Thread: Improvised or DIY hones

Well, I think the soap and toothbrush idea may have worked, I can post pictures as soon as my camera is located, missing again after trying to take pics of the house for sale, I'll miss my old shop.

Something more "professional" and repeatable that I was thinking, using a clay medium to bind an abrasive. I have a large quantity of pure bentonite clay, but I don't know if the clay itself will act as an abrasive and limit the size of abrasive I could use in the "stone". I've heard of clay bound synthetic waterstones (aren't most actually made of clay or ceramic binders now) but don't know if it's a special kind of clay. Does anyone know where to find powdered abrasives? I was considering taking this hobby up again full force making my own abrasive, using a water separation theory I had to sort the grain size, powdering perhaps some rusted steel in my ball mill, that should give some fine edges if I can get it to work right.

Some people call it silly to take it this far, and for them it is, but for me and a few other people I think it can be a great way to not only try to reach your full potential as a craftsman, but also to take full pride in the work that we've done and the things we create.