Why can t stones be kept at home?

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Look All sharpening stones

Classification of sharpening stones

• Synthetic stones are divided according to the type of material into water, ceramic and diamond.
• Natural stones work with water or oil.

The wide selection of stones is also due to the different grain sizes of abrasive stones. This allows you to remove chips, remove minor damage, and bring the sharpened surface to “zero.”
In practice, water stones are more often used.

The popularity of manual sharpening is easily explained:

• The hardness and edge of the steel does not deteriorate because no heat is generated.
• A huge selection of grain sizes allows for any fine sharpening.
• Precise cutting geometry (no rounded chamfer surfaces such as felt or rubber discs).
• No expensive equipment needed.
• In their practice, Masters reach perfection!

How to Make Dull Blades Sharp: Dull blades have a rounded edge on the cutting edge, therefore, when sharpening, it is necessary to remove material from the chamfer surfaces to again achieve the perfect “intersection” of the 2 planes of the blade chamfer.

Grain

The grain size indicates the fineness of the abrasive. In Europe, it is determined by the number of cells per square inch of the filter mesh. For example, a 500 grit abrasive is equivalent to a filter mesh that has 500 meshes per square inch.
In some cases, grain size is also expressed as the size of the abrasive particles in microns (= 1/1000 mm). This characteristic is measured in grits (European standard) and determines the purpose of the stone:

• Stone grits 80-220 are used for rough processing: rough processing of shapes, grinding grooves or chips.
• 800-2000 – for sharpening the cutting edge.
• 3000-12000 – for cleaning and polishing.

Synthetic water stones

These are the most popular and productive abrasive stones. They have an open-pore microstructure with the inclusion of homogeneous particles; the abrasive grain is quickly crushed. Requires correction when worn.

Structure of synthetic abrasive stones

Sharpening stones mainly consist of a binder (matrix) interspersed with abrasive particles (alumina, carbides, natural semi-precious stones, diamond dust). The effectiveness of the stone depends on the combination of the hardness of the binder and the quality of the abrasive particles. The binding agents used in synthetic water stones are generally dye-like substances, whose hardness can be determined by composition and firing temperature level.

Abrasive stone materials

Silicon carbide abrasive is very effective and is therefore used for coarse abrasive stones, while corundum is used for finer abrasive stones.

Binder

The soft bond allows the abrasive particles to be constantly exposed during use, making the stone very effective. These stones are ideal for extremely hard low alloy steels.
Tool steels with coarse-grained alloy components (for example, chromium and vanadium) require a stone that wears slower and holds its shape longer. The binder is stronger – the stone remains flat longer.

HOW TO USE SYNTHETIC WATER STONES

Before use, stones must be soaked in water for 10-15 minutes.

Water serves as a washing medium, which prevents clogging of the stone pores with abrasive particles and preserves its abrasive properties. If it is not sufficiently rinsed with water, the abrasive debris becomes a paste that reduces the abrasive properties of the stone.
ON A NOTE! Professionals actively use this fact. By using it, they achieve a finer abrasion, compensating for the large steps in grit when moving from a coarser stone to a fine-grained stone.

Most aqueous (water) stones have a fairly soft, open-pore compound that continually exposes fresh abrasive particles during sharpening, resulting in high efficiency. As a result of wear, regular adjustment of water stones is required.

Article: MT #CR-3800 / Di 711024

Combined Japanese water stone on a stand 1000 / 3000 183 x 63 x 32 mm Suehiro New Cerax CR-3800

Ceramic stones

A relative innovation are ceramic water stones with particularly high wear resistance for professional use. Ceramic stones have a very strong bond and show little wear. However, to achieve good sharpening performance, it is necessary to use very high quality and wear-resistant abrasive particles (such as Shapton).
Shapton ceramic stones hardly absorb water. With them, 1 minute of soaking is enough.

• Ceramic Japanese water stone Shapton 8000 210 x 70 mm 711607 М00000602
• Ceramic Japanese water stone Shapton 220 210*70 mm 711601 M00000596

diamond stones

As an alternative to Japanese water stones, you can use diamond sharpening stones. In these whetstones, abrasive diamond granules are deposited in a nickel matrix as a thin layer on a metal substrate. They provide high flatness, durability, provided that the diamonds are of high quality (monocrystalline). The diamonds are applied to an extremely flat, warp-resistant and unbreakable base plate. Thus, diamond stones are extremely wear-resistant and do not chip like abrasive grains. High-quality monocrystalline diamonds guarantee remarkable sharpening speed even when working with the hardest high-alloy tool steels. It is recommended to moisten diamond stones with water and grind with light pressure.
Made from high quality single crystal diamonds, stones DMT (USA) especially wear-resistant, famous for their perfectly smooth surface.

Stone DiaSharp 220 COARSE (rough) DMT D8X recommended as a complement to water stones. It’s great for finishing backs flat chisels , chisels or leveling water stones.
A warning : Avoid cheap products that are usually made from (short-lived) polycrystalline diamond dust.

