Quote Originally Posted by MrHouston View Post
[...] what if I want to use the other side some day?
Wanting to use the other side is a consideration, but given that I usually only hone on a flat surface, I don't miss having a second side because it would just mean letting two sides go out of flat before lapping. But that's just how I use mine.

I suppose that if I maintained more convex grinds, I could want to have one curved side, and one flat. Or if I purposefully groomed one side of a high-grit stone to have deeper scratch patterns than the other, more refined side -- that too, I guess. And maybe if I kept one side rigorously flat for razors, chisels and plane irons, and used the other, irregular side for knives and rough work, somewhat like you describe. etc... Honestly, my own main reservation is that once in a blue moon I use a 1 inch-wide side on some thicker hones for something; that wouldn't work with having 5 sides sealed either...

Still, I have several thick 1000-ish King stones which I could use; so I won't miss being able to turn one on its side if this works.

More importantly, as concerns the more "delicate" magnesia-based synthetics like the high-grit Choseras and the Snow White, which really are the main impetus for this pursuit, I reckon that I would prefer those be attached to bases to prevent breakage as much as possible anyway. In which case not being able to use the other sides due to sealing is moot.

Regardless, I'm not too bullish about defending this as practical... Hopefully I'll learn something and my hones won't be any worse for the wear. Anything beyond I'll just call gravy and be happy.