Norton waterstones

Great quote

Schwim near Detroit

>"The most interesting aspect of sharpening is the reflection of the infinite."

Found it on Shapton's site.

Re: Norton waterstones

Jim in Burlington

>I can only compare King stones to Norton. The system of using 2 1000 stones to flatten each other then using them to flatten the 5000 and 8000 stone is a great feature of Norton. Since I bought the Norton stones the king stones haven't been in the water. I found that keeping the 5000 and 8000 stones in water makes them cut faster. If you travel with them I wrap them in bubble wrap as they can chip fairly easily.

Re: Norton waterstones

Jack from Maine

>I bought a bear 220/1200 grit small combo stone.Cheap money.I used it to get the hang of water stones. From there I bought a better quality,larger bear 1200 grit and 6000 grit stone.Plus I got a norton 220 for rough shaping,first flattening. I could tell the difference in quality in the norton right away.

These may be all I need,I don't know yet,still learning.

After I learned not to dish out my stones I flattened the smaller combo and use it for small chisels and odd stuff.---Jack

Shaptons have not been around long

Ted Owen, Pittsburgh

>So while many older articles would favor Nortons, newer studies may or may not. I use Shaptons and am happy with them.

You'd probably be pleased either way.

Best, Ted

Shaptons, which one's

sroxberg

>So you use and like Shaptons, and I'm interested in them as well. Tell us more, what grits to you use and own and how do you flatten them?

Thanks, inquiring minds want to know?

I go 120, 1500, 5000, 8000

Ted Owen, Moderator

>Some other folks go 1000, 2000, and skip the 1500, and that's fine, too.

For keeping stones flat, I use the compact lapping system. It's expensive, IIRC something over $120 with the powders, but it's convenient and effective with frequent use of a few strokes.

Some very knowledgeable people, such as Rob Cosman, simply rub stones against each other to flatten. It does not seem intuitive to me that this technique would actually make the stones flat, so I don't do it. But I've no data to support that feeling.

Best, Ted

Re: I go 120, 1500, 5000, 8000

joel

>I go 1K, 5K, 8K.

when finishing up on a stone I let it get drier, add most pressure. This fractures the slurry and effectiving turns the 1k stone into something finer. The effect is less with the shaptons than with more traditional stones but it still works.

I do the same with the other grit stones.

I should have clarified...

Ted Owen, Pittsburgh

>the 120 is used only for extreme cases. Indeed, I've only used it twice.

Normally I start with the 1500. If just retouching a stone, I'll start either with 5000 or 8000, depending on condition.

Best, Ted

Storing fine stones in water

Jim Yehle in Salt Lake

>Japan Woodworker (and others?) caution against storing fine waterstones in water permanently, but I forget the reason, and I also forget at what grit the cutoff is.

Wasn't that helpful?

--

Jim

My favorite Shapton

Steve Elliott

>Of the four grits of Shaptons I have used, the 2000x stone is by far my favorite. I don't know why it is different, but it cuts quickly with minimal stiction and leaves an excellent surface for a medium stone.

In comparison, the 1000x Shapton seems to cut more slowly. The 8000x Shapton gives me all kinds of problems with stiction, plus it leaves rogue scratches that are probably due to embedded grit from the wet/dry sandpaper I use to flatten it.

One more issue with flattening involves the color of the stone. My 320x Shapton (very dark blue) masks any dark areas that indicate low spots still discolored by steel. The lighter color stones make it easier to tell when I've removed all the low spots and can stop flattening.

Re: My favorite Shapton

Don Thompson, Cutler Ridge, South of Miami FL

>I got the green Shapton 2000 grit stone to use as an intermediate step between the 800 King stone and a 4000 King stone.

I really like the results I have gotten; it seems to speed things up using the smaller jumps. I spend less time on the 4000 stone.

(YMMV)

Same here

Robin Frierson

>The 2000 is my favorite stone. I can usually raise the burr with the 2000 so I start with that after grinding the bevel.I swear it cuts faster than my 1000. My poor 1000 doesnt get much use except with the backs of a new blade.......For coarse work I just use sandpaper.

Re: Norton waterstones

Tony - Memphis

>I took a class with Lonnie Bird back in October. He had the Norton stones setup for us to use. I came back a believer. Ordered up a set right after I got back. They work great for me.

Tony

Re: Shaptons, which one's

Steve knight

>for basic sharpening 1000 5000 and 8000 or 12000. the professionals are the best bit the others are fine. the lap system works well you can make your own too. a diamond stone works. they wear sandpaper out too fast.

Re: I go 120, 1500, 5000, 8000

Steve knight

>rubbing two stones together works fine. but you don't just rub them together you just work the high spots. and the stone you flatten with thats all it does.

Re: Storing fine stones in water

Jim in Burlington

>In case they freeze but in my shop that will never happen it's in the basement of the house.

Re: Shaptons, which one's

Don Thompson - South of Miami

>From what I understand, the Shapton Professional 12000 is history. One has to jump to the 15000, now.

Re: Norton waterstones

Jeff Miller

>I have a Norton combination waterstone(1000/4000) for sale in the classifieds if anyone is interested.