Is Soaking Stones Needed?

[Euclid440]

Do you really need to soak your stones?

My go to stones are Chosera 1k, Norton 4/8K and 12K Super Stone.

I used to soak my Norton’s but found it messy and just was not necessary. I could find no difference in performance.

The Chosera and Super Stones are splash and go, I do soak the Chosera when in use to loosen swarf and keep clean, a few minutes of soaking make them ready for use.

Norton’s I find are ready to go with just 10-15 minutes of soaking. I do soak them while in use, or better said in a pond during honing while not in use. Super Stone I splash with a squirt bottle, not spray, no soak for them.
I store all my stones dry.

Unless honing daily, is there a benefit to storing stones in water?

What are your thoughts and experience?

[Geezer]

Do you really need to soak your stones?
...snip...
Unless honing daily, is there a benefit to storing stones in water?
What are your thoughts and experience?

With the changes in the formulation of some stones ( Naniwa Chosera) I recommend against it. The stones with the new binder will develop cracks quickly. Many stones will change color due to the migration of binders. King/ Ice Bear are notorious for that. I found out the hard way. A buddy with lots of time in honing stored his hones in eater. I tried it with newer stones of the same manufacture.

The water, also, can develop some really nasty bacteria. If you are not a potter, don't do it!

Natural stones do not need a soak.

Read the manufacturer's web pages to see their recommendations, not the seller's!
~Richard

[10Pups]

Your spot on Marty. I soak my Nortons so I can grab and go. Everything else sits dry waiting for a quick splash.
I did a little experiment when I first got my Nortons and when dry , without soaking they drink water like crazy. This lead me to believe that fine particles might also soak in eventually clogging up the pores if you didn't soak them first. 15 minutes is plenty of soak time before you start honing from what I have read.

We don't have to worry about it but I would think temperature changes, with water in the stone, would be harmful if not fatal.

[JimmyHAD]

Having the single grit 4k and 8k nortons I was pleased to see the instructions say the 8k does not require soaking. I keep my 4k in a rubbermade container sealed with water just covering it. Since no air gets in no algae forms. I give Choseras a 5 to 15 minute soak. I know a lot of guys just 'splash and go' but I figure the manufacturer gives the instructions for a reason. So far so good.

[JeffR]

I soak my no-name water stones for only 30 seconds or so at the recommendation of the seller. Every minute or so I give then a dunk back in the water to wash off the swarf; they seem to stay wet enough work ok that way. I don't store them in water.

But mostly I use oil stones; that's just how I roll...

[thebigspendur]

I've always found the low grit nortons keep drinking water no matter how long you keep them immersed. I've never done it on a permanent basis but even after several hours they still absorb water like crazy.

[onimaru55]

Do you really need to soak your stones?

I think it tells you in the instructions .

Kidding aside. There are stones like the King, Bester, Kasumi, etc, that can double as a sponge so yeh some stones I'd soak.

[Blistersteel]

I soak my 800 to 1200 grit kings.4k and up I do not.