NOTE: LEATHER SHEATH MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM PHOTO AS I AM EXPERIMENTING WITH DIFFERENT LEATHERS
The first (and I believe the only) true diamond slipstone on the market. This is now 500/600 blend grit stone, designed with the woodturner in mind. This 500/600 blend will give longer wear and a bit more aggressive than the 600 grit I made for years. There are two flat surfaces and two different radii on the long edges provides a single tool for all of your woodturning honing operations. Size: 5" long, 2" wide and 1/4" thick. Made from high grade monocrystalline diamond selected for longevity, with double nickel plated onto mild steel. Comes with a fine leather sheath. WARNING: This hone is not the flat, imported, plated one-sided hone that has been associated with Alan's name. The metal shaping is done in Wisconsin, diamond plating in Pennsylvania and the sheath is made in Oklahoma. MADE REALLY REALLY IN THE USA!
The Diamond Slip/Hone is made by a woodturner for woodturners. This is a true slip type hone with two different radius edges to fit inside the flute of virtually all woodturning gouges on the market.
CLEANING: I have been contacted by some who felt they had worn out the stone, but actually is was just dirty or loaded with metal. One of the advantages of diamond is that you can hone with it dry, or use water or WD40 for heavy honing. However, you must clean it often if you use it dry. If lightly used, hot water and soap will work as will WD40, scrub if necessary with an old toothbrush. But my best success for cleaning has been with PB Blaster (the one for frozen nuts and bolts). If buildup is significant (black particles of steel) or it has been a while since you last cleaned it, try PB Blaster (be sure it says "The original bolt and nut buster" as they now have a number of products). You can find this at most auto store, hardware and some big box stores. Spray it on, let it set for a few hours, wipe off with a cloth (scrub if need be with the old toothbrush).
DIAMOND OR CBN (BORON)?
Diamond or boron/CBN? Alan made these hones in CBN material about 10 years ago, but went back to diamond as it is approximately twice as hard as CBN. CBN is great for grinding wheels, where diamond would break down when grinding steel (a chemical reaction due to the generated heat of grinding). However, for hand honing diamond is far superior when using the correct type and grade of diamond. For more information check this out:
http://www.diametal.com/en/product/abrasives/electroplated-precision-grinding-tools-in-diamond-and-cbn/diamond-and-cbn.html
25 Reviews Hide Reviews Show Reviews
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Does what it is suppose to do.
A turning friend used his diamond slipstone at a workshop and I was impressed with how quickly it restored edges on skews. That evening, I ordered my own and fully sold on it to maintain a great edge.
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Works Great!
Excellent tool for keeping your chisels super sharp. Perfect design for easy handling and maximum performance.
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Perfect Honing tool
I just received my Alan Lacer Diamond slip stone. It is the perfect tool to hone my wood turning tools. Simple and easy to use, I will need no other honing tool.
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It is FANTASTIC, but it will take a little practice to use it well
I am very happy that I swallowed hard and bought this diamond hone. I am a wood turner, and I love sharp tools. I bought a Tormek to help, but it does take a few minutes to re-establish that razor edge. I have found that the hollow grind from the Tormek is perfect for this diamond hone. Go to Youtube to see good technique on how to use a diamond hone. It doesn't just work by itself -- you need to develop a little skill. But now that I have been using it I can resharpen a chisel with just a few strokes. I have some Thompson super hard chisels and it works great on them. Read Alan's instructions that come with the hone. When you first start using it you can tell that you are breaking it in. Alan claims that the tops of the diamonds fracture off, but you can tell that the very first use of the stone in a particular area generates a strange powder. After that stops (we are talking a few strokes)the hone seems to work even better. IMPORTANT NOTE: Alan warns that it needs to be cleaned. Though I haven't had this problem, I would expect that if you pack it with iron debris and then the debris rusts that would have a negative impact on the performance of the hone. It is a fine tool. If I see an accumulation I scrub the hone with a fine bristle brush (e.g. toothbrush) and soap and water. I would absolutely recommend this to my Bayou Woodturner friends.
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Excellent Hone!
The tear drop shape is excellent, and the size is perfect, it fits the hand very well. If you have never honed your tools before, watch Alan's video on sharpening and honing spindle gouges. It explains the very simple process quite well. It makes a massive difference in the sharpness of all my tools, even after using a 180grit CBN wheel in a vari-grind 2 jig. It also has the benefit of making those "disposable" carbide inserts, not quite so disposable.
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Nothing better
I used a similar Alan Lacer hone at a couple woodturning courses at Marc Adams School of Woodworking before purchasing so I knew what I would be getting ahead of its arrival. The reasons I purchased it: high quality; good size radius for honing inside of gouges; moderately large flat surface suitable not only for sharpening skews and parting tools but also chisels, etc.; more durable and convenient than a wetstone. The leather sheath is a great extra. The hone is relatively expensive, but I look at this to be a long-term investment and cost-effective labor-saver.
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Only if you want really sharp
I now realize my tools were not critically sharp before, there really is a big difference in the results I'm getting after honing with this diamond. Thanks Alan for a great product re-introduction!
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rearlly sharp
nothing I, in my shop conpares with this tool
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Novice Woodturner and Slipstone Helps SO MUCH
I've just recently become interested in working on the wood lathe. I had the good fortune to get some tips from a master - Jim Short of Coupeville, WA - and he had two of these slipstones. My lathe isn't the fanciest, my tools aren't top shelf, but this slipstone enables me to have a great time on the lathe by keeping my tools sharp. Already, I have put it to ample use for quick honings to bring my tools back to sharp and it makes such a difference. It's worth the price. It's a quality tool in itself. You won't regret it. And it wont break if you drop it!