Please bear with me, I have always been very weak in geometry.

On the Spyderco Tri-Angle Sharpmaker, there are two sides with stones that are inserted at angles. One side is labeled 40 degrees, and the other side 30 degrees.

However, in measuring the actual angles of the stones with a protractor or angle gauge, the 40 degree side actually has the stones at 20 degree angles, and the 30 degree side actually has the stones at 15 degrees.

What is the logic in this... I can't figure it out.

OK, sounds good! I did manage to (finally) find the other thread where it's recommended to spray some water with a tiny bit of dish soap onto the 1200 / 1600 ceramics when using them.

I went ahead with my order from Wicked Edge and also placed an order for the 1200 / 1600 stones from here, where they are available now.

I received them today, and I have to wonder about the 1200 side. The 1600 side looks correct, but the 1200 side is porous. I also rubbed the blunt side of a cheap pair of scissors across the 1200 stone, and (as TonyPettersen mentions above) it actually removed a little of the stone. I'm confused how such a stone will be able to cut steel in micro increments for sharpening as it seems to actually be softer than cheap steel? (By comparison I've had the Spyderco Sharpmaker for some time and those stones aren't like this.)

As you can tell I'm a novice when it comes to professional sharpening so I'm not sure if I have a bad stone or if I just have a lack of knowledge.

Interested to hear any input!

I was ready to place an order today but I wanted to include the ceramic 1200 / 1600 stones, and I have found that they have disappeared from the products page:

http://www.wickededgeusa.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=84

Are they going to be back, or is this permanent?

Just kind of confused as to what's going on.