Quote Originally Posted by kcb5150 View Post
That's really cool. I've used chisels to break in a trans ark after lapping, but I haven't done much with washitas. I had a NO. 1 norton awhile back and some other examples. The cutting power on them calms down quite a bit with use if you don't refresh the surface. The no 1 actually cut rather fine
I've had a couple of no 1s. They can be all over the place, but all of them cut quickly if you lap the surface, and they make a nice razor bevel setter. If they are left to settle in, they do a good job pre polishing and they can work as a razor hone in a pinch, but probably not for beginners.

Anyway, they make a wonderful tool stone, but few people use them because most of them are unlabeled, the labeled ones are expensive, and it's probably difficult for a beginner to get much out of them. Such is any hobby worth doing, I guess - it takes some time to develop the skill, and if it didn't, there wouldn't be much satisfaction.