Finally got really sharp


wouldwurker

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I loath sharpening.  I have the Norton combo set as well.  They do make a mess, so I would recommend making someone to sharpen on that will help contain it.

In that photo they're sitting on a big hunk of granite countertop that was removed when my kitchen sink was installed. Rests right in top of my utilatub.

For the couple quick secondary bevel passes on the 4000 and 8000 and a few passes on the 8000 on the back to remove the burr, it's very little mess or fuss, and doesn't take more than 2 minutes. Nice to have it all set up and ready to go.

Mine are all single grit. Didn't bother with 2 sided combo stones. Sounds like a bit more hassle for not all that much savings.

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I have the same stones, but in the combo configuration. I like them and they do sharpen very well. The setup is an issue for me. Having them soak for 20 minutes is a hassle when you need a quick edge. 

When I need to replace them I will probably go to diamond stones.

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I have the same stones, but in the combo configuration. I like them and they do sharpen very well. The setup is an issue for me. Having them soak for 20 minutes is a hassle when you need a quick edge. 

When I need to replace them I will probably go to diamond stones.

I was told to store the stones in water. That way they're always soaked. Am I making a mistake?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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3 minutes ago, Seth Clayton said:

I was told to store the stones in water. That way they're always soaked. Am I making a mistake?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have heard of people doing this without any negative effects. Maybe just do a water change once in a while to avoid any mold/algae?

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On 1/17/2017 at 6:01 PM, vinnyjojo said:

In that photo they're sitting on a big hunk of granite countertop that was removed when my kitchen sink was installed. Rests right in top of my utilatub.

For the couple quick secondary bevel passes on the 4000 and 8000 and a few passes on the 8000 on the back to remove the burr, it's very little mess or fuss, and doesn't take more than 2 minutes. Nice to have it all set up and ready to go.

Mine are all single grit. Didn't bother with 2 sided combo stones. Sounds like a bit more hassle for not all that much savings.

I have combo stones, they were a good option to get started, as I got 6 grits from 600 to 8000 and they don't take up much space. If I had more space and was sharpening constantly, I'd consider dedicated stones. Also I've noticed the higher grit stones barely dish at all, suggesting they will last an awful long time, even as a half thickness.

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10 hours ago, vinnyjojo said:

You can store the norton stones in water.

Shaptons don't have to be soaked

I kind of wish that I had bought the Shaptons or something else that doesn't require soaking for that reason.  Soaking is a pain and the stones shed a LOT of water onto whatever you are sharpening on after soaking.  Even after soaking they seem to need to be frequently hit with a spray bottle or dipped in water.  Being able to just hit the stones with a spray bottle with no soaking would be nice.

Other than that I like the Norton water stones pretty well.

I am thinking of making a small sharpening station, possibly a folding one, or maybe one that fits in some out of the way spot in the shop.  Either way I am thinking of storing the stones in water.

Anyone have a compact or stow-able sharpening station design that they recommend?

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6 minutes ago, davewyo said:

Norton makes a water stone case that fits the bill.

Nice, but kind of pricy for what it is.  I wish they showed pictures of it in use.  I'll try googling it for more pictures.

Edit:

I just googled it and after seeing pictures of it in use the cost seems more reasonable than I thought at first glance.  It looks like a nice setup.

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I got away from water stones in favor of Diamond stones.  I just keep a spray bottle with lightly soapy water above the bench.  Makes a lot less mess.  I seldom get out the water stones any more but I do like the way my shapton stone feels.  You can hardly tell its cutting other than the stone turning grey.  Strops make a  huge difference to me in final sharpness. 

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