Thread: Help identifying stones and advice please

Hi Andrew,
Firstly, there is no mention of what you want to sharpen, other than Turning Tools.
I personally feel that all those stones are a little over the top.
I only use a 6" grinder with a 60grit & 120grit wheels.
I have never found the need to hone, & it takes to long.
Maybe the the Tool Jig is OK, but I have taught myself to sharpen by hand, & I don't know why you would them any sharper, than what I can achieve.
Touch the edges on my Turning Chisels & you will certainly cut yourself.
I mainly use P&N Chisels + a few files, but done the right way, so they don't shatter.
A few of those stones will not go astray, for doing the Carpenters Chisels, Plane & Planer Blades, Saw Tooth Bits, & even Spade Bits,& Router Bits.
The Diamond Encrusted Steel Stones ? are very good, for the ST Bits, Router Bits etc.& every now & again you wash them in warm soapy water.
Hope that helps a little, & you will recieve a lot more advice than I have given you.
Regards,
issatree.

I want to sharpen chisels plane blades etc as well as turning tools I wont be honing the turning tool as many people deem it unnecessary.

Can't claim much expertise but I'd say a hard felt or leather wheel would be best for deburring and polishing. Anythings softer would pose a risk of dubbing the edge.

As for turning, there's some good evidence now that the finer the edge on the tool the cleaner the cut - so less sanding is needed, which is a real plus.

Have you tried a belgian stone (coticule) for touch ups? They're a bit faster cutting than japanese polishing stones, faster than the grit would imply (about 4000-5000 for the blue, 6000-8000 for the cream color).

With either one you'll be surprised how fast it will polish the edge to suitable sharpness, a few strokes starts to show. Not inexpensive, but belgian stones last a long time. If you think of them as long term investments, they're somewhat more affordable.

Don't bother with the Carbatec cheap diamond plates, they're not flat and you'll never get them flat. I tried these and eventually gave up and purchased a dual DMT plate instead.

Yeah, with the dollar stronger check out US online sources for diamond plates. I'm no fanatic darksider but I have played with cheap diamond stuff (not worth the money) and waterstones for bench tools (too much messing around). V. happy with my dual grit DMT .... can even touch up the metal edges on my skis with it

I have checked them with a straight edge and even returned one that wasn't flat enough. They are flat enough for woodworking purposes. They are the thicker variety that retails for $70 ish each or $114 for both. I want them for the initial flatening of blades and removal of metal fast. Also for truing up water stones etc. They are embeded in a 20 mm piece of plastic and are a lot better than the previous set I had

These ones

Economy Diamond Whetstones (290 x 62mm) : CARBA-TEC

not these

Economy 3 Piece Diamond Sharpening Set : CARBA-TEC


Andrew