Thread: Flattening stones

The concrete path out the front of your house.

G'day Geoff, I have tried the concrete path but it took ages and it didn't make a lot of improvement but mind you I used whatever sand I could find, maybe there's a better way......

G'day Tiger
What about abrasive paper/mesh stuck to a flat surface like thick float glass. That's what I use for water stones. What's a giant bear?

Cheers
Michael

G'day Mick.

Should have pointed out that my stone is an oilstone. Bear is the product/brand name.

Tiger

I hear that the best way to flatten an oil stone is to use an Extra Coarse diamond stone. Of course the diamond stone is going to make this an expensive fix if you need to buy one! But there are those that swear by this method and, in fact, say that they find regular use of the diamond stone improves the cutting of the oil stone.

An alternative might be loose diamond grit on steel or cast iron.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Float glass, EAR MUFFS, clean sand and elbow grease.
(Courtesy the late Les Miller)

Hi Tiger,

I flatten my waterstones on W&D on float glass. My norton oilstones are used for less important sharpening activities, so I apply sand on the smooth concrete floor, apply water and use foot to apply movement to stone. Might not be the best way, but it works well for me.

Cheers,

Tom

For what it's worth I flatten mine on 80 grit wet and dry on a plate of glass with kero as the lubricant.

Cheers

Steve

Originally Posted by mic-d

G'day Tiger
What about abrasive paper/mesh stuck to a flat surface like thick float glass. That's what I use for water stones. What's a giant bear?

Cheers
Michael

I think anything that's bigger than a koala Michael.

missed that one prozac, sorry.

I use alumina zirconia from Klingspor to lap stuff. I just came across this link, where he mentions using it to clean stones, oil stones I presume. Might be something in that for you.

Cheers
Michael

I have been collecting for so long that I have a drawer full of stones. I find them for a couple of dollars every few months. We have so many swapmeets and junk stores where I live. It is tool heaven. You need to flatten them before they get to far out. If I sharpen by hand I shapen my carving tools on the grooved ones. I have hit them on the flat sanding belt machine with a fine belt. If you are careful you don't take off much. Then I use 400 grit paper on glass. If the stones are cheap it is hardly worth the effort. It just depends on what your sharpening needs are at the moment. When stones get out of wack I use them when I am turning parts on my metal late. They are nice to break an edge with out changing lathe bits. They have a hundred and ones uses for other things. I even use them on my feet and nails. LOL Happy stoning.

Originally Posted by TomH

I flatten my waterstones on W&D on float glass.

Hi Tom. What grit W&D, and do you use water for lubricant? Steve (toolbagplus) says he uses kero as lubricant, but I would guess he's talking oilstones.

Originally Posted by TomH

My norton oilstones are used for less important sharpening activities, so I apply sand on the smooth concrete floor, apply water...

Can I use dune sand for my oilstones, or do I need something coarser?

Thanks in advance guys. I've never flattened my oilstones before, and I've only recently acquired my first waterstone (6000g King).

Cheers, Vann.

Vann, garden variety 240 grit W&D will be fine for King water stones and Aluminium Oxide based Indian oil stones, with water and thin oil respectively. A Nagura stone for cleaning and preparing the King will also be helpful.

It's the Silicone Carbide oils stones that are the hard ones to flatten, this is where sand or loose Silicone Carbide grit is helpful.

Damn, I've just spent the last hour and a half rubbing (in a figure 8 pattern) my oil stone on concrete to remove hollows to discover the stone is slightly rounded by putting a straight edge on it against the light.

What next ?