Sharpening Stones thread

A place to share, learn, & show off sharpening tips, tricks, techniques, & tools for sharpening edges of all kinds.
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royal0014
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by royal0014 »

TripleF wrote: Wed Jun 21, 2023 1:50 pmIs this a sharpening device?
Yup, it is. Available in different grits . . . .
https://knifeworks.com/eze-lap-pocket-d ... dium-grit/
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by TripleF »

royal0014 wrote: Thu Jun 22, 2023 12:22 pm
TripleF wrote: Wed Jun 21, 2023 1:50 pmIs this a sharpening device?
Yup, it is. Available in different grits . . . .
https://knifeworks.com/eze-lap-pocket-d ... dium-grit/
Thx. But this piece is more like a hunk of steel. Totally smooth and heavy. Not like any stone I've ever seen...
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by C-WADE7 »

TripleF wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:40 am
royal0014 wrote: Thu Jun 22, 2023 12:22 pm
TripleF wrote: Wed Jun 21, 2023 1:50 pmIs this a sharpening device?
Yup, it is. Available in different grits . . . .
https://knifeworks.com/eze-lap-pocket-d ... dium-grit/
Thx. But this piece is more like a hunk of steel. Totally smooth and heavy. Not like any stone I've ever seen...
It’s definitely a ez-lap with a hook groove, I have an identical one(somewhere). It is steel, a plate coated in fine diamond grit, they are very fine and do get smoother with use. Wash it with a little dawn soap and a tooth brush and feel it again with your fingernail.
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by TripleF »

C-WADE7 wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 12:43 pm
TripleF wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:40 am
royal0014 wrote: Thu Jun 22, 2023 12:22 pm
Yup, it is. Available in different grits . . . .
https://knifeworks.com/eze-lap-pocket-d ... dium-grit/
Thx. But this piece is more like a hunk of steel. Totally smooth and heavy. Not like any stone I've ever seen...
It’s definitely a ez-lap with a hook groove, I have an identical one(somewhere). It is steel, a plate coated in fine diamond grit, they are very fine and do get smoother with use. Wash it with a little dawn soap and a tooth brush and feel it again with your fingernail.
Did it. Thanks.
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by C-WADE7 »

TripleF wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 6:50 pm Did it. Thanks.
Any luck,Could you feel any grit? I have a cheaper coast brand one that’s worn out, can’t even hardly feel it but it still kind of sharpens.
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by TripleF »

C-WADE7 wrote: Sat Jun 24, 2023 1:14 am
TripleF wrote: Fri Jun 23, 2023 6:50 pm Did it. Thanks.
Any luck,Could you feel any grit? I have a cheaper coast brand one that’s worn out, can’t even hardly feel it but it still kind of sharpens.
No, didn't feel any grit but it seemed to sharpen ok. ::tu::
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by Dinadan »

TripleF wrote: Wed Jun 21, 2023 1:50 pm Not sure what the beat up sheath reads,b ut the hunk of metal has a groove down the middle....

Is this a sharpening device?
I have never seen one of those myself. I immediately thought hook sharpener because of the groove, but the idea of a diamond coated steel sharpener is new to me. Great info, Wade.
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by C-WADE7 »

Dinadan wrote: Tue Jun 27, 2023 9:52 pm
I have never seen one of those myself. I immediately thought hook sharpener because of the groove, but the idea of a diamond coated steel sharpener is new to me. Great info, Wade.
They work very well. I have a set of DMT brand sharpening plates (6”) that came in a nice wood box. They are double sided very coarse/coarse and fine/very fine. It’s the only way to go for D2 and s30v steel knives. I use a lot of Norton and Arkansas stones for other stuff but the s30v is tough on those stones, where the diamond plates cut fast.
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by TripleF »

I assume this is some sort of sharpening stone.....It's oval in shape the entire length.
Just wanted to share.....will be listing on ebay in a few.
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by Mumbleypeg »

TripleF wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 3:28 pm I assume this is some sort of sharpening stone.....It's oval in shape the entire length.
Just wanted to share.....will be listing on ebay in a few.
Nice find Scott. Those are for sharpening a sickle or scythe. I think they still make them for that purpose. I used to have a few sickles, but when our boys were teenagers, for some reason they all disappeared. ::hmm:: ::shrug::

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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by TripleF »

Mumbleypeg wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 4:01 pm
TripleF wrote: Thu Jun 29, 2023 3:28 pm I assume this is some sort of sharpening stone.....It's oval in shape the entire length.
Just wanted to share.....will be listing on ebay in a few.
Nice find Scott. Those are for sharpening a sickle or scythe. I think they still make them for that purpose. I used to have a few sickles, but when our boys were teenagers, for some reason they all disappeared. ::hmm:: ::shrug::

