Sharpening/ honing stones

[formariz 11,987]

It is surprising how little attention is paid to honing or sharpening stones even amongst many craftsman. There seems also to be a certain lack of knowledge about the different types and their advantages or disadvantages. They are as important as the tools that they used on. There are many different ways of sharpening edge tools but if one wants consistent predictable results , the proper honing stone used correctly is the key to it.

 

 Honing or sharpening stones are either man made or natural . They can be so called oil stones or water stones. With the oil stones a light oil or kerosene is used to lubricate stone and prevent the metal particles from clogging it. Water can also be used for that purpose but once oil is used one should not change to water. Personally I prefer kerosene. I’ll describe only the three major types available. 
 

Norton is probably the biggest and best manufacturer of oil stones. They come essentially in three grits . Coarse, medium and fine. All grits are either India Stones made out of Aluminum Oxide, or Crystolon Stones made out of Silicon carbide. Indias are usually orange in color and Crystolons are gray. 
 Below is Norton’s Multistone system . Stones are 2-1/2”x12” and are kept in a kerosene bath.

India Fine

Crystlon Medium

Crystolon Rough

 

Japanese water stones are also man made. They come in many different grits much finer than any other man made stone. They use strictly water since the water creates a slurry which provides more efficient cutting. They are messy due the water and the slurry created. They also need frequent maintenance since they are soft and wear quickly. They require considerable knowledge and experience to be used effectively. They are probably the best sharpening stones bar none. They are expensive and not recommended as a beginner stone.

Japanese 4000 grit stone 

 

With natural stones the name to mention is Arkansas. They are quarried here in the US from geological formations of Novaculite. They are the most durable stones and quite expensive. Minimal maintenance is required since they are so hard. However since they are a natural product there are inconsistencies within the same stone different areas of it may cut more or less aggressively. Their grades are Soft (white with grayish patterns), Hard (white), Surgical Black ( black) and Translucent White. The last two are some of the finest stones available. They are extremely expensive overall size and thickness being a big factor in that.

The Rolls Royces of honing stones. Arkansas Surgical Black, and Arkansas White Translucent.

These are a full inch thick and 2x6 inches. One inch thick Arkansas are today extremely hard to come by and very expensive. 99% of all Arkansas are 1/2” thick only. The advantage of the one inch thick stone is that it will not break easily like the half inch stone will and when sharpening narrow carving tools one uses the edges of the stone so as not to gouge stone with the very narrow tool. 

Arkansas Combination. Soft this side

Arkansas Combination . Hard white this side.

Edited June 12, 2022 by formariz

[JoeM 7,874]

@formariz if you have not or not working on one, you really need to write a book.

tons of good info.

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

Now I need to find that box with the stones and see what I've got !  Thanks Cas !

 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,557]

Thanks for the info!!! 

 

How about a short video on how to correctly sharpen a good old pocket knife? Lots of different techniques out there. I’d be interested to hear yours…

[formariz 11,987]

1 hour ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Thanks for the info!!! 

 

How about a short video on how to correctly sharpen a good old pocket knife? Lots of different techniques out there. I’d be interested to hear yours…

Sure .Finishing off the next section of this one which is using and maintaining stones . Then it will be the actual sharpening in which i will  include a variety of tools knifes included. 

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

Cas, is this some sort of strop?  It's about 16" long.  Down by where the handle goes it's labeled "Hirsch".  That's the only marking I could find.

 

        

 

Then there's this stone with a handle, about 6" long tip to tip... no markings found.  Where and how used?

 

 

 

[formariz 11,987]

2 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

Cas, is this some sort of strop?  It's about 16" long.  Down by where the handle goes it's labeled "Hirsch".  That's the only marking I could find.

 

        

 

Then there's this stone with a handle, about 6" long tip to tip... no markings found.  Where and how used?

 

 

 

Both are Butcher’s tools. First one is a Butcher’s Steel. Used to hone knives. There is a specific skill associated with using it . A sight to admire when done by a professional. The other one is a butchers sharpening stone. 
 Butchers constantly touch up their knives as they work without going to another area to sharpen them. These tools allow that right where they work.

Edited June 23, 2022 by formariz

[Jeff-C175 7,202]

3 hours ago, formariz said:

Butcher’s tools

 

That's interesting because to my knowledge none of the forebears ever butchered anything... well, except for the FIL (God Rest his Soul).  That man could butcher laying a block wall, and I look at the proof every day!  

 

Any guesses as to the age of these?

 

 

Edited June 23, 2022 by Jeff-C175

[formariz 11,987]

5 hours ago, Jeff-C175 said:

Any guesses as to the age of these?

The handled stone is from the 50s. The Steel cannot really tell since it is missing handle. It is a German brand of high quality.