Thread: Natural Stone Magic\Natural Steel

Over the past year or so, natural stones have replaced many of my synthetic stones especially at the finishing stages. Who can fault the squigee smooth edge of German water stones, or the silky velvet edge left by Jnats.

I have found them at their best with carbon steel blades. Repeatedly, I have gotten good edges on SS blades, but some how there is still something just shy of perfect when these amalgumated Chromide steels resist the magic of naturals. For these modern steels, Synthetic stones still give me the best edge. Anyone else find this to be true?

A half baked but documented hypothesis, could be that the weak acid Hydrogen phosphate salts in naturals are indeed part of the natural magic, and the SS alloys resist whatever action this mild chemical action transforms the carbon steels?

If that idea holds any merrit, carbon steels are literaly "organic" by nature, what better marraige then they should be harmonious with their natural stone mates.