Diamond abrasive stone DiaSharp 200 x 76 mm 1200 grit green mD8E М00000651

HIT! Diamond abrasive stone DiaSharp 200 x 76 mm 600 FINE red diamond DMT D8F

Natural water stones

Natural stones, including the Belgian Brocken or the Slovakian Rozsutec, are sedimentary or calcareous rocks with embedded corundum, oxides, quartzites or semi-precious stones (such as garnets).
Due to their slightly heterogeneous structure, they combine particularly well with hand-forged steel.

Natural oil stones

When combined with oil, some stones form a lubricating suspension that increases their effectiveness. Porous stones, for example Norton (India). The stone is usually pre-oiled, requiring only a few drops of honing oil on its surface before sharpening. Closed-cell stones only absorb small amounts of oil. A few drops of honing oil on their surface are enough. Unlike water, oil does not wash the stone, so it clogs faster. It can be cleaned by wiping it with oil.
Look stones Suehiro

Which sharpening stones to choose

A basic level of:

As a basic equipment for manual sharpening, it is recommended (recommendation of the manufacturer DICTUM) a combination of stones and grits 1000 и 4000 ( 6000 ) grit. This combination is minimally sufficient for editing and optimal for beginners. Purchasing a combined stone 1000/6000 with these grits will save money.

• Sharpening stone with grit 1000 – 1500 – for normal sharpening.
• Correct stone with 6000 grit – for polishing and straightening edges. Example Sharpening abrasive 6000 Suehiro with nagura Suehiro white MT 6000 M00014380
• Nagura cleansing stone is usually with stones Suehiro

For grooved chisels – cutters – Additionally you will need:

• Shaped stone with 4000 grit – for straightening the inside. Example Abrasive water stone PETROGRAD BREEZE 4000 M00015241
• Nagura Cleansing Stone

• The right block for precise straightening of uneven water stones Stone for dressing abrasive stones / Japanese water stones 170 x 55 x 30 mm 220 grit 711300 M00013791
• Whetstone holder

CONVENIENT sets of sharpening stones

To provide you with the best basic equipment for different tools and steels, we have collected various sharpening sets for you.
You can choose the one that suits you set of sharpening stones .

Article: RN Set N6: 800, 4000, 6000

HIT! Sharpening set PETROGRAD N 6 for carpentry tools 3 stones 800, 4000 and 6000 grit 200 x 70 x 20 mm M00017963

Article: RN Set N3: 500. 1000, 2000

Sharpening set PETROGRAD N 3 for sharpening knives 15x15x120mm 3 stones (500, 1000, 2000 grit) M00014097

HIT! Combined water sharpening stone on a Hatamoto stand with a sharpening angle holder 1000 / 3000 grit 180 x 60 x 27 mm Tojiro HT1011

PRICES BELOW HIT! Sharpening abrasive 1000 Suehiro Cerax 185 x 64 x 20 mm on a stand with nagura MT 1003 harpening Stone 1000 for middle М00018396

TOGETHER A COMFORTABLE HIT! Sharpening set PETROGRAD N4 for sharpening knives 15 x 15 x 153 mm 6 stones (150, 360, 500, 1000, 1500, 2000 grit) RN Set N4: 150, 360, 500. 1000, 1500, 2000 M00014098

How to use sharpening stones

During use, stones must be placed firmly on a non-slip surface or stand.

Leveling the stones

When sharpening tools with straight cutting edges, it is very important that the whetstone itself is completely flat. You can check this by pressing the end of the ruler to its surface. If light penetrates through the gap, then the stone is uneven and must be polished in one of the possible ways.
The simplest of them is dressing using a diamond lapping plate. You rub the well-watered stone in circles on a lapping plate until the surface is smooth. Light surfaces show smooth areas of stone, while darker areas have not yet come into contact with the leveling stone. Repeat the operation. Process until the surface becomes completely light, constantly washing off the paste. Alternatively, you can use kits with 100 grit sandpaper (soaked with water) placed on a flat granite stone slab (gabrodiabase). A specialized mesh for leveling abrasive stones functions in a similar way.

Storing sharpening stones

When storing synthetic stones, it is IMPORTANT to differentiate between those that must be kept dry and those that can be kept permanently in water, it is best to use a lidded plastic tub in which the stones can be kept permanently in a water bath.

Stored in water: King, Solar Tiger, etc. A little vinegar or disinfectant should be added to the water to prevent algae growth. Household detergents should not be used – they destroy the bond of the stone. To prevent cracking, sharpening stones should never be exposed to frost! When using highly calcareous water, do not let the stones dry out too often; otherwise, lime will accumulate and reduce the effectiveness of the stones.

Dry storage: Shapton, Suehiro , sharpening stones Naniwa, Jinzo, etc.

Article: MT #6000

Sharpening abrasive 6000 Suehiro 206x73x23mm on a stand, with white grit

Oil sharpening stones should be handled with care. Keep them clean and free of oil, as oil prevents the stones from absorbing water, limiting their abrasive effect.