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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by orvet »

Nice one Scott! Often when I see them they have a crack in the middle of the stone.
Ones I have seen broken have a wire in the center. I guess they are a composite stone formed around a wire core. Nice find! ::tu::
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by pitonyak »

Rdubya21 wrote: Wed Sep 14, 2022 1:14 pm 3E1CB3AE-DC63-407B-805F-FF087E57E598.jpeg

E0C87048-F812-4D8C-98D0-4760BD05A5A0.jpeg

Just got this at flea market for 5 bucks . Came here to find what it is . I believe it is an old Washita . It seems to be between a hard and soft. Box and stone were covered in oil , but cleaned up nice . Even dished as it is , it’s dead on flat and square across the stone . Thinkin it was used for razors or previous owner was very consistent in his use of it . Glad Scott started this thread ! ::tu::
If you live near the middle of Ohio and you want to flatten your stone, let me know. You just need to go slow and easy, but I have the glass and crystals needed to flatten those.
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by C-WADE7 »

pitonyak wrote: Wed Jul 26, 2023 5:01 pm If you live near the middle of Ohio and you want to flatten your stone, let me know. You just need to go slow and easy, but I have the glass and crystals needed to flatten those.
What is the process and do you have pictures of what you use? I have seen diamond plates for flattening stones but I assumed they are usually used on aluminum oxide or India type stones. I enjoyed your sharpening post very throughly described. I’ve tried many thinks but go back to doing them by hand on stones.
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by pitonyak »

C-WADE7 wrote: Thu Jul 27, 2023 12:12 am What is the process and do you have pictures of what you use? I have seen diamond plates for flattening stones but I assumed they are usually used on aluminum oxide or India type stones. I enjoyed your sharpening post very throughly described. I’ve tried many thinks but go back to doing them by hand on stones.
carbide crystals on glass. Use a little water. Be very careful that you use even pressure and check often as you move because it is really easy to take from where you do not want it.

Lee Valley sells both the glass and the silicone carbide crystals, but I have also purchased two pound bags for much cheaper on amazon; for example,

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YDFGJGW

Most any glass company can sell you the float glass, or, again, you can simply buy it from lee valley in one package.

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/to ... em=05M2012

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/to ... ping-grits

Not able to take photos at the moment, but I did take photos when I did it last, don't think I kept them (can't find them). The process is easy, however.

sprinkle some water on the glass.

Sprinkle some grit on the glass. Coarser grit is faster, but leaves a coarser surface on the stone, so keep that in mind. For a stone like that I probably want coarser, but you can also change-up the grit that you are using, just keep careful track of what you are doing.

The stone in the photo was the best case in that it is hollow in the middle, so that the outer bits will rest easily on the glass as you move the stone in random patterns back and forth, side to side, circles, etc.

I start by marking the stone with pencil and then look to see where the stone wears down. It is much more difficult to remove a hump in the middle of the stone because the stone wants to rock. Easiest solution is constant checking to make sure you do not get it there.
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by pitonyak »

C-WADE7 wrote: Thu Jul 27, 2023 12:12 am What is the process and do you have pictures of what you use? I have seen diamond plates for flattening stones but I assumed they are usually used on aluminum oxide or India type stones. I enjoyed your sharpening post very throughly described. I’ve tried many thinks but go back to doing them by hand on stones.
One last thought, these stones can really tear up your diamond plates, so that can be very expensive as you go through your diamond plates.
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by C-WADE7 »

Thanks for the info! Most of my stones are in good shape though I have a couple Arkansas stines that were my dads that have a dip in the center.
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by pitonyak »

Dinadan wrote: Sun Feb 01, 2015 3:36 pm Good selection you have there, Stayinsharp.

I have kind of wanted one of these Boker Whittlers for a few months. Recently came across this one at with the stone at a good price. The stone feels like a nice medium or slightly coarse grain. I do like that wavy pattern.
The stone looks identical to the lats available Norton Washita Arkansas Stones that I saw

https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/Nort ... P1880.aspx

No longer available, they sold out what they had them back in 2020.

Norton Item Number: WS688
Norton Part Number: 66253054131

I think that I have three of them.

They were discussed at length on the Sawmillcreek (woodworking) forum. I did not post a link because some forums do not allow linking to other forums.

These behaved differently from any other Washita that I own.
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by Dinadan »

pitonyak wrote: Tue Aug 01, 2023 6:16 pm
Dinadan wrote: Sun Feb 01, 2015 3:36 pm Good selection you have there, Stayinsharp.

I have kind of wanted one of these Boker Whittlers for a few months. Recently came across this one at with the stone at a good price. The stone feels like a nice medium or slightly coarse grain. I do like that wavy pattern.
The stone looks identical to the lats available Norton Washita Arkansas Stones that I saw

https://www.sharpeningsupplies.com/Nort ... P1880.aspx

No longer available, they sold out what they had them back in 2020.

