EZE-LAP DD8F/C 3 by 8Double Sided Diamond Sharpening Stone F/C, Non Skid Pad Included

I just got into sharpening my woodworking tools and Paul Sellers' sharpening videos convinced me to go with EZE-Lap diamond plates. (Be sure to check out this man's blog and YouTube videos--he is a woodworking wizard, yet remains so humble and down-to-earth.)I wanted to go with 3 grits as suggested by Sellers. He comments that the exact grits don't matter that much, and depending on which blog post you look at, you may find differing recommendations. In 2012 he recommended Coarse, Fine, and Super Fine, and in 2013 he recommended Coarse, Medium, and Super Fine. Although the latter recommendation is probably slightly more efficient, for my 3 grits I settled on Coarse, Fine, and Super Fine for a few reasons. First, I wanted to try out both the single-sided and double-sided stones so I could compare them. Second, I wanted my most-used stone to be the "best" one. I assumed the single-sided stone would be most likely to stay flat over time since the steel substrate is about twice as thick, and I wasn't sure if the abrasive surface on the double-sided stone was as large as that of the single-sided stone. Last, I considered the possibility that I might add more in-between grits later, and I didn't want to have two consecutive grits on my double-sided stones because it meant I would have to stop and flip the stones every time I went from the grit on one side to the grit on the other side. So I ended up buying EZE-LAP's double-sided Coarse/FIne stone and single-sided Super Fine stone.After a few hours' use flattening and sharpening over a couple weeks, I have to say that the EZE-LAP DD8F/C 3 by 8 Double Sided Diamond Sharpening Stone is a great product. It does take a while to flatten a really rough plane iron on the coarse side, and in hindsight I might have opted for the XC/SF stone instead of the single-sided SF stone that I bought along with this one. Although the coarse stones supposedly wear out faster, keep in mind that you don't use them nearly as often and they may just need a good scrubbing to remove the swarf that's clogging up the mesh.Despite my overall positive impression, I do think it's worth pointing out that EZE-LAP's single-sided stones may not be any better than their double-sided stones. Here are my comparisons of the two types of stones:Feet vs. MatThe double-sided stone comes with a rubber mesh mat that keeps it from sliding around when sharpening, as long as you lubricate the stone with window cleaner. On the other hand, the single-sided stone's rubber feet don't hold it in place very well, so I just end up using the double-sided stone's mat. If you buy the single-sided stone, make sure you either make a holder to keep it in place, or get a rubber mesh mat to put it on.SizeDespite the plastic grips on the ends of the double-sided stone, the size of the abrasive surface is exactly the same.FlatnessI was originally concerned that the double-sided stone may not be as flat. However, after handling the stones, I'm not so worried any more. The steel on the double-sided stone is thick enough that I don't think it will be prone to warping, especially since both sides of steel seems very securely fixed to the plastic. If you have the extra money to spend on the single-sided stone and have other reasons to get it besides just flatness, then go for it. But if you're on a budget, I don't think you'll sacrifice any flatness by going with the double-sided stones.DurabilityAlthough I can't comment much on this since the stones are different grits and I haven't had them very long, I was concerned that the diamond plates on the double-sided stone may separate from the plastic part. Again, after handling them I'm no longer worried about this. As far as durability in use, it looks like the abrasive surface isn't any thicker on the single-sided stone, so I would expect the double-sided and single-sided stones of the same grit should last about the same amount of time.EZE-LAP vs. DMT and brandsI haven't used a DMT stone but I'm sure they're just as good. They actually have a better warranty, but they also cost more. DMT also doesn't offer as many varieties when it comes to the double-sided stones. Whereas you can get a double-sided EZE-Lap stone with a combination of any two different grits, DMT now only seems to offer consecutive, progressive grits (apparently other combinations were offered at one time but they seem to have been discontinued). Regardless, I certainly would stick with EZE-LAP or DMT over the cheaper brands because numerous professional woodworkers such as Christopher Schwarz and Paul Sellers have commented that the other brands just don't last.PriceAt the time of my purchase, the EZE-LAP's single-sided Fine and Super Fine stones were the cheapest single-sided stones at around $35 each so they were comparable in price to the double-sided stones. The double-sided Coarse/Fine stone that I bought was $55, but a single-sided coarse stone would have been $50, so in that case the double-sided stone was a no-brainer.ConclusionIn short, the double-sided stones generally do give you the most bang for the buck, but a few of the single-sided stones are still pretty reasonably-priced. For example, the EZE-LAP 81SF 3 by 8 Super Fine Diamond Stone remains a pretty good bargain as long as it doesn't go up in price.As far as I can tell you don't really sacrifice anything when choosing the double-sided stone over a single-sided stone. Even with the plastic and thinner plates this double-sided stone seems just as durable as the single-sided EZE-LAP stones. The benefits of the single-sided stones over their double-sided counterparts like this one seem negligible, if there are any. If you travel a lot with your sharpening equipment, you might want to go with the double-sided stones or a combination similar to what I went with (double-sided for lower grits, plus this single-sided Super Fine stone). I'm happy with my purchase and think I got a bargain on the ones I bought at the price I paid, but if you're trying to decide between the single-sided stones and double-sided stones I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the double-sided stones.

I am a hand-tool woodworker who has taught a college-level woodworking course. I ordered this product using some money my mom gave me for my birthday just before she died, thinking I was getting a high-quality item that I would use for years in renovating tools. After four uses it is much less usable than the cheap Harbor Freight $13 diamond stone foursome I used for dozens of renovations in the past. It's as if they used ground class instead of diamonds on the surface. You can feel the original grit in the extreme corners, where there's relatively little use. Otherwise everything has ground down to maybe 1000 grit size. After reading so many positive review this was a terrific disappointment.

I have other brands of diamond stones and the EZE-LAP 250 grit/600 grit seems really coarse compared to my other stones. Further, the ends are raised up which does not allow it to be truly flat. Not sure if I’m 100% satisfied with this product. Also, the plates are thin compared to others such as DMT. If I could have done this again I prob would have gone with the Trend 300/1000 grit stone

Shortly after receiving the EZE-LAP, I tuned up our 8 yr old Wusthof kitchen knife set. The knives have never seen a stone, having only been honed with a steel. I've had pro sharpening training in Chef school and had been reluctant to usestones, for they tend to flatten the edge, even while raising your elbow. With just a few quick stokes and then the steel, I achieved a near razor edge. I also used it on my pocket knife producing a very satisfactory edge. It's nice to have the two grits and the large working surface. Only wish it came in a case.

Great cutting stones at a very reasonable price. I use whatever soapy solution I have on hand as a lubricant. Make sure to rinse thoroughly and DRY thoroughly after use.

I had a high carbon steel 1095 knife that ruined other sharpening stones and just would not sharpen. This stone took care of it in ten minutes. I can't recommend it enough.

works great

Very nice diamond stone, should have got one sooner. Was able to sharpen knives that I couldn't do anything with on my old Lansky.