Thread: The effects of slurry

I've gotten what seem like contradictory accounts. So I'll ask here: does using a slurry increase the effective 'roughness' of the stone, or does it simply increase cutting speed? Or is it one way for some stones and the other for some others?

Stones such as the coticule, Escher/Thuringan, Tam 'O Shanter are routinely used with slurry for part of the process to increase the cutting speed. The abrasive suspends in the liquid vehicle and is more effective at cutting the steel than when it is fixed in the binder of the stone. Usually used for part of the process and gradually diluted to clean water or rinsed and finished with clean water. IME.

True. But yes, slurry often also renders the effect to that of a lower grit hone, hence the finishing with plain water. Slurry particles of some hones break down during and by the process of honing, effectively rendering honing progressively finer.

Originally Posted by Oldengaerde

True. But yes, slurry often also renders the effect to that of a lower grit hone, hence the finishing with plain water. Slurry particles of some hones break down during and by the process of honing, effectively rendering honing progressively finer.

Do we know whether this is definitely the case with the C12k and/or the Norton series?

I was looking at nortons the other day a saw a slurry stone for them. Does it do the same? Do you need it? Is there any need to buy one?

Of course, just to be contradictory, using a Japanese natural hone with slurry will act to increase the grit a bit as the particles in the slurry break down and become smaller with use. So, it seems like one shouldn't rinse off all the slurry because you want to grind it into smaller parrticles as you use the hone.

on my chosera 1k , slurry= faster cutting speed, the finish with or without slurry is the same. On my Japanese nat finisher slurry = faster speed, again no difference in finish with or without slurry.

Originally Posted by Slamthunderide

I was looking at nortons the other day a saw a slurry stone for them. Does it do the same? Do you need it? Is there any need to buy one?

I've never had the slurry stone for the Norton. I think it is a nagura ? I read on forum posts early on that it wasn't necessary or desirable. Might have even read that it was more to clean swarf than to generate slurry IIRC. Maybe someone that knows what they're talking about will chime in.