Waterstones --- leave in water?

Re: Waterstones --- leave in water?

Ian Smith (Sydney Australia)

>I have a set of Norton waterstones (220, 1000, 4000 and 8000). I leave the 220, 1000 and 4000 in water all the time and just spray a bit of water on the 8000 when I go to use it. You just need to make sure you don't let the water freeze as this will destroy the stones. Freezing is not a problem where I am Sydney but it might be a problem for you, depending on where you live and whether or not your shop is heated.

Regards,

Ian.

Re: Waterstones --- leave in water?

John Todd

>I always hear the response 8000 doesn't NEED to be in water all the time. But I'm still not sure that it's OK to put them all in water all the time. If it's more convenient to store them all in some sort of water container and keep them together, IS THERE ANY HARM in having 8000 and depending on who you talk to 4000s in water all the time. I'd like somebody to tell me that except for freezing (which isn't an issue) it's always OK to store them in water and that they'll last as long and sharpen as well. Can somebody answer this for me?

The directions for Shaptons...

Ted Owen, Pittsburgh

>say not to store them in water, just soak them for a minute or two before use.

Best, Ted

Re: Info from LV

Dave Mount

>Lifted from waterstone instructions from the Lee Valley site:

"Japanese water stones are quite porous and are designed for use with water as a lubricant and flushing agent. In general, water stones should be filled with water (it takes about 5 minutes immersion) and then kept in a bucket of water or a plastic container so that they are ready for use at all times.

There are two exceptions to this practice. Natural water stones are not kept in water and the finer man-made water stones (6000x and 8000x) on wooden bases don�t have to be. They can be wetted a few minutes before use, and will function well."

Their choice of wording suggests that the fine grit synthetic stones "can" be stored wet, they just don't "have" to be.

I keep my 220, 800, and 4000 stones in a tupperware tub all the time (the 8000 lives dry). No problems in 2 years or so of constant storage in water. They can get a little grungy over time though -- I take them out, rinse them off, and change the water when it starts to get that way. Might be one advantage of storing them dry, although it's nice to just grab them and start sharpening when you need to.

FWIW,

Dave

Re: Info from LV

John Todd

>since mine are NORTON (man-made I believe) stones (purchased from LV) I'll assume then (until somebody tells me to change!) that's it's ok to store all of them together (including the 8000) in a water tub.

Re: Info from LV

Frank D. in Montreal

>I keep my Nortons in water all the time and they are fine (5 years so far). I prefer my 8000 when it is soaked.

Re: Info from LV

Norman (Metcalfe, Ont.)

>I keep all my stones in a hinged plastic clear container, more like a small tebletop tub. No issues to date, and they're always ready to go.

This is right at my sharpening station.

I do, however, replace the water once a month or so, it does get grungy.

Norman

Same here

Jim in Burlington On

>I have kept my Norton's including the 8000 in water for at least 5 years now. They cut faster after soaking. I do wash the sludge out of the container a few times a year.

Re: leave in water? sure

Thom D

>There are lots of waterstones on the market these days and I doubt anyone can guarantee them all. Back when Kings were pretty much it, it was said one shouldn't leave the finishing ones in the water. The main reasons were:

1) suggested it harmer the stones, which it did not;

2) Possibility harm might come to the wooden base, whihc is more than possible though I never had any problems:

3) The possibility that gungy stuff will grow in the water requiring bleach to keep things nice; Real possibility, so change the water, and don't leave them in there when you know you won't be using them for a while. I never had a problem where the gunge required more than just a light rinse of the stones.

I suspect the main reason this myth about stones persists is because people carry over the practices from natural stones, some of which are said to have disolved in water. All the artificial stones I have tried seem fine with indefinite immersion. I think they cut better when truly wet, but that isn't why I leave them immersed, the difference is not significant and is really just a mater of them being fully wet.

Getting back to the King stones, that was a simple time. One brand, almost universal agreement the finishing stones should not be left in water. Turned out to be nonsense.

Re: Info from LV

Thom D

>That is a slightly different conclusions - keeping all of them in the same water. You can contaminate stones that way. I think that is a slightly exagerated problem (keep in mind some considerable experts flaten dissimilar grits together, but still. I always found the water in the coarse stone pond got somewhat soupier, so I have a bucket, which is a two-holer mop bucket, and I keep them separated, But you don't have to. And the Stone Pond idea where they hang like bats in the water pretty much ensures they stay relatively fresh.