Thread: What are you working on?

Much cheaper using loose sic, too.

As advised starting with loose low grit SiC will flatten arks in no time.

What have you marked your stone with ? Looks like Sharpie pen. If so the ink can absorb into a stone to varying depths giving you false readings.

I always use an 8B pencil just barely touched to the stone. Hate to lap off more than needed.

If you truly have a high spot in the middle it may be easier to flip the stone & try the other side. It's tricky to flatten otherwise as you will always be rocking on the high centre.

Sounds like loose grit is the way to go.

Yep, sharpie. Found the suggestion in a post. Didn't think about the ink soaking into the stone.

Not sure if the cleared grid from top right to bottom left is really a high spot as it matches my hone stroke with 99% of the blades I've had on this stone. Might be a polished area that didn't hold the ink. Good idea flipping the stone, that side has never seen steel.

On a hard ark the ink will not absorb into the stone. You should spin your stone every few laps to even out the pressure.

And no, those are high spots, not your hone stroke.

I also remark the stone a few times, to make sure that you are grinding the stone and removing the sharpie marks and it is not just the slurry removing the marks. Once the stone is flat all marks will come off in a few laps.

With loose grit, pencil will wash off quickly with the slurry.

Yes, it is easier to lap the flattest side, but if you do both sides, you can have a progression by burnishing one side. It is really not that difficult with loose grit.

Yes, as Marty said, be sure to rotate your stone after a bunch of strokes. Helps keep the wear area moving as its hard to make the preasure even with your hand.

Trying to turn one of these;

Out of this, freehand without anything more than the above pic for reference.

Slapped the green on just for fun before I final sand and shape.
Didn’t quite get the curve radius right, looks more grenade than beehive.
Hoping for a worn mottled green before I seal it up.
First try..knots a 26 mm 2 band bulb, very dense.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

With loose grit, pencil will wash off quickly with the slurry.

Pencil won't wash off waterstones. Don't know about arks as I never bothered with any grids on arks as the lapped area is obvious , at least to my eyes.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Pencil won't wash off waterstones.

This might be true, but the slurry you bring up while lapping will rub it off.

Mike, I think I like the more elongated look better. The knot looks good too.

Originally Posted by Gasman

This might be true, but the slurry you bring up while lapping will rub it off.

Just hasn't been my experience using a soft 8B pencil & I apply it with 2 fingers