Norton Item Number: WS688
Norton Part Number: 66253054131

I think that I have three of them.

They were discussed at length on the Sawmillcreek (woodworking) forum. I did not post a link because some forums do not allow linking to other forums.

These behaved differently from any other Washita that I own.
I have never actually used that stone. I have several other stones so I just left that one pristine. Any chance of some photos of your stones?
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by pitonyak »

Dinadan wrote: Wed Aug 02, 2023 12:44 am Any chance of some photos of your stones?
Lets start with my newest Washita stones from Norton. The four stones of the same size (one is in a wooden box that I made are all the "new" stock that I was able to purchase a few years back (near December 2020 I think). The one in the box is used and is colored from the oil. Even these four have different patterns and coloring. This matches pretty closely those of some Soft Arkansas stones that I see from say Smith. Note that the WB-6, which is one of the newer Norton Washita stones and it vaguely looks like a Lily White to me.
01_new_washita.jpg
Next I have some Norton Washita stones labeled as No. 1. The stone in the African Mahogany case is older back when it was just Pike rather than Norton. This one looks like a Lily White to me, but it is labeled No. 1 Quality.
02_no1_washita.jpg
Here are three different Lily White stones. The bottom Left I purchased from a museum when they were getting rid of their woodworking display. Notice that the two pike Lily White stones appear discolored as opposed to the Norton stone that is white. I do not think that any of the Lily White stones here were actually used (ever).
03_lily_white_washita.jpg
It was explained to me once that only Norton can sell a true Washita and I forget the reason for that (I probably have it written down somewhere so if you really want to know, ask me and I will see if I can find it). That said, these are Washita stones sold by Buck, Case, and two from Hiram A. Smith.
04_washita_not_Norton.jpg
I accidentally purchased on a Washita that look very much like all of the Washita stones that I see for sale in the UK. It was lightly dished so I flattened it. This came in a wooden box that was in horrible condition so i made a new box (and saved the old and marked what it came with). This is one of my favorite stones to use. Some of the Norton stones I do not use just because they are so collectible. Even fresh (meaning after I wore down the surface to flatten it) there was an orange-ish color to the stone.
05_unknown_washita.jpg
To get a feel for how some other stones look, consider this (top to bottom) Surgical Black, hard, and Soft Arkansas stone from Best Arkansas Stones. These all look different.
06_best_arkansas.jpg
Now my stones from Dan's Whetstones; they have my favorite Arkansas stones.
Top to bottom I think I have Black, Hard, and Soft. The stone on the right is a translucent. I did not include a picture of their True hard stone which is supposed to sit between Black and Translucent. Note that you can shine a light through the translucent.
07_dans_arkansas_stones.jpg
There are actual standards based on the Specific Gravity (think how dense is this stone) to categorize an Arkansas stone. Each company seems to have different names for their different stones and where they rank.

Dans ranks their stones Soft, Hard, True Hard, Translucent, and Black.

Preyda ranks their stones Soft, Hard, hard Black, Translucent, Surgical Black.

Best ranks their stones Soft, hard, Black Surgical, and then Translucent.

Best claims that although their Translucent stone has a lower specific gravity than their Black stone, that it produces a finer edge.

Enough for now and I will resist the idea of posting more stone pictures.
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by C-WADE7 »

pitonyak wrote: Wed Aug 02, 2023 10:47 pm Lets start with my newest Washita stones from Norton.
I bought these stones at a garage sale a while back. The larger white one in the wood box I believe to be a Washita. The smaller in the lid I believe is a soft Arkansas. What’s your opinion?
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by pitonyak »

C-WADE7 wrote: Thu Aug 03, 2023 10:17 pm I bought these stones at a garage sale a while back. The larger white one in the wood box I believe to be a Washita. The smaller in the lid I believe is a soft Arkansas. What’s your opinion?
The larger white one sure looks like a Washita to me.

The smaller one could be Soft or hard.

Note that you can probably go directly to hard from a Washita with no problem.
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by Dinadan »

You have quite a collection of stones, Pitonyak. Thanks for posting them. I like the labels on some of those old stones.

Wade, smaller stone looks just like a couple of my soft Arkansas stones. The larger one is hard to say from the photo, for me.
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by pitonyak »

Dinadan wrote: Fri Aug 04, 2023 1:27 am You have quite a collection of stones, Pitonyak. Thanks for posting them. I like the labels on some of those old stones.
Yeah, I love those old labels. The problem is with those old labels I do not want to use the stones :mrgreen:
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Re: Sharpening Stones thread

Post by 1967redrider »

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