Hey everyone! I'm trying to put together the Paul Sellers sharpening system, which involves three diamond plates glued to plywood, plus a section on the front to use as a bench hook. The only affordable diamond plates I can find are 6"x3", but I'm hoping to find something larger. Ideally, I'd love to get plates around 10"x4" so I could sharpen kitchen knives with the same setup if I can adjust the spacing. Anyone know where I might find larger options?
2 Answers
I have Eze-Lap plates that are 3"x8", and I've seen 4"x10" plates offered by other brands. Alternatively, you could use a piece of float glass with loose diamond lapping powder; I have some powder but haven't tried it yet—it came with a tool lot I bought.
You might want to consider the IM313 for sharpening knives instead—it's a solid choice for everyday use, plus it works great with a buffer. While Paul offers tools that are easily accessible, I find that the diamond plates feel cramped when placed too closely together. The cheaper diamond hones generally come in sizes like 8"x3" or around 8"x2.75". There are also round lapping plates available, typically 8" and they come at about $12 each; 10" plates are usually pricier and might be a bit tricky for certain tool backs unless they're mounted properly, which extends their lifespan.
I totally get that! Paul's method is more suited for planes and chisels with linear strokes. For me, I prefer the sideways or edge-parallel techniques—mostly using narrower dry ceramic stones now. By the way, what stones are included with your IM313? They seem really coarse for regular use.