes too long. With diamond DuoSharp products I don’t have to spend hours sharpening blades— just a few swipes and and your done. I keep mine in the kitchen and every once in a while will make a few swipes over this nice wide stone and I’m done. Pocket knife need a touch up, few swipes and I’m done. If I go to the shop and need to sharpen chisle, rasp, scissors, etc- no prblem its highly portable. I’ll be getting a file for my chain saw soon and expect it will cut my sharpening time to a 1/4 with a better edge– quicker wood cutting on a long hot summer is the way to go.
This one is what I use to finish off my chisel blade edge and “back” surface after using the rougher DMT stones.
Get this one and one with rougher grit and you will never need another stone.
Below added 12-11-12:
I was contacted by DMT and they have offered to send me the missing rubber feet. This changes my review from 3 stars to 5 stars.
Also, I have been using my stones for a number of months now and it really does a fantastic job of keeping my edges razor sharp. Just 60 seconds and they are fresh to go. I even use it to sharpen the replaceable carbide blades on my lathe tools instead of throwing them away after the edges turn south.
This tool is high quality and does just what it says it does. And it is simple to maintain and store and use.
Be caareful with it and be careful with the blades you sharpen on it! Great tool!
I bought this DMT plate set up primarily to sharpen my 8″ chef knife…which has fallen into a state of disrepair, despite having/using another sharpening tool set, a twin set of sharpening rods, unsuitable for the prior condition, ie…there were some rather big knicks in the edge here and there. The two grits that come with this plate, coarse and fine, have worked to put a better edge on this knife but in all fairness, a coarser grit would have been useful to get the edge ready for a finer stage…but perserverance with the coarse side got the blade ready for the fine plate. It’s all good and worked out but if you have knives in very bad condition, think about buying a grit coarser than coarse…but the coarse grit will get a knicked edge up to speed…you just have to spend more time with it at the coarse stage if that is the coasrsest grit you have
I’ve been using the fine side of the plate to flatten my coticule bout, Le Petit Blanc, a stone I use for honing my straight razors. The fine side of this DMT plate works very well for this chore
All in all I highly recommend this set (coarse/fine) for average knife sharpening duties. The supplied directions will get you going. This is not rocket science, sharpening knives using this tool se
I was using a cheap pull through sharpener before purchasing this stone. What a difference!
In a short time it revived my cheap kitchen knives so they were usable. I was also able to sharpen a newer Forschner Fibrox chef’s knife to an edge that was a little sharper than it came from the factory.
I like it better than oil stones because you can sharpen dry on the diamond stone. I haven’t tried sharpening on waterstones yet to compare to the diamond stone.
I have used this combined bench stone very much the last month on chisels, knives and bench plane irons and it performed really well on all.
The stand is functional and it’s easy to flip the stone from one side to the other.
8 inch is a generous size… as far as you don’t use it for huge axes.
I already knew that the diamond surfaces feel like they perform better at the very beginning but it’s just an impression. The harsh sound isn’t there any more, it works silently now, but it definitely works!
I think the speed and the “ever lasting” flatness are the big advantages of diamond stones and the DMT appears to be one of the best ones of that kind.
It’s nice, too, not to have to mess around with water or oil. I just put a small amount of water on it. That’s enough. But you could easily work with the dry stone.
Fine and Extrafine is good for sharpening but you need a finer stone for honing and a course one for the initial setup of bench plane irons.
Bye, Herb.
So far I, with all grits, sharpened two Henckels fruit knives, three Global chef’s knives, and two Japanese kitchen knives that a sword-maker forged. I could sharpen them very fast in comparison to my past sharpening work with whet stones. For instance, a Henckels knife of soft stainless steel within 80 strokes; I needed about 800 strokes on one side of the edge to sharpen Japanese knife of forged sword-steel. A number of strokes between them are needed to sharpen well the Global molybdenum/stainless steal.
A demo by the manufacturer said the diamond sharpening stones remove metal ten times faster than whet stones do. Although I have no way of measuring its claim. I felt so while I was removing metal from the knives. My tasks of sharpening kitchen knives for my wife became much easier.
The surfaces of the diamond stones are flat and should remain flat in use for a long time to come.
The base is effective to support the stones in the right height and at the right place. It is easy to mount each stone onto it and I thought it was a part of the stone by design.
Recently, many products, even those of Made-in-USA, do not meet to what the manufacturers advertise and claim. It is the first time in the last several years I see the products meet the manufacturer’s advertisement and claims.
The diamond sharpening stones may be pricey in comparison to those of any whet stones. I would like to say though, “Complaint to poor quality is forever but complaint to the price is short-live as long as the product quality is good.
From my experience so far with sharpening knives made of different steels and with edges at different angles I am happy to use this stone for a sharp finish on my German and European knives, but for my Shun, elite, Ken Onion, and my other VG 10 Japanese knives I like to finish on my extra fine whetstone (having said this I have only had to give some of these knives a small carefull touch up to get an edge back).
I’ve had several diamond based stones over the years (some of which have worn out quickly) I know they are good when new, but they do wear out, so I will reserve a little commitment to jugement for when I have used it for a few more knives.
As far as the delivery goes, it was a bit slow (comming a couple of weeks after the predicted delivery date) but the product was as it should have been and a lesson in patience was learnt.
Over all so far I am happy with this stone, the price from Amazon was very good and it has become a part of my sharpening arsenal to keep things….well sharp!