Thread: Soaking Norton Waterstones

The norton 4/8K soak for a month for about twenty minutes before using it. After the month is over you really just need to dip it in water for a few minutes and it works fine, the 8K side of the Norton does not need to be soaked at all if that's all you need to use that day.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

And just to confuse the issue, my norton 4/8 has been almost permanently soaking in water since the day I bought it (minus a month or two here and there) in 2006. I do change the water on a regular basis though. Nortons don't look good in green.

James.

You can put a cap of clorox in the water...

My Norton lives in water all the time, with a little clorox. The bleach turned the bright yellow 8k side to a sort of burnt orange, but that hasn't affected it in any other way. No disintegration or hardening.

My old 1k/6k did have a corner blow off during a freeze once. Do bring them in from the garage when it gets cold!