What's your favorite sharpening stone?

[springfield art]

I use a river rock, smooth. Was going to make a war club out of it but it works fine for a sharpening stone

Hey, maybe you could say it's an Indian sharpening stone and get a thousand bucks for it! Just joking!

 

[glwilso8]

use a 30 + carborundum for grind then medium arkansas then ceramic that was sold by case for xx blades also about 30 35 years old. finish with slipstrop - real smooth shave. works for carving tools lathe tools knives.

 

[Eddie Southgate]

Been buying and using different stones for 50 years so it would be easier to say what I don't own yet !
Diamond plates , don't own one yet . Did buy my first Japanese water stone , 8000/3000 but have yet to try it . I probably own at least one of everything Smith and Norton have produced in the last 50 years in the way of a stone .

 

[bang]

Diamond

 

[Oldbear63]

I have a collections of different stones and the two that I find most useful are an extra fine diamond stone and plate glass with 2000 grit wet or dry.

I also have a wood disk with 1500 grit wet or dry glued on that makes a great polishing wheel, though it shreds easily.

 

[QuinnTheEskimo]

I’ve had a bunch of different stones and guides because I’m not very good at knife sharpening and I hate dull ones. Recently I bought the guided sharpening system from Work Sharp and it seems to be a winner. I’ve run out of knives in the house to sharpen. Costs like $50 and another $30 for the deluxe accessory kit which adds a strop and a couple more diamond plates.

 

[ugly old guy]

I've always used Smith's or Lansky Arkansas bench stones, and their guided rod systems on the rare occasion I've needed to use a stone.
A dry leather strop (or boot top) usually keep my edges sharp enough to skin a critter or three, clean a mess of fish, whittle a feather stick, or cut cord/rope, and open a package or break down some boxes.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Depends what I am sharpening. My favorite is a fairly large hard black Arkansas stone I have had for decades that puts a hair popping edge on good steel . . . eventually. For a good general edge I use Norton stones to get the profile and thereafter touch up with ceramic. Axes and broadheads a good single cut bastard file. Scythes a good oval wet stone.

For starting off on poor grinds I have a KME jig with diamond and ceramic in various grits that will even do D2 properly.

 

[smoothshooter]

There is one gent that insists the bottom of a coffee mug is as good as any. As noted: skill is more important than anything else.

Roll down a car window and the top edge makes a pretty good substitute for a crock stick or a fine stone.
At least until you wear it smooth.