Thread: Sharpening Supplies Water Stones

Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

I don't mind soaking, except when I'm on the road. The vitrified bond is interesting, as is the ability to leave all the stones in water all the time. The latter makes me want to think they are similar to Norton stones, but I don't think the Nortons are vitrified--are they?

Nahh. Nortons are an old fashioned waterstone & quite soft. These sound something like Bester stones which are soakers but don't wear fast.

When I hear “vitrified bond” I think of Norton India stones but these are water stones. Interesting. I am not big on synthetics but this has me curious however at those prices I will wait for someone else to try them.

Originally Posted by Steel

When I hear “vitrified bond” I think of Norton India stones but these are water stones. Interesting. I am not big on synthetics but this has me curious however at those prices I will wait for someone else to try them.

Yes, someone posted a video here recently where a guy claimed that one could use oil on King water-stones, among other supposed no-nos. Then he went on to say how a vitrified hone best benefits from oil rather than water. That got me wondering about these once again.

I'm curious as well. Too bad they don't have a 12k.

Well, they're made in the US. Not sure who else it would be other than Norton.

I have a couple of very fine vitrified stones from Japan that are in the 4-6k range. They're old, though, and only one of them had oil on it at some point.

I've never invested in a dedicated synth progression. Normally, I trail off in the 3k-5k range, leaving the rest to naturals. Here, I'm thinking the intended progression might be 1k > 6k or 1k > 3k > 8k, not that I need to try another 1k > 6k combo. Silicon carbide lapping stones are generally poo-pooed, but even this double-sided (120x/320x) "double-time" lapping stone seems interesting. Only thing is, what to use to lap the lapping stone when the time comes.

Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

Here, I'm thinking the intended progression might be 1k > 6k or 1k > 3k > 8k, not that I need to try another 1k > 6k combo

Looks like they're encouraging the jump from 1k to 6k based on their bundle offering
https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/3...t-P1572C4.aspx
Obviously this setup is intended more for kitchen knives than razors. 1-6k is a little to much of a jump for my taste to be honest.

Originally Posted by Brontosaurus

....but even this double-sided (120x/320x) "double-time" lapping stone seems interesting. Only thing is, what to use to lap the lapping stone when the time comes.

I have actually run into this. I have become accustomed to using a crystolon stone to lap/refresh my Washita/Arkansas stones and I use loose grit SIC powder to lap the crystolon stone. I have only had to do this once in the past year but it seemed to bring it back to a high quality state in just a few minutes. I’m not sure what their “double time” stone is made of but the SIC may be an option.

Originally Posted by Steel

I have actually run into this. I have become accustomed to using a crystolon stone to lap/refresh my Washita/Arkansas stones and I use loose grit SIC powder to lap the crystolon stone. I have only had to do this once in the past year but it seemed to bring it back to a high quality state in just a few minutes. I’m not sure what their “double time” stone is made of but the SIC may be an option.

That's a good tip about the Crystolon stone used with SiC powder for Arks and maybe Indias. The "Double Time" stone consists of green silicon carbide, a little bit harder than black SiC according to their video clip.

Originally Posted by Butzy

Looks like they're encouraging the jump from 1k to 6k based on their bundle offering
https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/3...t-P1572C4.aspx
Obviously this setup is intended more for kitchen knives than razors. 1-6k is a little to much of a jump for my taste to be honest.

I've gotten by pretty well with a Suehiro 1k/6k combo followed by a pasted strop; but yeah, I agree that the intention is for knives and woodworking tools--it's stated as such in the description. But then, what synth honing progression in the 1k to 8k range has been manufactured with straight-razors in mind, rather than knives and woodworking tools?