Thread: Soaking Nortons ?

Need some opinions. I have an aquaintence who is a knifemaker. He saw my workshop the other day and I had some norton combo stones soaking in distilled water. He was horrified to learn that they are continuously soaking like that and have been for a couple of years except for a water change every couple months. He insists that I am Ruining them by constant immersion. I haven't noticed any change in the way they hone razors. If anything they are better than new. Am I wrecking them? This fellow couldn't tell me how that works. Just that it does. Hmmm.

Originally Posted by Highwayman

Need some opinions. I have an aquaintence who is a knifemaker. He saw my workshop the other day and I had some norton combo stones soaking in distilled water. He was horrified to learn that they are continuously soaking like that and have been for a couple of years except for a water change every couple months. He insists that I am Ruining them by constant immersion. I haven't noticed any change in the way they hone razors. If anything they are better than new. Am I wrecking them? This fellow couldn't tell me how that works. Just that it does. Hmmm.

I only know what I have researched. But nortons are the ONLY stones that continuous immersion may be ok. Lynn does it for his. Other stones they may crack. You may have to add a small amount of chlorine bleach to keep the water and stones clean from microbes. But I don't know why he would say that about nortons. Maybe he was afraid that the binder over time will degrade. But there are many honing masters here that do that and they don't claim any adverse effects of the nortons continuously immersed.

Originally Posted by Highwayman

He saw my workshop the other day and I had some norton combo stones soaking in distilled water. He was horrified to learn that they are continuously soaking like that and have been for a couple of years except for a water change every couple months. I haven't noticed any change in the way they hone razors. If anything they are better than new.

I am not quite sure if it can be put any better then you already have,,,

Thanks . As I said it's something I have done for a couple of years and haven't noticed any harm to the stones. Always good to ask though.

One of my older Norton 4k/8k combos that is still around and worn down to pretty much a thin 8k has been soaking in water for around a decade. It still does the same job as my newer Nortons. I haven't seen any performance change in it, so it will be fine to leave it soaking for at least the next 10 years.

Oh and I just calculated it up.

If you are not adding any bleach this will get you around the disinfection concentration of most tap water (2.0 mg/L). More than double amount this and the chlorine could be reactive and irritating to skin. Also note that the moment you put the stone in the water the chlorine will be absorbed into the stone material and the water will need to be changed in about an hour so that the concentration of Cl2 will stay around that level. After the initial water change keep the water away from direct sunlight and just change it out every week or two and that will keep the water from growing unwanted critters that may make your stones their home

For Clorox (6% Bleach)
1/4 tsp of Bleach per 1 gallon distilled water

For Cheap Brand Bleach (2%)
3/4 tsp per 1 Gallon Distilled water

I have been using a Veritas Stone Pond which I acquired from Joe Chandler many years ago. Works like a charm, and is great for storing. Also for honing, what with those aluminium holder thingies. No negative effects to be detected so far. And those Nortons have been seeing next to no use for months on end.

I have two Japanese made 800 and 1200 stones that are 30 years old and have been in water continuously (except when we were moving) with no ill effects.