DMT Dia-Sharp 600 grit diamond whetstone

I'd been meaning to buy these diamond sharpening stones (I bought three with different grits) for years, but I always convinced myself they were too expensive to be worth it. I made a linden wood stand with space for all three, plus a leather strop. I can flip the strop over to use the rough side with polishing paste (I use chromium oxide) and the smooth side as is. With a 325-grit stone for damaged or very dull blades, and 600- and 1200-grit stones to maintain a sharp edge on the blades, this system is a very effective way to keep all my workshop hand tools in perfect condition. These stones need a little breaking in, but a few uses will do the trick. They can be used dry or with water; I feel like they work better with water, but in any case, they must be washed and dried thoroughly immediately after use. I’ve tried using them with car cleaning fluid in a spray bottle—something some people recommend—which seems to help clean them at the same time, making the drying process less of a hassle. Apparently, coarse-grit stones can wear down fairly quickly, so for blades that are really damaged, I’ll continue to repair them on a grinder before using the stones. These DMT stones are expensive but have a very good reputation. I’ve used cheaper brands before, and honestly, they’re not worth it. It remains to be seen whether they’ll last a long time or not, but they certainly do a good job, and it seems like you get your money’s worth. One last point: at least when I bought them, Knifeleader had the best price I found online.