Thread: Question on hone wetness

I soak my Norton 1k for about 30 min prior to honing. As I am honing to start a bevel I add water a little at a time but the stone seems to soak it up and after about 4 strokes there is very little standing water to displace. I can keep adding water, but it seems to get an edge better if I let it get kind of dry. By dry I mean wet but with very little standing water on top. Should I be adding more water or is it ok to hone with a stone without much water on top?

its a trade off (imho) You may hone "faster" with less water, but you may need to flatten more often I have been known to start with less water, then finish with more. The edge just seems a tad smoother to me with more water on the stone

Your Norton 1k will continue to drink water, like a thirsty man in the desert.
I keep a spray bottle close, to give it a little dampness & a cup of water available to flush the metal transfer after a cycle. I hone in a "home-made" water sharpening pond.

As to the question of adding or withholding water, this is for you to discover , as you hone different types of steel & grinds. I do not believe there is an exact answer to this question, but other members, with more experience, will be by before long.

Those lower grit stones will absorb water even after hours in a tub. All you need is for the surface to be well wet. Some like to drown it I know. I don't think that's necessary.

I like a little puddle of water on top. For the norton that requires a long soak, then a spray bottle nearby.

Michael

The Norton 1K will soak up water even after a 24 hour soak and continual spraying. As long as it is somewhat moist, I don't worry about it. As you move to the 4K, you'll find it easier to retain some water on the top of the stone. That's just the nature of a 1K grit.

Cool. I am starting to get some good edges on some of my ebay razors. Especially the Sheffield steel blades. Most I can get shave ready with not much of a problem but I got a Double Duck today and am having a hell of a time putting an edge on it. I know DD's have a great reputation, but do you guys find them a little difficult to hone or is this just my inexperience?

or, it was buffed by a madman with a dremel tool, and the temper is gone from it (so im a doomsayer, sue me!)

It doesn't look like it has been buffed too much, but you can never tell.

Serious though, I had a hard time getting my Goldedge set. you gotta go easy on the pressure. They dont seem to like it when you press on em!