Sharpening gear recos

[Mavi.xd]

I feel my current sharpening routine just isn’t cutting it anymore (pun intended) lol. Right now I’m limping along with a basic combo stone that is doing fine for pocket knives, but when it comes to plane irons and chisels, I feel like I’m spending more time fighting the edge than actually working wood. I don’t necessarily need museum polished bevels, just something reliable that gets my tools sharp enough to slice clean, since my brother does woodwork too and I'm not the only one, I need something that can last, our last diamond plated seup lasted only about 6 months
If you had to start fresh today, what will you get?

 

[s3s@m3_]

Hi @Mavi.xd, it's better to ditch those cheap combo stones and definitely avoid the budget diamond plates. cause in my experience, they wear out so fast!
Since you guys need durability, you absolutely need to choose Japanese Waterstones (like Shapton or Naniwa brands). They cut fast, give a killer edge, and last ages if you treat them right. I'd start with a 1000 grit and a 4000 grit. You’ll be amazed at the difference in plane irons

 

[bluetalisman]

I feel my current sharpening routine just isn’t cutting it anymore (pun intended) lol. Right now I’m limping along with a basic combo stone that is doing fine for pocket knives, but when it comes to plane irons and chisels, I feel like I’m spending more time fighting the edge than actually working wood. I don’t necessarily need museum polished bevels, just something reliable that gets my tools sharp enough to slice clean, since my brother does woodwork too and I'm not the only one, I need something that can last, our last diamond plated seup lasted only about 6 months
If you had to start fresh today, what will you get?

I’d go with a solid set of water stones or a quality diamond plate paired with a good strop, get something durable if multiple people are using it

 

[Mavi.xd]

Thank you @s3s@m3_ and @bluetalisman I thought about the shapton stones but wasn't sure if they were worth the extra cost over what I have now, sounds like they definitely are but do they need to be flattened regularly? I've heard waterstones can dish out over time. And also, is there a big difference between shapton and naniwa, or are they pretty comparable?