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Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge

Good Hope Hardwoods - Walnut Slabs & Specialty Hardwood Lumber

ceramic flattening stone for waterstones

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ceramic flattening stone for waterstones

#1

ceramic flattening stone for waterstones

Sanford Levy

>I have been using a ceramic flattening stone for my water stones for about six months. It seems that the ceramic stone no longer flattens the waterstones as quickly as it used to. It is almost as if the surface were glazed the way a grinding wheel gets glazed when you grind too many chisels and planes. (In fact, after twenty minutes trying to flatten a sater stone on the groved side with only partial success, I flipped the ceramic stone over and flattened the water stone with just a few strokes on the flip side!) With a regular grinding wheel, I just pull out my diamond dresser and clean the wheel in seconds. I have tried cleaning the flattening stone with a wire brush and it still seems very slow to cut. Are there any suggestions? Sanford

Re: ceramic flattening stone for waterstones

#2

Re: ceramic flattening stone for waterstones

Steve Knight

>same thing happend to me and I used a diamond truing stick too. I finally dumped it because of the hassle.

Re: ceramic flattening stone for waterstones

#3

Worse than worthless

Neal (San Jose)

>I bought one, and after several unsuccessful attempts to flatten a waterstone on it, I finally figured out that the ceramic stone itself wasn't flat. It was dished (concave) from side to side, which caused me to create a convex waterstone. It was causing more trouble that it was worth so I tossed it. I now use a thick piece of glass and some coarse (60 grit wet or dry) sandpaper, and that works well. I use the sandpaper wet, and when it gets "tired", I replace it.

I'm guessing that if your stone is flat and you are happy with it, you could try and get it sandblasted to remove the dull surface. Many machine shops and all monument works (tombstones)are set up to sandblast, and might be willing to blast it for you for very little cost. Remember that this advise is worth exactly what you paid for it!

Re: ceramic flattening stone for waterstones

#4

Re: ceramic flattening stone for waterstones

Sanford Levy

>Based on the previous responses, I checked the flattness of the ceramic flattening stone and it is clearly dished. I checked the water stones I "flattened" with it and they are clearly convex now! maybe I will toss the ceramic flattening stone, or maybe I will try to flatten it.. Thanks for the feedback.

Re: ceramic flattening stone for waterstones

#5

Re: ceramic flattening stone for waterstones

Steve Knight

>dishing is the naterual thing that hhappens when rubbing two stones together. the way to prevent it is to work the waterstoens ends mroe with the middle of the flattening stone to balance it out.

you can only do normal back and forth flattening with diamond stones.

Re: ceramic flattening stone for waterstones

#6

Re: ceramic flattening stone for waterstones

Alan Hamilton

>Sanford,

I had similar difficulties while I was getting acquainted with mine. To deglaze mine I simply "flattened" a green stone--about a 250 grit stone, or thereabouts.

My problem was the amount of water I was using as I worked. Too little water left the tool glazed and it didn't cut at all well; too much water seemed to lubricate everything so then, too, it just didn't cut well.

I wound up experimenting quite a bit until I got the knack. The amount of water need not be very precise; in the ballpark will do fine.

Alan

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