DMT Diafold FWFC Folding Diamond Sharpener: Two Grits to Go

Packing a sharpening stone can mean finding a case for its abrasive faces. The DMT Diafold FWFC solves that small nuisance with two handles that fold around the stone. Open it, choose a grit, and work the edge by hand. Its appeal is having a reusable sharpener in a tool roll or camping kit when a full bench setup would stay at home.

The folding handles make it easier to pack

DMT lists the FWFC at 9.5 inches long when open and 5 inches when closed. The handles give you something to hold during sharpening, then cover the diamond surfaces for storage. That matters in a crowded bag: the abrasive does not have to sit exposed beside your other gear.

Both working faces travel together. Blue identifies the coarse side; red identifies the fine side. You can change grits by turning the sharpener over, without unpacking a second stone. Check the Fine/Coarse designation when buying, since the Diafold family also includes other grit combinations that serve different stages of sharpening.

Choose the grit your edge actually needs

The blue face uses 45-micron diamonds, rated at 325 mesh. It is the starting point for a dull edge that needs more material removed. The red face uses 25-micron diamonds, rated at 600 mesh, to refine the edge after that coarser work. Those two surfaces give the FWFC a useful range for keeping ordinary plain-edged steel knives working.

A slightly dull knife does not automatically need both sides. DMT's care guidance recommends starting with fine when the edge needs only minor attention. Skipping unnecessary coarse work means removing less blade material. Choose the starting face based on the condition of the edge, rather than treating blue-then-red as a mandatory routine.

The red face is also where this particular model stops. If you want a more polished finish, plan on a finer abrasive or a separate finishing step. The FWFC is a compact two-grit tool, and its purchase makes the most sense when those are the grits you need.

Your hand controls the sharpening angle

The folding handle does not set a bevel angle. You still need to follow the knife's existing bevel and keep the relationship between blade and stone consistent through each stroke. That freedom can be useful across different knives, but it asks more of your technique than a system that physically guides the angle.

Use light pressure. DMT advises letting the diamonds do the cutting, and notes that a new diamond surface can feel more aggressive before it breaks in. Pressing harder is not a substitute for keeping the angle steady.

The FWFC can be used dry or with water; it does not require honing oil. Clean the blade before sharpening, remove the resulting residue afterward, and dry the sharpener before folding it away.

Decide where a folding stone fits

This is a sensible companion for someone who already sharpens freehand and wants coarse and fine surfaces close at hand. It is also approachable for a patient beginner willing to learn that motion, provided the compact format is the feature they actually need.

Choose a larger bench stone if a broad working surface matters more than packing size. Choose an angle-guided system if keeping a repeatable bevel is your main difficulty. For serrated edges, a tapered sharpener that fits the individual scallops is the more appropriate tool.

Ceramic blades can wear ordinary diamond stones faster; DMT designs its Hardcoat surface for that work.

If you already carry a fine stone and only make light touch-ups, the FWFC may add little. It becomes more compelling when you also need a coarse face for dull edges and want both surfaces protected by folding handles.