Buying Diamond Stones | Common Woodworking

When buying diamond stones, Paul suggests getting a coarse stone between 120-400 grit (250 is best), a fine stone between 600-1000 (600 is best) and a super-fine between 1200-1500 (1200 is best).

Paul recommends the 3” (76mm) x 8” (203mm) diamond stones from EZELAP. The width is so you can comfortably fit the width of a chisel and a plane blade on the stone. The length of 8” (76mm) gives you enough distance for a full stroke. Any shorter and you will have to do more work to get your bladed tools sharp.

Around 2019 We purchased the:

Update January 2022: We contacted the company https://www.ezelap.co.uk/product-category/3-x-8-eze-lap-diamond-stones/ and they will ship to the US. Shipping rates are calculated on checkout.

Update November 2019: These grits are sometimes out of stock but they are also stocked on Dieter Schmid Fine Tools.

If you wanted to lower costs and get the same results, Paul recommends the double sided 3” (76mm) x 8” (203mm) x ¼” (6mm), with one side 250 grit and the other side 1200 grit. By missing out the middle grit, it means you will have to spend longer on the fine grit to complete the honing and you won’t be able to permanently fix them into a holder.

When sharpening your tools, Paul recommends using auto glass cleaner to lubricate the stones. He prefers this over water as it doesn’t promote rust. One spray on each stone is enough. Use a tissue to mop up excess liquid when finished.

Visit our guide to see How to Make a Sharpening Stones Holder.

*Prices checked March 2024

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