I read references to the fact, and it stands to reason, that the 4000/8000 stone is basically a lifetime investment. What makes all of this very hard for me is that I still love and have a compulsion to sharpen knives. Hunting knives, kitchen knives, pockets, hatchets, scissors...you name it.

How long will a 220/1000 grit last if I spend a lot of time rebeveling knives on the 220 and required that it be "fairly" flat most of the time. (Honestly, there ares some times where I would take a file to to them if they were soft enough. I actually HAVE on some that were soft enough. You'd be surprised what you can do with file...it was the biggest teacher I had on the subject of "pressure" in honing)

I hear they cut fast, and assume they wear fast at the lower grits. How does the 220 compare with a D8C or D8X on cutting speed?

Does anyone know if the waterstone cut well on the "upper-crust" of the harndness scales? I know one knife I have is D2 at 61-62 Rockwell. The sandpaper I use on a lot of other knives gets laughed at, and the file I mentioned earlier runs away with its tail between its legs.

Basically trying to decide if I should put the diamond hones on the wait list and get the 220/1000-4000/8000-Lap Stone kit .....OR....just get a 4000/8000 and a D8C to pull double duty as a rebeveler and lapping stone.

There you go, fire away!

....and Thank You